An Interview With Gauri Devidayal, Co-Founder Of The Table
Founded in 2011 and quickly becoming the new favorite for many in town, The Table continues to dazzle with its high-end bistro fare with an impeccable five-star experience. We spoke to co-founder Gauri Devidayal about her exciting journey so far.
TCT: What’s your journey with The Table been like? Can you take us on a short trip down memory lane?
All I can say, it’s been one seriously crazy journey; one I couldn’t have remotely anticipated in my wildest dreams. It’s been almost five years, and I have no idea where the time has flown. I can still remember the thrill of opening night on January 18, 2011, to winning our first award in December 2011, to a mini fire we had a few months ago and had to come rushing back from our vacation in the US! Definitely been one helluva roller coaster ride!
TCT: What advice would you give to someone who was trying to break into the restaurant business?
Please get into it with fully open eyes and no misguidance on what it takes to run a restaurant. Be prepared to dedicate your entire life to it for the first year at least. Don’t get into it if you think it’s a glamorous profession!
TCT: What’s next?
We have an exciting new kitchen space coming up in Reay Road, which we will open to the public for special dinner events. We’re going to also shortly launch a wholesale bakery product line and finally, private dinner catering services.
TCT: What is your dream project?
To open a restaurant in San Francisco.
TCT: What’s your pet peeve?
Rude guests
TCT: What is your favorite restaurant?
I can’t name just one in the world, so I’ll stick to India and say Indian Accent in Delhi (after The Table of course!)
Android or iOS?
What’s Android?
Savory or dessert?
Dessert
Hummus or Tehina?
Tehina
Coffee or tea?
Coffee
The beach or the hills?
Beach
Bollywood or Hollywood?
Hollywood
The Table, Ground Floor, Kalapesi Trust Building, Opposite Dhanraj Mahal, Below Hotel Suba Palace, Apollo Bunder Marg, Colaba, Mumbai, India, +91 22 2282 5001
Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip
meet our Local Insider
Hanna
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?
2 years.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?
It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.
WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?
I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!
Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.
KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?
Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.