A legendary collaboration featuring
Zyka: The Taste's Nooruddin Fazal and
Chai Pani's Meherwan Irani.
Thursday, May 19, 2022 | 6:00 PM
Chai Pani Decatur | 406 West Ponce de Leon Avenue Decatur, GA 30030
Event Details
Where do Chai Pani chefs go to eat? Ask any of them, and you'll most certainly hear about their many, many visits to Zyka: The Taste, just down the road from Chai Pani. Since our opening on May 10th, 1997, Zyka has played an instrumental role in popularizing Indian cuisine in the Atlanta metro area and our founder Nooruddin Fazal, has even trademarked our signature dish: Chicken 65!
For the first time ever, Meherwan Irani is teaming up with Nooruddin Fazal for an evening of eating, drinking, and storytelling. This six-course dinner will include a blend of signature dishes from both Chai Pani and Zyka. Seating will be communal and some courses will be served family-style. Guests are welcome to arrive at 6pm; dinner will begin at 6:30pm. Gratuity is not included, and beverages will be available for purchase.
Nooruddin Fazal was born in Hyderabad. He studied hospitality and cooking in Mumbai, worked in kitchens in New York City, and then decided to make Atlanta his home. In 1997, he opened Zyka, and within months it was a hit! Around that time, he trademarked "Chicken 65," and Zyka became a staple in the Atlanta area for Hyderabadi hometown food, which is authentic, nostalgic, and affordable.
Meherwan Irani is a chef and restaurateur changing the perception of Indian food in America through his growing restaurant and spice empire in the South’s most essential culinary cities. He is a leading voice in the industry’s conversation around diversity and cultural exchange. Meherwan was named by TIME Magazine as one of the “31 People Changing The South” and is a five-time James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef: Southeast.
Meherwan leads a team of more than 300 as Founder, Chef and CEO of Chai Pani Restaurant Group that includes Chai Pani (Asheville and Decatur), Botiwalla (Atlanta and Charlotte), Buxton Hall Barbecue, Buxton Chicken Palace, Nani’s Piri Piri Chicken (Asheville and Atlanta), and Spicewalla.
Meherwan grew up in Ahmednagar, in the midwestern state of Maharashtra in India, and he came to the U.S. at age 20. In 2009, he and his wife and business partner, Molly, introduced Asheville, North Carolina, to the colors, flavors and faces of India with Chai Pani.