"LOVE for food, music & hospitality runs in my blood!', says Kunal Lamba. Having worked for two decades at executive levels in hotels and restaurants across three continents, Lamba is a restauranteur a TV personality a live singer all packed into someone who can easily be called a true entertainer who knows the pulse of hospitality industry.
Kunal was born in Delhi, the capital of India. As the son of a restauranteur, he grew up in ‘foodie’ family and graduated from WGSHA, a prestigious Food & Hospitality institute in the modern student town of Manipal.
At the age of 22, he was a top 10 ranked graduate primed for the Management track at a leading Luxury Collection hotel in New Delhi-The ITC Maurya.
Wanting to broaden his horizons, he set his sights west and in 2006, left for London where he ran his family legacy restaurant widely famed for its exotic Indian cuisine-The Gaylord (Est. 1966).
In 2008 his quests brought him further west to the US where he started as a Food & Beverage Manager at the Doubletree Metropolitan Hotel in New York City. Soon realizing that the more expansive food scene of Gotham city was in the experiential, innovative, stand-alone establishments he dived head first into Devi, the first Michelin starred Indian restaurant in the US. It was at Devi where Kunal honed his craft and became a role model for hospitality in his community.
After Devi, Kunal managed The Mark Restaurant by Jean Georges at the fanciest address in Manhattan, the uber chic Mark Hotel on Upper East Side.
After 1.5 years of serving at the Mark, Kunal put everything together to open his own first restaurant in Franklin Township, NJ called Kabab Culture. In little time, Kabab Culture has made waves in the local food scene.
Currently apart from being a co-owner at Kabab Culture, Kunal offers his services as a 'Restaurant & Hospitality Consultant' to existing & new restaurants.
Another feather in Kunal's cap is that he serves as the Spirits Diplomat Indian spirits - Rampur Single Malt & Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin.
It did not take long for the camera(walas) to call. In 2014, Lamba entered the TV world hosting a new, popular reality food show called Kawan Kitchenmate on Star Plus. Kunal has shot 52 episodes of this show where he visits Indian American households across the country, getting to know their life stories while cooking an impromptu meal using only the ingredients and strange leftovers in their fridge. With his eloquent style and distinctive looks and dynamic personality uniqueness Kunal has become a recognizable face and has made himself available as an emcee. From emceeing a big Sikh wedding in Punjabi language to emceeing The American India Foundation galas, he has done it all.
In 2020 Kunal also started his own TV show called KHANA PEENA GAANA with Kunal Lamba which is telecast on Jus Punjabi & Jus Hindi Channels. Its a talk show where Kunal features talented people from the culinary & music world. With its own studio kitchen chefs and musicians are invited to cook & sing with Kunal in an action packed show!