Reflections from a chef who lives where food, fire, and feeling converge.

The war of food has begun—not in hunger, but in the overwhelming search to eat right.

And then… there is my life at Andaaz—the existence of a chef who believes that food is more than sustenance. It’s a responsibility. A craft. A quiet promise we make each day. As one of the few chef-led restaurants in Lahore, we honor this legacy daily—serving not just meals, but meaningful moments.

One element has always fascinated me—fire. It’s where everything begins.

From childhood, I’ve been mesmerized by how fire transforms. How it breathes life into raw ingredients. Creates new textures, reveals hidden flavors, and awakens deep emotion. Fire can be anything—a source of life, or of destruction. For chefs like us—culinary artists with purpose—it is more than heat. It’s the heartbeat of our kitchens.

We don’t take it lightly. We respect it deeply. It teaches us patience, focus, and humility. It reminds us: every dish is alive. Every plate is an act of care.

Then, for the first time in 17 years, that fire paused.

During the quiet months of the pandemic, I stepped away—something I hadn’t done since Andaaz first opened. And in that silence, I felt a deep ache. I missed the rhythm. The space. The team.

So I returned—not to reopen—but to reconnect.

I set a table. I sat in stillness. I welcomed the quiet. I met my team—who were all on paid leave. I listened. I watched. I remembered. And I realized: the fire never really left us. It was there, quietly glowing in all of us.

That moment, captured in this photo, is a symbol of what Andaaz means to me—the calm after the storm. The return to something sacred. A reminder that our work is not about performance, but purpose.

At Andaaz, we don’t cook for applause. We cook because we care. We serve not for profit—but for pride. Because every dish we create is our way of keeping a promise:
To deliver something extraordinary. Every time.

Explore our Dinner Menu to experience the flavors that bring this philosophy to life.
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