Bungalow Hospitality Investments, co-founded by Michelin-starred chef Vikas Khanna, and New York-born chai brand Kolkata Chai enter into a partnership (Image/PTI) NEW DELHI: Kolkata Chai, the New York–born chai brand that helped introduce authentic Indian chai to large US audiences, announced a strategic partnership and investment with Bungalow Hospitality Investments, the newly formed venture co‑founded by Michelin‑starred chef Vikas Khanna and restaurateur Jimmy Rizvi.The deal, announced Monday, includes a financial investment in Kolkata Chai and an exclusive menu integration across Bungalow Hospitality Management’s New York City restaurant portfolio. Beginning this summer, Kolkata Chai’s signature Masala Chai will be rolled out at the group’s current and upcoming restaurants, including GupShup and the forthcoming Punjab Meet House. The partnership will also produce a series of limited‑time collaborative menu items this fall.Kolkata Chai was founded in 2019 by brothers Ayan and Ani Sanyal and has grown through a multi‑unit café model and a line of consumer packaged goods (CPG) chai blends. In 2024, actor and comedian Hasan Minhaj joined the company as an investor and business partner, helping expand the brand’s visibility through media and cultural storytelling.Bungalow Hospitality Investments, led by Khanna and Rizvi, focuses on investing in and partnering with emerging food and hospitality brands. Kolkata Chai is the group’s inaugural investment; Khanna cited a personal connection to chai and longstanding admiration for the brand’s craft and authenticity as factors in the decision.“Chef Vikas Khanna is a pioneer for Indian cuisine on a global stage, and having him join the Kolkata Chai family is a genuinely exciting moment for us,” said Hasan Minhaj in a statement. He added that the partnership reflects Kolkata Chai’s role in connecting people across generations and cultures.The announcement comes amid growing mainstream interest in South Asian food and beverage in the United States, driven by restaurant openings and a rising number of South Asian CPG brands. Kolkata Chai and Bungalow Foods, a CPG line co‑founded by Khanna and Rizvi, have both positioned themselves as leaders within that expanding market.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’Women Were Beaten Like Animals’: CJP Protesters After ‘Lathi-Charge’ By RAF, Delhi PoliceCJP Claims Wangchuk’s Wife Assaulted; Amit Shah Meets Dharmendra Pradhan Amid CJP Sansad MarchJP Nadda To Meet CJP Leaders As Centre Initiates Dialogue Amid Parliament MarchSonam Wangchuk’s Latest Hunger Strike Note Shifts Focus To Accountability, Parliament AssuranceDelhi Metro Closes Five Stations, Police Block CJP’s Parliament March Amid Massive SecurityCentre To Introduce Bill Making Insult To Vande Mataram A Criminal OffenceDelhi Police Warns Against CJP’s Parliament March; Says No Permission Granted, Legal Action Likely’Strictly Prohibited’: Delhi Police Invokes Section 163, Issues Warning Over CJP’s Sansad MarchCJP Releases Do’s & Don’ts For ‘Chalo Sansad’ March As Sonam Wangchuk Continues Hunger StrikeFlash Floods, Landslides Hit J&K’s Poonch-Rajouri; Vaishno Devi, Amarnath Yatra Suspended123Photostories7 air-fryer egg dishes for a protein-rich dinnerBest time travel web series to watch: ‘Dark’, ‘Outlander’, ’12 Monkeys’ and more sci-fi masterpiecesWhy are some wine bottles sealed with corkBTS set the FIFA 2026 World Cup halftime stage on fire with red devils-inspired fashionInside Nikki Tamboli and Arbaz Patel’s stunning home: Luxurious interiors, cosy corners and more6 Smart ways to use essential oils in your bathroom for a fresher, spa-like feelUpcoming week’s OTT releases (July 20-July 26): From ‘A Toxic Love Story’ to ‘BLEACH’World’s top 10 most valuable restaurant chains and their billion-dollar brandsSpent 16 years in school, yet nobody taught you about money, AI, or psychology? Here are 8 things every woman needs to learn that actually matterThe truth about collagen loss: Why early prevention beats anti-wrinkle treatments123Hot PicksSylvester StalloneSteve JobsUS import pricesClint EastwoodDelhi Metro stationsJantar MantarKylie JennersCJP Parliament marchNHL Trade RumorsTop TrendingRajasthan RapeLucknow Jawahar Bhawan FireWeather TomorrowCJP ProtestSonam WangchukNEET Paper LeakJoseph VijayAbhishek BanerjeeIshowspeedIran war
NEW DELHI: Kolkata Chai, the New York–born chai brand that helped introduce authentic Indian chai to large US audiences, announced a strategic partnership and investment with Bungalow Hospitality Investments, the newly formed venture co‑founded by Michelin‑starred chef Vikas Khanna and restaurateur Jimmy Rizvi.The deal, announced Monday, includes a financial investment in Kolkata Chai and an exclusive menu integration across Bungalow Hospitality Management’s New York City restaurant portfolio. Beginning this summer, Kolkata Chai’s signature Masala Chai will be rolled out at the group’s current and upcoming restaurants, including GupShup and the forthcoming Punjab Meet House. The partnership will also produce a series of limited‑time collaborative menu items this fall.Kolkata Chai was founded in 2019 by brothers Ayan and Ani Sanyal and has grown through a multi‑unit café model and a line of consumer packaged goods (CPG) chai blends. In 2024, actor and comedian Hasan Minhaj joined the company as an investor and business partner, helping expand the brand’s visibility through media and cultural storytelling.Bungalow Hospitality Investments, led by Khanna and Rizvi, focuses on investing in and partnering with emerging food and hospitality brands. Kolkata Chai is the group’s inaugural investment; Khanna cited a personal connection to chai and longstanding admiration for the brand’s craft and authenticity as factors in the decision.“Chef Vikas Khanna is a pioneer for Indian cuisine on a global stage, and having him join the Kolkata Chai family is a genuinely exciting moment for us,” said Hasan Minhaj in a statement. He added that the partnership reflects Kolkata Chai’s role in connecting people across generations and cultures.The announcement comes amid growing mainstream interest in South Asian food and beverage in the United States, driven by restaurant openings and a rising number of South Asian CPG brands. Kolkata Chai and Bungalow Foods, a CPG line co‑founded by Khanna and Rizvi, have both positioned themselves as leaders within that expanding market.
