Sanjana Patel Creative Director and Executive Chef at La Folie Chef Sanjana Patel’s love affair with chocolate began after her first bite into a fresh handmade almond chocolate bar at Mohan Store in Ooty. This relationship– that of reverence, love, and discovery – is what she brings to La Folie’s principles as a Creative Director and Executive Chef. After having honed her craft at the Ecolé Grégoire Ferrandi in Paris, she worked as an apprentice with Pierre Hermé. Her résumé includes stints with global heavyweights like Patrick Roger, Olivier Bajard, and Chefs Cristophe Michalik and Alain Ducasse (at Hotel Plaza Athénée in the Dorchester Collection). It was in 2014 that La Folie was born. In over a decade, it has carved its niche in offering indulgent desserts that blend rare ingredients, tantalising textures, and exquisite flavours, much of what is an outcome of Chef Patel’s passion for French entremet-style pastries. Her talent has earned her national and global accolades, including the titles of ‘India’s Pastry Queen’ (2015) and the jury-approved Patisserie Chef of the Year by T&L Dining Awards, (2023), among others. She was also listed in 40 Under 40 India’s Star Chef by Conde Nast Traveller in 2020. Is there advice she’d like to give the younger generation? “I believe one needs to be patient. Stop judging the situation from a point of view of what’s going to happen next and try to live in the moment.” “LuxeBook is an incredible platform that gives entrepreneurs like me a little bit of a sneak peek about what’s happening in Indian luxury.” Sarita Handa Founder and Creative Head, Sarita Handa Exports It was way back in the early 90s’ that Sarita Handa built upon her passion for textiles and gave India a leading luxury and lifestyle brand that garnered recognition. As a creative history student, she was always inspired and awestruck by the rich craft and textile heritage of India. Married to an army officer, her exposure to the cultures in different states and cities of India led to a realisation of her love for textiles. It was in 1972 that she came across beautiful hand-embroidered linen and fell in love. In 1992, when Sarita Handa Exports came into being, it had a clear mission to empower women. She took it upon herself to cater to the global industry with her handcrafted quilts, soon gaining the title of ‘Queen of Quilts.’ Mrs Handa counts Iris Apfel, Kelly Hoppen and Kelly Wearstler as her style icons, and feels saris are a timeless classic. From a German company Heine GMBH being their first client to catering to aspirational brands like Pottery Barn, Macy’s Group and Bloomingdale’s—she has had a glorious career trajectory. Today, Sarita Handa Exports under Mrs Handa, her daughter Suparna Handa and Captain Puri boasts a team size of 3,000 employees with a core design team. The brand opened its first retail store in Khan Market in January 2005. The flagship store in Sultanpur, New Delhi and Mumbai, and partnerships in Bengaluru, Chandigarh and Kochi are testimony to the company’s dynamism and attention to detail. As someone whose products are the epitome of luxury, what does the word mean to her? “Luxury to me is simplicity—something that’s timeless, quiet, relaxing and comfortable.” “Dream big, work hard, be disciplined and have fire in your belly.” | 50 | 51
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