On A Platter

An idea, sparked in a span of five minutes, set her on a road that she had not travelled before. Hailing from a Kolkata-based vegetarian Jain family, Radha Shah became its first – and only girl – to embark on a career in catering. Currently based in Mumbai, the philosophy graduate from Mithibai College worked for a while before branching off on her own to set up Chef’s On Board. Her stint at a popular eatery helped her in her new venture, as she says “I have got things almost on a platter. Luckily for me, capital was never an issue.” What could have become a big issue for her was conjuring non-vegetarian fare, but she took it in her stride. Today, the young entrepreneur is a pro at arranging anything from cutlery, crockery, table arrangements to alcohol, and, of course, tangy fare for the palate! Is it little wonder then that her client list boasts of names like Manish Malhotra, Sonali Bendre, Geetu Hinduja, L’Oreal and Red Chillies Entertainment. Modestly, she adds, “I personally don’t know how to cook well, but my chefs customise their creations to suit the demands of the moment.”