Suresh Pillai is a renowned Indian-born British chef and restaurateur, celebrated for his role in popularizing Kerala cuisine globally. Born in Chavara Thekkumbhagom, a village in Kollam, Kerala, his parents were coir laborers. Due to financial constraints, he left school after class X and began working various jobs. At the age of 17, he took on a job as a waiter at a restaurant called Chef King, earning ₹450 a month. It was here that he discovered his passion for cooking.
He worked at various hotels and restaurants in Kerala and Bangalore, including Casino Hotel in Calicut and Coconut Grove in Bangalore. Despite lacking a formal culinary degree, his experience and determination led him to join The Leela Palace in Bangalore as a management trainee. In 2005, he moved to London, where he spent 14 years working at prestigious restaurants, including Veeraswamy and Gymkhana. He also holds British citizenship. In 2017, he appeared on the British reality TV show “MasterChef: The Professionals.”
After returning to India in 2018, he became the corporate chef and culinary director of The Raviz. He subsequently launched his own restaurant chain, “Restaurant Chef Pillai,” which has branches in Bengaluru, Kochi, and Thrissur, with plans for international expansion to Dubai and Doha. He has also launched other brands, including a fast-food brand called KOTHU XPRESS and a specialized tandoori cuisine brand called NORTH RASOI.
Pillai’s cooking style is known for its unique blending of traditional Kerala spices and professional culinary techniques. He has been a guest lecturer at the University of the Bahamas, sharing his knowledge of Kerala cuisine. He is married to Remya Suresh and has two children, Aiswarya and Sreehari. He is also an accomplished chess player, having been the under-18 champion of Kollam district.
Chef Suresh Pillai’s awards and recognitions are not extensively detailed in public records as formal accolades like “Michelin stars,” but his recognition is more in the form of widespread acclaim and a successful business. His career journey and entrepreneurial ventures are a testament to his success.
Here are some of his key recognitions and accomplishments:
- “MasterChef: The Professionals”: In 2017, Pillai gained significant recognition for his appearance on the BBC reality TV show, MasterChef: The Professionals. He impressed the judges with his unique take on traditional Kerala dishes, bringing his native cuisine to an international audience.
- “The Ambassador of Kerala Cuisine”: He is widely known as the “Ambassador of Kerala Cuisine” for his efforts to elevate the regional food on a global stage. This is a title he has earned through his innovative cooking style, which blends traditional recipes with modern culinary techniques.
- Restaurant Success: His restaurant chain, “Restaurant Chef Pillai,” has received significant recognition, particularly the Kochi branch. It was awarded “Best Luxury and Service” in the South Indian Restaurant category for 2022 by VIA KOCHI.
- Social Media Following: Chef Pillai has a massive following on social media, with millions of followers. This has made him a celebrity chef and a household name, with his recipes and cooking videos reaching a wide audience.
- Industry Recognition: He is a respected figure in the culinary industry and has been a guest lecturer at the University of the Bahamas, sharing his knowledge of Kerala cuisine with students. His journey from a humble beginning to a global culinary figure is often cited as an inspiration.
While he has worked in Michelin-starred restaurants like Gymkhana and Veeraswamy, he has clarified that he personally has not received a Michelin star. His recognition comes from his ability to build a successful brand and his widespread popularity among food lovers.
