Chef Chalapathi Rao
Chef Chalapathi Rao 
| |
| |
| Profession | Culinary Artist, Restaurateur, TV Judge |
| Known For | Simply South, MasterChef India Telugu, TEDx Talks |
| Experience | 30+ Years |
| Restaurant | Simply South (Co-founder & Partner) |
| Awards | IHC Entrepreneur of the Year (2021), Times Food Awards (Multiple Years), Top 30 Chefs in India (2022, 2024) |
| Website | Instagram: @chefchallu |
| chefchallu@gmail.com | |
Chef Chalapathi Rao is a renowned Indian culinary artist, co-founder of the award-winning South Indian restaurant Simply South, and a celebrated figure in the food industry. With over three decades of hospitality experience, he has become a custodian of regional Indian cuisine and a promoter of South Indian culinary heritage on global platforms.
Early Life and Career
Chef Chalapathi Rao was born and raised in a culturally rich environment that fostered a deep appreciation for Indian traditions, especially its diverse food heritage. His early exposure to local flavors and home-style cooking sparked a lifelong passion for culinary exploration.
He pursued formal education at IHM Chennai, where he was trained in the principles of classical and modern cooking. Determined to make a mark in the food industry, he joined ITC Hotels as a Management Trainee and quickly rose through the ranks.
Over a distinguished 19-year career at ITC, Chef Challu worked in various kitchens across the country, mastering the subtleties of regional cuisines. His culinary journey culminated in being appointed as the custodian of Dakshin, ITC’s flagship South Indian specialty restaurant brand. In this role, he was responsible for upholding the brand’s legacy and maintaining consistency across locations.
His leadership extended beyond the kitchen—mentoring young chefs, curating royal and state banquets, and representing Indian cuisine on international platforms. His dedication, depth of knowledge, and unwavering respect for traditional food made him a culinary ambassador of South India’s gastronomic heritage.
Throughout his journey, Chef Challu remained a student of tradition while embracing innovation. He traveled extensively across the southern states of India to learn directly from temple kitchens, village households, and heritage communities—documenting authentic techniques and lost recipes. This pursuit not only refined his palate but also deepened his understanding of how food connects to ritual, memory, and identity.
His approach to cooking is rooted in integrity: using locally sourced ingredients, applying traditional methods with modern efficiency, and treating food as both nourishment and narrative. This philosophy laid the foundation for all his future culinary ventures.
Notable Milestones
- Recipient of Young Chef of the Year (2006–07) by Taste and Travel Magazine
- Represented the Singapore Tourism Board in bilateral culinary promotions
- Appointed by Andhra Pradesh Tourism to set up a micro-cuisine research and documentation cell
- Co-founder of Simply South — a landmark South Indian restaurant
Simply South: Awards & Recognition
- Featured in Condé Nast's Top 50 Restaurants in India (2017)
- Times Food & Nightlife Awards – 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022
- Restaurant India Awards (2022) – Most Authentic South Indian Cuisine
- The Week Magazine – India’s Best Restaurants (2018)
- Listed among Top 30 Chefs in India by Culinary Culture – 2022 & 2024
- Rated 3 Stars by Culinary Culture’s Ultimate Restaurant Awards – 2025
- IHC Entrepreneur of the Year – 2021
Media Presence
- Judge on MasterChef India – Telugu for Season 1 & 2
- TEDx Speaker
- Panellist at national culinary summits and food industry forums
Current Project: Challu's Kitchen Stories
Chef Chalapathi Rao is launching his YouTube channel Challu’s Kitchen Stories – a digital platform to share authentic recipes, kitchen wisdom, and regional cooking narratives.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Chef Challu is currently inviting sponsorship support for setting up a professional kitchen studio. Benefits include:
- Brand presence in content (reels, stories, BTS)
- Verbal product mentions during shoots
- Co-branded collaborations with grocery & kitchen brands
Contact
- 📧 chefchallu@gmail.com
- 📞 +91 9505 0015 55, +91 8522 8546 32
- 📲 Instagram: @chefchallu