Episode Details

Kerri Paizzi sits down with Chef Pushkar Marathe, chef and co-owner of Stage Kitchen & Bar, Ela Curry & Cocktails, Mango Mercado and Boca Brasserie, to get the stories behind his Palm Beach County restaurants.

Kerri and Pushkar discuss Stage’s famous butter chicken, a dish with enough of a following that guests started calling when it disappeared from the menu. Pushkar brought it back, and these days, he says, it helps pay the rent.

Pushkar also shares how growing up on Air Force bases across India introduced him to different regional cuisines and sparked his curiosity about food around the world. He reflects on his training in Switzerland, where he honed his French cooking skills alongside chefs from across Europe.

The conversation heads back to the 3030 Ocean kitchen in Fort Lauderdale, where Pushkar worked alongside Jeremy Ford and Niven Patel under Paula DaSilva. Kerri has questions about how so much talent came out of one restaurant, and Pushkar has stories, including his recollection of dodging steaks during dinner service.

They also discuss Michelin Guide recognition for Stage and Ela, along with why listening to guests led Pushkar to reimagine his Boca Raton restaurant as Boca Brasserie.

Kerri gets the details on Mango Mercado’s breakfast and lunch offerings, including the take-home meals, before asking what anyone considering opening a restaurant should know. Pushkar has plenty of advice. Kerri is happy to keep supporting them from the dining room.

Connect:

Stage: https://www.stagekitchenandbar.com/

Ela Curry and Cocktails: https://www.elacurryandcocktails.com/

Mango Mercado: https://www.mangomercado.com/

Boca Brasserie: ​​https://www.bocabrasserie.com/

Pushkar IG: https://www.instagram.com/pushkarry

Forking Around with Flavor South Florida Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forkingaroundpodcast

Flavor South Florida Website: https://www.flavorsouthflorida.com/

Flavor South Florida Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/FlavorSouthFlorida

Kerri Paizzi Website: https://www.kerripaizzi.com/

Kerri Paizzi Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/KerriP316

This episode is sponsored by Altima Caviar. Visit https://altimacaviar.com

Forking Around with Flavor South Florida is recorded at PodPlus Studios in Jupiter, Florida and produced by Hype Boss. To learn more visit https://podplusstudios.com.