Imitiaz Qureshi Biography 
Imitiaz Qureshi is a celebrated chef from Lucknow who currently serves as the master chef at ITC Hotels. Specialized in Dum biryani and special kababs, his fame has reached worldwide. Now with age 88+ he is still into this profession and his sons carry forward his legacy. This veteran and celebrated Indian chef has hosted many high profile official banquets often hosted by PM and President of India. He has been serving a chain of ITC Hotels since 1979.
He created the culinary brand of Bukhara and has also revived Dum Pukht tradition of cuisine, where biryani and similar dishes are cooked in low flame in sealed pots. He received the fourth highest civilian honour of the Padma Shri in 2016, for his contributions to culinary art, and is the first chef to receive a Padma honour. He is married and has 7 children. His children are into culinary business and own restaurants in India and abroad.
Imitiaz Qureshi was born on 2 February 1931 in a family of chefs in Lucknow, British India. He was born in the village of Kakori, 15 km from Lucknow. He started his professional career with his uncle and later joined Krishna Caterers which served food to Indian soldiers during the Sino-Indian War of 1962. He also worked in many local restaurants throughout 1960s and 1970s before he joined ITC Hotels in 1979. His successful culinary career began only after that, at the age of around 50. After serving at different locations of ITC for many years, he became Master Chef. He was a state-level wrestler during his younger days, who later turned a chef by profession.
Published: May 03, 2019
Updated: May 03, 2019
