Chef
Avinash Shashidhara
- Discipline
- Chef
- Based in
- Weiden am See, Austria
i. Biography
Born and raised in Bangalore, India, Avinash Shashidhara learned flavor through markets and farm work before it became a matter of technique. That kind of start leaves a mark on the line: ingredients are read for freshness, season, and what they need rather than pushed into something louder. In Shashidhara’s cooking, that grounding shows up as clarity and control, with the food kept close to what it is already capable of being.
The Path
The progression through Hibiscus in Ludlow, The Old Bridge Hotel, and then Pahli Hill Bandra Bhai in Fitzrovia, London (from 2020), tracks a career built by accumulation rather than noise. At each stage, Avinash Shashidhara moved deeper into a style that favors ingredient-led cooking over distraction, with the dish taking shape from the product first. Today, Avinash is chef of Zur Blauen Gans.
The Work Today
At Zur Blauen Gans, Shashidhara works with traditional regional Indian dishes, family recipes, and modern technique without trying to flatten any of the three. The food is built to keep its regional memory intact while still landing with precision, balance, and restraint. The effect is familiar in its references, but tightened by contemporary discipline. The kitchen philosophy leaves little room for processed shortcuts. “I am not keen on fast food chains and processed food.” Read plainly, the line sets the frame for a way of cooking that starts with produce and treats recipes as something to handle carefully, not improvise casually. For Shashidhara, ingredient-led cooking is the baseline, not a style marker.
In Their Words “The smell of the wood fire and the breads was the best start to the day.” “I am not keen on fast food chains and processed food.”
Acclaim
Avinash's honors include Michelin Bib Gourmand and Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand.
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Avinash
Where did Avinash Shashidhara work before?
Avinash Shashidhara's earlier career included Hibiscus, The Old Bridge Hotel, and Pahli Hill Bandra Bhai.
