Four Inane Questions with Elephant Wings’ Ameet Malhotra
The metropolis of Kansas City was swept up in a culinary twist. Ameet Malhotra, the heart and sole behind successful Indian fusion dining, Elephant Wings, has emerged into the spotlight once again. It was his aim to satiate his homesickness for Indian cuisine shortly after moving to the city in 2001 that steered him toward this path. “I started recreating, like, three recipes that my grandma had written down for me”, Malhotra humbly recalls.
Finding the Perfect Recipe
His culinary journey began with inviting friends over for dinner parties and experimenting with the flavours he missed from home. From these small gatherings, his creativity and sheer determination led him to his popular dining experience, Elephant Wings. The restaurant offers an Indian-centric private dining experience with a twist. “My cuisine also has a dash of influence from my favorite band Metallica“, jokes Malhotra.
From Humble Beginnings to a Crowd Favorite
Malhotra’s journey from casual home cook to established restaurateur is compelling. He first opened his spot in The Iron District in North Kansas City, after a stint at Anousone at Strang Hall. These days, Elephant Wings is the talk of the town in the Crossroads, with Tikka Masala Poutine and Bombay-mi being popular favorites.
Malhotra’s unique culinary flair recently caught the public’s attention after claiming a win at Guac Your Word, a local taco competition. His entry-“the Cumin Chicken Crusher” won rave reviews from the crowd and garnered him the gold.
Facing the Inane Questions
We decided to catch Malhotra at his peak, presenting him with our lighthearted questionnaire. Humorously, he shared that two times is too many times to hit snooze on your alarm; goat brains were currently the strangest thing in his refrigerator; the cowbell was his choice of a musical instrument to banish and anchovies, surprisingly, were his enemies when it came to making a sandwich.
Standing Out in a Crowd
In a bonus 5th question asked, Malhotra candidly revealed that he would imitate an elephant if he had to mimic an animal to save his life. As well as bringing his love for Indian culture into the equation, he jokingly remarked that it was also the namesake of his restaurant.
Malhotra’s mixed love for food, music, culture, and a slight disdain for certain sandwich ingredients paints a colourful picture of the creative mind behind the hit restaurant, Elephant Wings.
