Asma Khan: Kitchen Abuse, Toxic Hierarchy and the Price of Success | Table 1 with Vir Sanghvi
Chef Asma Khan joins Vir Sanghvi on Table 1 for one of the most fearless, unfiltered and powerful conversations on the reality of restaurant kitchens. From calling out physical abuse and toxic hierarchies to taking on the biggest names in the industry and proudly refusing to bow to the King of England, this is a rare and deeply personal account of what really happens behind the pass.
In this episode, Asma reflects on her extraordinary and unconventional journey. She opens up about the crushing loneliness of moving to Cambridge as a young bride, the hilarious reality of hiding her first supper clubs from her husband, and how the smell of ghee from a stranger’s house saved her life. She speaks candidly about taking on industry giants like Gordon Ramsay, the glorification of toxic kitchen cultures, and the deeply lonely price of success. She breaks down exactly how kitchens are run, who gets heard, and who gets slapped.
Today, Asma Khan is one of the most influential voices in global hospitality and made history as the first British chef to star on Netflix’s Chef’s Table. But as she reveals, she isn’t done breaking the rules. She drops major news about taking a massive financial risk to move Darjeeling Express, her upcoming expansion to Dubai and why she will never stop fighting to rebuild the hospitality industry.
Table 1 with Vir Sanghvi, produced by Culinary Culture Studios, brings together influential chefs, restaurateurs, hoteliers and hospitality leaders for honest conversations about ambition, failure, risk and the realities behind building successful empires.
Watch the full episode and subscribe for more conversations from Table 1.
00:00 – “I Saw Bite Marks”: The Dark Reality of Kitchen Abuse
02:20 – From Kolkata Journalist to Global Icon
04:18 – Arranged Marriages & The Loneliness of Cambridge
11:13 – The Smell of Ghee That Changed Her Life
16:21 – “Beauty and the Beast”: Surviving Childhood Labels
23:18 – Surviving an Industry Not Built for Women
28:42 – The Toxic Brigade System & “Combat Sport” Kitchens
35:05 – Taking on Gordon Ramsay & Marco Pierre White
39:56 – The Pub Pop-Up That Built an Empire
42:31 – Hiding Secret Supper Clubs From Her Husband
49:52 – The “Spice Girls”: Building an All-Women Kitchen
51:37 – The Puchka Debate: Why Kolkata Does it Best
56:28 – Making History on Netflix’s Chef’s Table
1:01:44 – A Standing Ovation at the Berlin Film Festival
1:06:20 – Why She Rejected Michelin
1:10:18 – What’s Wrong With UK Fine Dining
1:19:31 – Refusing to Bow to the King of England
1:26:15 – The Big Risk: A New London Restaurant
1:32:54 – Expanding to Dubai
1:33:49 – Betrayals and the Deeply Lonely Price of Success
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24 Comments
1st comment from Nagaland 🙏🏼
Asma feels like such a refreshing voice in an industry where hostile work environments are glorified as par for the course. Truly an inspiration Asma ji, loads of love from Rajasthan <3
For anyone who has worked in hospitality. How close was this to your own experience?
Tell us in the comments below, we’re listening.
Love u Asma Khan, love the way speak for Indian and south asian women. Cheers to women who cook professionally and at home. Thanks Vir for this series, you are true foodophile, have been following ur writings for long time.
We salute you , Asma , you are amazing
Feminists are not man haters
Asma is a Feminist
Since Chef Asma Khan's episode on Chef's table, I have been fan of this Woman. Í hope one day I will get the opportunity to dine at Darjiling express
love you , asma khan ! you're an inspiration!
Asma is raw and unfiltered. Very Inspiring
You are the GREAT,
Eye opener in this industry,
Hats of to you.
Is Darjeeling Express halal?
1st comment from the family 🤗.. Asma apa this was such an inspirational chat as always ! Wishing you more success in 2026 🙌
What a legend !!👏🙌
Loved the interview…could identify with some parts, as I also come from a Muslim family from Calcutta and have gone through similar experiences. More strength to Asma khan and all women who have followed their heart.
Wonderful to know that people like Chef Asma exist the kitchens of the world have some hope thank you so much Chef 🙏
All of the so called Indian nawab royalties were founded by foreign Islamic mercenaries who were given jagirdaaris/landownership by the Mughal rulers/invaders or British invaders/colonists as rewards for their contributions in the war. So the bottom line is if you have money and power you can declare yourself royalty. Today’s royalties are Ambanis, Tatas, Adanis and others.
All the frictions she faced has polished her into a KOHINOOR.👍👍👌👌👌🌹🌹🌹🌹🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡
When was this interview conducted? Is she still planning to launch the DXB restaurant after all that's gone down there?! Bold.
Loved this episode! What a powerhouse.
Asma is a beacon of love and light 🌷🙏🏽
Darjeeling Express is a great place.Visit everytime I am in London.
I am in US i was brought up in delhi actually from kerala this place when i was small used to give gol gappa i5 was tasty now I remember they had kala chana and potato . It was not mashed but small cubed potato no where else i had that usually i5 would be mashed now when i go to kerala mostl6vthere are many north in dian joints managed by northi dians i miss my delhi tikki with dal spice something green and brown stuffing now days you get potato patties and they call it tikki
Small point: Chocolate is as Indian as the Potato, Tomato, Red Kidney Beans, Sabudhana. All these are from the Americas as well!!!
What a force of nature, really enjoyed this conversation.