Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nitin Kamath. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Nitin, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
From a very young age, I understood that the only way to move forward was to take the next step—one foot at a time, step by step, always stepping up. That lesson became the foundation of my resilience. I’ve always been the kind of person who dives headfirst into challenges, trusting that I can build, adapt, and grow as I go along. When I moved to the USA, I decided I would become a private chef. Cooking had always been a blessing in my life—something I did naturally and joyfully for friends and family—but turning it into a profession and building a business in a completely new country and continent was no easy task. I committed myself fully, earning a Diploma in Catering from Penn Foster and registering my company, Swaad by Nitin. It has now been over three successful years, and I continue to grow each day. Along the way, there were moments when plans went wrong, but I learned that what truly matters is presence of mind—the ability to adapt quickly, act decisively, and keep moving forward. Resilience, for me, is not about having a perfect path laid out, but about embracing the unknown, turning challenges into opportunities, and trusting that every step forward—no matter how uncertain—leads to growth.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Let’s Talk Food: The Story Behind swaadbynitin (meaning Taste by Nitin )
I’ve always loved food—but what I love even more is cooking and feeding others. For me, food has never been just about the flavors on the plate; it’s about connection, storytelling, and the shared joy that happens when people come together around a table. When I started Swaad by Nitin, my only objective was simple yet deeply personal: to reintroduce Indian food from my perspective and to create experiences that bring together people who love food as much as I do.
What makes this journey so special is that it isn’t just about recipes—it’s about stories. Every dish I cook is tied to my experiences, the people I’ve met, and the foods I’ve been lucky enough to taste and now recreate. To me, cooking is an act of memory and imagination, where nostalgia meets creativity, and tradition finds a new expression.
Over the past three years, swaadbynitin as grown into more than just a private chef business. It has become a space for conversations, cultural exchange, and storytelling—where guests not only enjoy food but also experience the emotions and narratives behind it. One of my favorite parts of the journey has been curating intimate events, such as my recent series Ballads of the Konkan Coast, where I shared a five-course dinner inspired by my time living along India’s Konkan coastline. These events allow me to bring people closer to the essence of Indian food—regional, soulful, and deeply personal.
Looking ahead, I’m excited to expand this vision further. Whether through upcoming private dining experiences, collaborations with other chefs, or new themed menus, my focus remains the same: to keep telling stories through food and to create meaningful experiences that go far beyond just eating.
Food, for me, is the language I speak best. And swaadbynitin my way of inviting people into that conversation. Because at the end of the day, what better story can there be than the one written on a shared plate, among friends, with flavors that stay long after the meal is done?
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Looking back, I can say with confidence that three qualities have been most impactful in shaping my journey: resilience, perseverance, and love and respect for the craft. Each of these has carried me through challenges and given me the strength to keep moving forward. And at the heart of it all is something I hold close—my never give up attitude. Someone once told me that skills can be taught, but attitude is something you are born with. That has stayed with me, because no matter how difficult the circumstances, it’s the way you choose to show up that defines your path.
Resilience taught me to take things one step at a time, no matter how uncertain the road looked. Perseverance helped me keep going, even when plans didn’t unfold the way I hoped. And my love and respect for the craft of cooking—and the joy of feeding others—reminded me why I started swaadbynitin in the first place.
If I could offer advice to anyone early in their journey, it would be this: never stop learning. I consider myself a lifelong student—whether it’s culinary techniques or life lessons, there is always knowledge to be gained. You can learn from people you meet, from old friends or new acquaintances, from successes and just as importantly from failures. Every chapter leaves its mark on you if you are open enough to observe and absorb.
I’ve personally learned a tremendous amount about food not just in kitchens, but also by watching cooking and travel shows, and by being fortunate enough to travel across many countries and continents. Those experiences expanded my understanding of flavors, traditions, and cultures, and I carry them with me in every dish I create.
Ultimately, I believe it’s that ability to observe, absorb, and adapt that has been essential to my growth, and I attribute much of my success to it. The journey is never a straight path—but if you stay resilient, persevere through the rough patches, and stay in love with your craft, every step will move you closer to your vision.
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
As I’ve said before, I consider myself a lifelong student, and my journey has been deeply shaped by the many people who have crossed my path. Each of them, in their own way, has helped me build the skills, qualities, and resilience I needed to move forward.
In my younger days, it was the wonderful people from different walks of life who generously shared their culinary knowledge with me. They laid the strong foundation for my culinary journey and instilled in me the respect and love I still carry for this craft. My elder brother, Mithun Kamath, played an equally important role by teaching me life skills and lessons that went far beyond the kitchen.
But if I had to name the most impactful person in my life, it would undoubtedly be my wife, Vidhya. She has been my constant source of love, strength, and support—standing by me through my best and my worst. She is the love of my life, my rock, and the reason I have been able to keep pushing forward no matter the odds.
In recent times, I’ve also been fortunate to have the support of new friends and customers. Their feedback, encouragement, and generosity—cheering me on and celebrating every success—have only strengthened my desire to keep doing better. And I would be remiss not to mention my coach, Joya Dass, who taught me the art of storytelling. She helped me understand that stories are not just part of my supper clubs, but the very soul of my business itself.
When I look at my journey, I feel truly blessed to have had so many people around me who shaped, supported, and inspired me. Every lesson, every word of encouragement, and every act of generosity has become part of who I am today. And for that, I carry immense gratitude.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.swaadbynitin.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/swaadbynitin?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-kamath-7817a58
Image Credits
Vidhya Kamath & Joya Dass
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