Ajay Harinath Singh Greatest Brand Leader 2018-2019

Rachel Goenka
Foodie Turned Entrepreneur
Rachel Goenka is the name and face behind the emergence
and evolution of The Chocolate Spoon Company, a chain
of restaurants, bars, patisseries, and bakeries. A person of
immense courage, she has proved that when your passion is the
inspiration behind your profession, success can’t be too far
Aglobally recognised young woman entrepreneur,
Rachel Goenka has redefined food - from merely
being a source of nutrition to a curated art form.
Her initiative The Chocolate Spoon Company has
introduced eclectic gourmet desserts that are nothing
short of an innovation in Indian restaurants. Rachel also
focuses on aesthetic presentation of food as she believes
that putting the food on platter is not enough; it should
be presented beautifully to enhance the overall dining
experience of the customers. To materialise these culinary
lessons she learnt during her international journeys, she
established TCSC with a vision to transformthe food
industry by bringing the Eclectic European cuisine in the
country in 2012.
Though she has a dual graduation degree in Journalism
and English from The Pennsylvania State University, she
chose to follow her passion for food and attended the
Ballymaloe Cookery School in Ireland.
She later got trained under the celebrity chef Rachel
Allen and also specialised in pâtisserie from Le Cordon
Bleu in London.
An Alchemist since Childhood
Rachel had always been interested in blending various
ingredients to produce something completely different and
artful.
Her love for food, the passion for cooking, and
inquisitiveness to experiment with different ingredients
and create new dishes have made her one of the most
successful entrepreneurs of the restaurant industry. Her
desserts not only tickle your taste buds but also give a
complete sensory blend of colours, texture and aroma.
The Language of Food
As a businesswoman, Rachel goes beyond the language
of money, profit, and finance and uses the language of
food instead. With 15 outlets and 2 central kitchens in
and across Mumbai and Pune, she has added extra stars
to her portfolio and intends to continue this journey. She
“Rachel’s
initiative The
Chocolate
Spoon Company
has introduced
eclectic &
innovative
gourmet
desserts”
wholeheartedly acknowledges the contribution of
her staff members and employees in making TCSC
a pioneering name in the restaurant industry. To her,
employees are the most vital ingredients that help
prepare a successful business platter.
With the best food, Rachel also believes in offering
a relaxing and rejuvenating ambiance for customers
to enjoy the delicacies. Besides, all TCSC restaurants
offer a menu that suits the needs of people who
are either generally health-conscious or follow any
medically recommended dietary restrictions. Thus,
food prepared and served under Rachel’s supervision
is a blend of three essential factors - taste, ambience,
and health.
TCSC is not the only initiative that Rachel is known
for. Some of the well-known brands that she owns
include a European restaurant The Sassy Spoon,
House of Mandarin, Baraza Bars and Bites, and the
Sassy Teaspoon.
While most people try to suppress their love for
food, this food connoisseur did exactly the opposite,
and thereby achieved an unchallenged position in the
world of entrepreneurship.
124 | india’s greatest leaders 2019-20 |