Noma has been celebrated as one of the world's best restaurants, but its kitchen culture has also drawn serious criticism. As accounts of alleged mistreatment by former employees continue to draw attention, Indian chefs who worked there have also shared their own experiences. On Table 1 with Vir Sanghvi, Naar's Chef Prateek Sadhu spoke about why his time at Noma remains one of his most valuable learning experiences. Chef Garima Arora, who also trained there, has shared her side of the story.
Prateek Sadhu Applied To Noma 10 Times
On Table 1 with Vir Sanghvi, Chef Sadhu revealed that he applied to Noma 10 times before securing a stage, which is a short-term placement that allows chefs to learn and gain experience in a professional kitchen.
He described the opportunity as one of the most significant learning experiences of his career, recalling that he was there when Noma was crowned the world's number one restaurant. "I think I had one of the fantastic experiences and the greatest learning experiences," he said.
Asked about reports of bullying and physical intimidation at Noma, Sadhu was clear about what he had witnessed. "I didn't see any bullying, honestly," he said. He denied experiencing physical aggression himself and said he was not aware of the incidents being discussed.
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For Sadhu, the distinction between demanding work and harassment was important. "I think we misconstrue pressure with harassment," he said.
Garima Arora Recalls A Tough Kitchen
Chef Garima Arora, who later opened Gaa in Bangkok, has also discussed her time at Noma with Vir Sanghvi. She said the atmosphere described in recent criticism was unlike the one she experienced. While she agreed that the kitchen was tough, she saw that intensity as part of working at the highest level of professional cooking.
"You're preparing for the Olympics here. I mean, your coach is not going to go easy on you," she said.
Arora also recalled being one of the only women in the kitchen when she joined. According to her, Redzepi acknowledged this and encouraged her to speak to him if she ever felt uncomfortable. "This is the Rene I know. This is the chef that I know," she added.