Episode 30: Shammi & Mithu Malik

Join us at the Corner Booth as we visit Houston's "Musaafer", which was recently named one of the Best 100 Restaurants in the world by Time magazine.

Husband and wife owners Shammi and Mithu Malik share their compelling and unique story of their concept development and road to restaurant success. Musaafer translates to “traveler” in Urdu, one of the languages spoken in India. Not surprisingly, their concept was inspired by a culinary journey of more than 100 days, in which their team visited every state within the country of India. 

"It was most important for our executive chef to actually experience the various regional tastes rather than simply study the recipes," says Mithu. Shammi explains how architects using construction materials and furnishings from their home country of India created a guest experience to match the authenticity of the food. The restaurant takes guests on a virtual journey to India in a way that could not have been accomplished without such attention to detail. This two-year project resulted in a beautifully designed 10,000-square-foot facility offering seasonal menus for lunch, dinner, tastings, and private parties. 

Learn how their ingredients are sourced, their seasonings created, their wines selected, and their staff educated and trained so that guests not only taste but experience the rich culture of India.