In conversation with founder and Head chef, Needa Khan
There was a quiet hum of people’s conversations in the background on the day I entered the café for my chat with Needa Khan. It was the kind of warmth that had nothing to do with the
yellow lights strung overhead, or the cozy decal of a bookshelf that almost felt like a hug to
anyone who revels in the comfort of a library. Instead, it was a feeling brought to life by the smell of cinnamon, like a wafting wave of promises that tasted as sweet as they smelled. I glanced into the windows in wonder at a place that not only looked like it was straight out of astorybook but also felt like it. That, to begin with, is one of the primary triumphs of a place likeChantilly: its ability to create a welcoming warmth (one that doesn’t stop just at human patrons,but also extends to Audacity the Cat, Disco & Cocoa the Dogs, and other friendly neighborhood strays) while standing the test of time. In an age of once-successful businesses turning into cloud kitchens and eateries that change like trends, Chantilly celebrates its eighth year in 2025,making it the place that did something right. This conversation with the founder and head chef Needa Khan, riddled with anecdotes, gives a fun behind-the-scenes peek into Bandra’s favorite dessert spot, as we learn about what has kept it going today.
As I asked Needa about the origin of the place so many have come to love, she delved into an anecdote about one of the first things she learnt to make that went on to give the cafe its name: crème chantilly. A simple and elegant accompaniment to most desserts, Needa said that it symbolized nostalgia classically. This also formed the ethos for what she envisioned Chantilly to be: a place of indulgence and comfort. One where you could leave the frills at home, and show up to tuck into a warm plate that catered not just to one’s refined dessert sensibilities, but the craving of the inner fat child who simply loved cake. Inclined to pastry arts from the very beginning, she shares that her catalyst for creativity came from two main sources:the experiences of her childhood, and the places she’s traveled to as an adult.
What started with a hankering for a waffle she’d eaten in New York City and sorely missed upon her return, turned into an exercise in recreating it as closely as possible. Multiple batches of trial-and- error later, she succeeded, only to be filled with a resounding need to share what she’d made.
Thus began the solidification of her plan to “put those recipes out there.” Needa explains the gap she identified in the market, where so often, there lacked a go-to spot for simple desserts.
One would have to hunt for a good slice of chocolate cake outside of acclaimed restaurants or pastry chains. If one were to order from a home-baker, preordering in large quantities would be an unspoken rule. There existed a gap for an authentic fermented waffle, or a decadent cheesecake that was easily accessible. Additionally, the taste and quality of certain desserts at larger chains were sacrificed for the sake of serving eggless renditions. This realization formed the cornerstone for everything that flies out of Chantilly’s kitchen today: they must pass her litmus test, which is informed by the knowledge of each confection’s authentic flavor. Every item on the menu, especially if eggless, is served only once it meets the exacting standards she sets for it (a commendable feat for someone whose clientele comprises a population subscribing to varying degrees of vegetarianism).
To achieve this, it would be necessary to have uniform grammar, pronunciation and more common words. If several languages coalesce, the grammar of the resulting language is more simple and regular than that of the individual languages.
Preserving Cultural Heritage
Challenges and Solutions
The new common language will be more simple and regular than the existing European languages. It will be as simple as Occidental; in fact, it will be Occidental. To an English person, it will seem like simplified English, as a skeptical Cambridge friend of mine told me what Occidental is. The European languages are members of the same family. Their separate existence is a myth.
Embracing Diversity in Communities
The new common language will be more simple and regular than the existing European languages. It will be as simple as Occidental; in fact, it will be Occidental. To an English person, it will seem like simplified English, as a skeptical Cambridge friend of mine told me what Occidental is. The European languages are members of the same family. Their separate existence is a myth.
Cultural Identity in a Globalized World
The new common language will be more simple and regular than the existing European languages. It will be as simple as Occidental; in fact, it will be Occidental. To an English person, it will seem like simplified English, as a skeptical Cambridge friend of mine told me what Occidental is. The European languages are members of the same family. Their separate existence is a myth.
To achieve this, it would be necessary to have uniform grammar, pronunciation and more common words. If several languages coalesce, the grammar of the resulting language is more simple and regular than that of the individual languages.
Maintaining Traditions
The new common language will be more simple and regular than the existing European languages. It will be as simple as Occidental; in fact, it will be Occidental.
To an English person, it will seem like simplified English, as a skeptical Cambridge friend of mine told me what Occidental is. The European languages are members of the same family. Their separate existence is a myth.
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