The culinary journey
The Chefโs Story
For Chef Nikita Malhotra, the kitchen has always felt like home. Growing up in a family where food was an expression of love, she found her first teacher in her fatherโa cook, restaurateur, and caterer. Hours spent watching, tasting, and asking questions nurtured her curiosity and showed her how food could connect people.
At just sixteen, that curiosity became her first business. In 2008, Nikita founded Chocolate Story from her home in Pune. With determination and the support of her family, especially her mother, she grew it into a much-loved chocolate boutique. More than a decade of creating and running the business shaped her identity as both a chef and an entrepreneur.
Her pursuit of learning later took her to Le Cordon Bleu in Ottawa, Canada, where she trained in pastry and confectionery. Specialised workshops and courses continued to broaden her skills, adding precision and technique to the passion that had first drawn her to baking.
In 2021, Nikita founded Patisserie Quinconce, a luxury dessert kitchen studio in Pune. Through the studio, she creates desserts, develops products, and works with cafรฉs, restaurants, and food brands as a pastry consultant and dessert partner. She also shares her experience through workshops, student talks, and participation on culinary judging panels.
Away from her professional commitments, inspiration often comes from travel: discovering a dessert shop, exploring unfamiliar ingredients in a supermarket, or returning home eager to recreate a flavour. Baking remains her source of comfort and a space for experimentation.
For Nikita, a dessertโs beauty is only part of its appeal. Just as meaningful are the memories it carries and the happiness it brings with the first bite. That belief continues to guide her work, alongside a curiosity that keeps her learning, exploring, and creating.