Meet the man from the kitchen, Abhijit Dasalkar, at our Cheltenham restaurant, The Garden Room. Discover his delicious dishes and colourful cooking at The Greenway Hotel...
Abi Dasalkar spent his childhood collecting memories and experiences that feed into the chef he is today. From the age of 10 Abi had culinary blood running through his veins, he would eat, breathe, and sleep cooking. His childhood was filled with a wealth of culinary expertise from his Mother; Abi says “I think enjoying cooking is in my genes. My Mother is a great cook and very passionate about it. Growing up as a child, she was always praised for her delicious flavours and attention to detail in her home cooked dishes. I always wanted that kind of recognition hence why I took an interest in cooking from a very young age.” Abi got into cooking from the age of 10! Working his way up the ranks starting as a chef in 2004, dedicating 8 years to reach his first Head Chef role in 2012.
Growing up in his home country, India, Abi started training to become a chef from 1999, during these years a chef career was not considered glamorous but Abi stuck with his passion. In India he remembers they had limited exposure to European and modern cuisine, so Abi packed his bags and moved to London to complete a diploma in French Culinary Arts from Le Cordon Bleu in 2004. Abi benefitted from experienced tutors who were great chefs offering great advice about cooking and industry expectations.
A significant part of Abi's career has been keeping it in the Eden family, from 2013 until 2018 Abi worked as Head Chef in our sister property, The Arden Hotel, located in Stratford-upon-Avon before returning to Eden to his role at The Greenway Hotel as Head Chef since July 2020 and is responsible for the day to day running of the kitchen and all food operations. Abi creates each seasonal menu to ensure guest satisfaction and offer them a unique experience. He is also responsible for the training of his staff and nurturing and developing the kitchen team to allow natural progression. Not forgetting the very important operations of food safety, health and safety and hygiene standards. Food procurement and supplier relations is another vital task which Abi is responsible for, as well as financial responsibilities including all food sales, payroll, food costs and gross profits.
For any aspirational Head Chef, Abi’s words of advice are to ‘Keep focused, work hard and keep an open mind. Listen to your seniors and don’t try to run before you can walk.’ Looking back on his career Abi says he has no regrets and wouldn’t swap being a chef for any other profession. “It is my passion; I would blindly choose to be a chef over and over again.” When recruiting new team members Abi looks out for experience, sense of humour, a humble nature, flair, willingness to learn and a hunger for progression. As long as you have the passion for the kitchen, you will flourish in Abi’s kitchen.
You just have to glance at Abi’s dishes to recognise his passion for cooking. His presentation is utterly admirable, the colours that pop against his choice of tableware are extremely eye-catching and his combination of flavours burst in your mouth. Abi is renowned for working with the changing seasons and being creative with his food, he explains “Cooking is an amalgamation of art and science.” And this really shows in his final dishes. Abi describes his cooking ethos as fresh, seasonal, bold and authentic in flavour.
Not only is Abi passionate about the kitchen at The Greenway but his home kitchen is where practice makes perfect. His favourite dish to cook at home is Chicken Dum Biryani “My Way” and he makes a mean beef wellington to impress dinner guests. Local produce is the top of his list with Gloucester pork belly his favourite local ingredient to work with.
And finally, Abi has some top tips to follow when cooking at home:
And remember… Cooking is all about enjoying so Happy Cooking! If you would like to sample Abi's delicious dishes at The Greenway Hotel please call the team on 01242 862352 or click here to book online.
Looking for a dog friendly hotel in Cheltenham? Then enjoy a paw-some stay at The Greenway Hotel and Spa in a *dog friendly room.
We would like to welcome you to bring along your furry friend for a relaxing break. So, we have lots to offer for you and your pup, come and make yourself at home and explore the Cotswold countryside.
The Greenway Hotel is surrounded by eight acres of stunning grounds and with all the luxury of a 4 AA Red Star hotel, expect exceptional service from our team. When visiting The Greenway your dog is treated like canine royalty as soon as their paws cross the front door. We provide a doggy welcome letter, dog bed, bowl, toy and chew on check-in to ensure your dog has the most comfortable stay in one of the best dog friendly hotels in Cheltenham.
Although dogs are not permitted in every part of the hotel, they are welcome to relax in our Drawing Room whilst owners enjoy a light lunch or some refreshments. When the sun is shining, take them out on our terrace area where you can enjoy a refreshing beverage or delicious afternoon tea.
Our dog friendly hotel is set in Cheltenham, on the outskirts of the beautiful Cotswolds. So you simply can’t miss out on a walk in the countryside where you will experience an abundance of magnificent views. Please ask at reception for popular dog walks and they will be happy to assist. Then after you have worn out your furry friend, relax and enjoy and treat or two.
We charge £25.00 per dog, per night. If you would like to book a paw-some stay at The Greenway please call us on 01242 862352 or Book Online. *Dogs accepted in 'lodge classic' and 'classic' bedrooms only. We can’t wait to see you!
Discover our new and exclusive experience nestled in The Cotswolds acres, our new outdoor space ‘The Hide’ is the perfect space to enjoy intimate weddings and create extraordinary memories. The Hide is an outdoor experience with natural beauty and a variety of exquisite dining options, making it the ultimate intimate wedding venue.
The Hide is officially open to those wanting to enjoy special moments in our stunning outdoor space. Amongst the grounds vast landscape and the rolling countryside you’ll find The Hide, peacefully tucked away but bold in its beauty. The Hide has been created to offer a truly exclusive and unique experience. It’s a private hideaway that can be hired for those special moments and would make the perfect intimate wedding venue.
The Hide experience allows you to have a beautifully private wedding ceremony that you and your guests can enjoy. Enjoy a unique outdoor wedding here and explore the phenomenal grounds later on to continue the celebrations.
Weddings at the Greenway and specifically The Hide are luxurious and blissful everything you would want on your special day. We take care of everything for you from providing an intimate wedding venue to supplying award-winning dining options that cater to you and all your guests. Cosy, beautiful and memorable The Hide is the perfect place to say I do.
If you would prefer a larger celebration after your intimate ceremony, visit the website for more venue options.
As you may know the big day can be stressful and comes with a lot of pressure. The Hide has been designed with this in mind and offers happy couples a chance to opt for a more relaxed environment out in the countryside, to ease those stresses. The natural serenity of The Hide is great to settle nerves, and puts you at the centre of your wedding, not your worries or fears.
Choosing an intimate wedding venue also guarantees that you will be able to spend quality time with those that truly matter, your loved ones. Standard weddings can become overwhelming with hundreds of guests to greet and stay on top of, your special day becomes more about pleasing others than it does enjoying yourself. The intimacy this type of wedding venue offers adds to the experience, with the privacy allowing you to make room for more meaningful moments.
The Hide is also a great intimate wedding venue due to its uniqueness, you no longer have to conform to the traditional wedding venues. Choosing to have your wedding here would make it even more special and sets your wedding apart from most others.
Our exclusive The Hide menus will be coming soon, for you to view our delicious selection of high quality food.
Opt for an intimate wedding and create magical moments and memories with your loved ones at The Hide.
To book your exclusive experience or for more information on weddings and The Hide functions call the team on 01242 862 352.
The Greenway Hotel & Spa
Shurdington,
Cheltenham,
Gloucestershire,
GL51 4UG
(Sat Nav GL51 4UE)