Diwali can taste completely different at home this year with help from Gymkhana Fine Foods.

By Sophia Charalambous

As the festival of lights draws near, homes come alive with friends and family, and this Diwali, Gymkhana Fine Foods is reinventing the festive table with restaurant-quality Indian cuisine, prepared in the home. Founded in 2022 by Gulrez Arora and Karam Sethi, the sauces, marinades and chutneys bring the flavours of the award-winning cuisine of Gymkhana to a wider audience. Behind the collection is Karam Sethi, founder of JKS Restaurants, who has helped launched some of the UK’s most acclaimed dining rooms, including Trishna, Gymkhana, Hoppers, and Brigadiers.

With Gymkhana Fine Foods, Karam and his team have distilled the essence of their Michelin-starred restaurant Gymkhana into a range of sauces, marinades, and chutneys designed for the modern home cook.“Our sauces and marinades are created to capture the depth and complexity of spicing you'd expect from a Gymkhana restaurant meal without the need for hours in the kitchen, specialist knowledge, or a long list of ingredients you might only use once in a blue moon,” Karam explains.

Crafted from premium ingredients and meticulously balanced spice blends, the range delivers Gymkhana’s signature flavours that earned them a first star in 2014 and a second in 2024, the first Indian restaurant in London to be awarded this accolade. “Because the hard work is already done for you, you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time adding those thoughtful touches to a celebratory meal — like drinks, décor, and atmosphere — that often get overlooked,” adds Karam.

“The joy of Diwali lies in the abundance of food and the warmth of bringing people together around the table to celebrate.” A Butter Masala, Rogan Josh, or even a Lasooni-marinated lobster finished with Goan Curry Sauce are all more accessible at home with this range.

Karam’s top suggestions include the Tandoori Marinade for grilled prawns or paneer skewers, Hariyali Marinade, fresh with herbs and spice, to transform corn on the cob. Gymkhana Fine Foods is an invitation to cook with confidence, and celebrate Diwali in style and no stress.

TOP 5 PLACES TO CELEBRATE DIWALI IN MAYFAIR
For those who also want to celebrate in public

JAMAVAR

For Diwali, Jamavar presents a limited-edition tasting menu of six courses, available for a short window from October 20-24th. The menu is carefully curated by their culinary team under Executive Chef Surender Mohan, featuring signature and festive specialities, such as Kawari Soft Shell Crab with blueberry ginger chutney and garlic as well as Duck Galouti spiced with black cardamom.

8 Mount Street, from ÂŁ140pp

BOMBAY BUSTLE

Bombay Bustle, located on Maddox Street in Mayfair, presents an annual Diwali offering, entitled Diwali: An Indian Feast from October 9 to 26.. A collaboration with Chetna Makan, it is an opportunity to discover dishes designed by Chef Surender Mohan included Aloo Tuk Chaat and Malabar Lamb Curry.

29 Maddox Street, from ÂŁ75pp

GYMKHANA

Of course, if you wanted to also experience the flavours of Gymkhana in the flesh there is the Diwali Tasting Menu with a non-vegetarian and a vegetarian version, with an exciting menu for both including Methi Malai Mutter Paneer, Beetoort Raj Kachori, Goan Cafreal Salmon Tikka, Wild Venison Biryani, and Kid Goat Methi Keema, all inspired by the exclusive “clubs” of colonial India.

42 Albemarle Street, from ÂŁ180pp

KANISHKA

Located on Maddox Street in Mayfair, is the fine-dining Indian restaurant from chef Atul Kochhar, known for emphasising pan-Indian flavours. Their 6-course Diwali Tasting Menu, available on October 14 to 21, showcases Indian flavours and British ingredients, such as Atul’s chicken tikka pie with cumin mix berry chutney and pickle stuffed cottage cheese in clay oven, roasted pepper chutney.

17-19 Maddox Street, from ÂŁ95pp

MANTHAN

Modern Indian restaurant Manthan, co-founded by Chef Rohit Ghai and Abhishake Sangwan, is inventive, fusing home-style cooking with professional techniques, with a strong nod to street food culture. Their Diwali Tasting Menu, with a vegetarian offering, available from October 17 to 20, includes a Southern Chicken Lollipopand Chicken Tikka Masala, while the vegetarians can enjoy an artichoke tikki and soya chop.

49 Maddox Street, from ÂŁ100pp

Gymkhana Fine Foods