About Our Chef
Our Chef
Anita Jaisinghani, the chef & co-owner of Pondicheri, was born and raised in India and is of Sindhi descent. She developed a love for food early on in her life however trained and practiced as a microbiologist. Transitioning as a stay-at-home mother for her two children in Canada first and then in Houston, she gradually developed her love of food into a career, beginning with an out-of-home catering business & selling chutneys through Whole Foods. Her first restaurant job was at the famous Café Annie, where she trained on pastry for 2 years.
Following her time at Café Annie, Anita opened Indika in 2001 serving deeply personal dishes that illustrated her desire to portray Indian food in a new light and it had a glorious 15-year run. Pondicheri, her second restaurant, a casual bright sun-soaked spot opened in 2011, expanding with the opening of the Bake Lab + Shop in 2014 directly above the restaurant. With all her kaleidoscopic menus, Anita combines the complexities of Indian cuisine with leanings toward the ancient body of wisdom of Ayurveda, the magic of spices & the goodness of fresh, local ingredients.