This alliance amalgamates culinary mastery, gastronomic research, and evocative cultural narration to safeguard the epicurean traditions of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh through immersive experiences and sophisticated regional exploration.
The Culinary Lounge has partnered with Chef Michael Swamy and culinary researcher Mugdha Sudhir to document, celebrate, and share the rich culinary heritage of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh with wider audiences. By combining culinary craft, regional food research, and cultural storytelling, this partnership seeks to uncover lesser-known food traditions, explore indigenous ingredients, and highlight the stories and communities that shape Telugu cuisine. Chef Michael Swamy joins The Culinary Lounge as Culinary Head, while Mugdha Sudhir will lead Culinary Research and OrangeFigs, strengthening the organisation’s commitment to preserving regional food knowledge and translating it into meaningful culinary experiences.
This collaboration is founded on the belief that regional cuisine is more than just what appears on the plate; it is a reflection of history, geography, community, and generations of knowledge. Chef Michael Swamy will leverage his culinary expertise and storytelling to create experiences that connect traditional flavors with contemporary audiences. Mugdha Sudhir, a culinary researcher, food stylist, and cultural consultant, will focus on documenting regional practices, indigenous ingredients, and the cultural narratives behind local cuisines. Together, they will explore ways to make Telugu food heritage more accessible through research, culinary experiences, education, and cultural collaborations.
“India’s culinary diversity is extraordinary, yet much of our regional food knowledge remains undocumented. We need to go beyond serving these cuisines, we must understand, document, and create meaningful ways for the world to experience them. Bringing Chef Michael and Mugdha into this journey strengthens our ability to connect culinary craft with research, while ensuring the communities behind these traditions remain at the heart of what we do,” said Gopi Krishna Kishore Byluppala, Founder and CEO of The Culinary Lounge.
For Chef Michael Swamy, the association presents an opportunity to bring regional food stories to life through culinary creativity and thoughtful interpretation. “India’s regional cuisines offer an extraordinary range of ingredients, techniques, and traditions that deserve greater recognition. What drew me to The Culinary Lounge is Gopi’s vision of bringing this heritage to the forefront while creating new ways for people to experience it. I look forward to translating these food stories into thoughtful menus and culinary experiences that respect their origins while exploring new possibilities,” he said.
Echoing this vision, Mugdha Sudhir said, “Documenting regional food traditions means understanding the people, ingredients, and practices that have sustained them across generations. Through this collaboration, I hope to contribute to a deeper understanding of Telugu cuisine and channel this knowledge into research, food innovation, and culinary education, including through OrangeFigs.”
Taking Telugu Food Heritage Beyond the Plate
A key focus of the association will be Telugu Routes, The Culinary Lounge’s culinary tourism initiative for Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Supported by memoranda of understanding with both state governments and the Netherlands India Chamber of Commerce and Trade, this initiative aims to connect regional food traditions with travel, heritage, and local entrepreneurship. Chef Michael Swamy and Mugdha Sudhir will contribute their respective expertise to the broader effort of showcasing the region’s culinary identity and introducing audiences to its diverse food traditions.
The Culinary Lounge will also serve as the official culinary curator for the Hyderabad Biennale – Baoli Art Sangam, scheduled from 1st December 2026 to 10th January 2027. This initiative will bring together chefs, restaurants, rural entrepreneurs, women from self-help groups, and other culinary stakeholders to develop food experiences across heritage sites, creating opportunities to explore the intersection of cuisine, culture, and place.
Between January and June 2027, The Culinary Lounge plans to expand Telugu Routes to 15 Indian cities and four international destinations, Turkey, Dubai, France, and the Netherlands, subject to partnerships and logistical arrangements.
Through this association, The Culinary Lounge, Chef Michael Swamy, and Mugdha Sudhir aim to build a platform where culinary expertise and research work together to preserve regional food knowledge and create new ways to experience it. By bringing the traditions, ingredients, and communities behind Telugu cuisine into focus, the collaboration seeks to ensure that this heritage is not only celebrated today but also documented and carried forward for future generations.
About The Culinary Lounge
The Culinary Lounge is a Hyderabad-based culinary enterprise founded by Gopi Byluppala. Its offerings span corporate culinary experiences, private chef and kitchen management services, curated dining, children’s culinary education through OrangeFigs, culinary research, tourism, and experiential brand integrations. Through initiatives such as Telugu Routes, it connects the culinary heritage of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh with contemporary hospitality, cultural exchange, and global audiences.
