Yajan Upadhyaya
Co-Owner/Chef
Cumin Indian Fusion Cuisine is a reflection of Yajan's life, merging the traditional and contemporary. Born in Bombay (Mumbai), India, Yajan moved to Boston, Massachusetts at the age of seven.
He credits his parents, Kirit (an architect) and Rekha, (a teacher) with instilling in him traditional Indian values and culture and a solid work ethic.
After studying architecture at Boston's Northeastern University, Yajan joined his father's firm, and took a project designing an Indian restaurant. He was bitten by the culinary bug and enrolled in Johnson and Wales Culinary School, Providence Rhode Island.
With four friends and partners, he opened Jaipur Café in Norwood, Mass; the Bombay Bar and Grill in Westport CT. Then came Chola, in New York City in 1997 and another Chola in Greenwich, CT in 1998.
In 2000, after a lengthy visit to India for culinary inspiration, Yajan came to Cincinnati because a friend in Bombay, had a brother in Cincinnati. They needed help opening Sitar, in Blue Ash. Yajan worked at Sitar for a few months and fell in love with the city and people of greater Cincinnati.
He literally happened upon the location for Cumin at 3514 Erie Avenue and opened Cumin January 1, 2003. He joined forces with partner and friend Alex Mchaikhi in early 2006, taking Cumin to the next level.
His proudest achievement: Yajan spearheaded the Tsunami Relief Effort of Greater Cincinnati. With less than three weeks planning, on January 19, 2005, the effort brought together over 50 restaurants and businesses along with 700 attendees to raise more than $60,000 for Tsunami victims in Southeast Asia. The group was honored in June, 2005 by Kasit Piromya, the Thai ambassador to the United States for its fundraising efforts. For the Thai Ambassador and the Tsunami Relief committee, Cumin hosted a five-course Indian-Thai fusion dinner.
Yajan has also volunteered his time and talent for 7 Days for SIDS, participating in Chefapalooza, HOMEARAMA Cooks for a Cause, and the Father's Day Brunch, Zoofari, the Council on Child Abuse, Tennis for Charity, Inc., Hurricane Katrina Relief and the Cincinnati Art Museum.
When not in the kitchen at Cumin, Yajan enjoys going to Nectar and La Mexicana.