To Inspire:

We had a wonderful Wealth Summit last evening – our guest was Avishar Barua, a local chef who has captured not only the Columbus culinary scene but is gaining a national reputation through his appearances on Top Chef, Beat Bobby Flay (which he did!), and Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. One of his restaurants, Agni in German Village, was rated one of the top 20 new restaurants by Bon Appetit Magazine.

I had the pleasure of interviewing him last night and the wisdom and insights he shared are remarkable for an entrepreneur who is only 38. He talked about his decision to walk away from the career path his parents wanted him to follow (medicine) to seek the great passion and purpose he had in his heart – to become a chef. He talked about the power of a single act of generosity and his desire to help each of his guests have a better day, simply by the way they are treated in his restaurants. During Covid, Avishar and his team shared food with people in need. In an article about this act of generosity, he shared, “I may not have a philosophical answer to their struggles, but I can give them a warm biscuit with gravy on it.”

And perhaps most inspiring was his Instagram reflection after being defeated in his most recent Bobby Flay appearance (last week on Bobby’s Triple Threat). It reads, in part:

I replayed everything: the flavors, the plating, the spinach on my arm, the moment I said “yeah, that’s fine” when it definitely was not fine.

I spent a slightly less-than-healthy amount of time ruminating, feeling that I didn’t deserve to be among such high-caliber chefs – like I’d somehow tricked the Food Network. I even swore I’d never face a camera again.

But then I remembered why I started cooking. Not to win (though I’ll take a W anytime) – but to connect.

To make people happy.

To share lessons so others might struggle less.

To tell stories in flavors my parents didn’t always have words for – and to show that genuine hospitality can bridge almost anything.

Losing didn’t change that. If anything, it reminded me that growth rarely comes with trophies (still wouldn’t say no to one).

It comes from getting knocked down – three-stocked, bodied, blown away, demolished – and still wanting to cook again tomorrow.

I didn’t walk away with a win, but I did walk away with perspective, humility, and the knowledge that I can survive any critique as long as I’ve got a chili in hand.

Here are the lessons I took away from our evening with Avishar – perhaps they will be helpful to you as well:

• Through my words and actions, help make a better day for everyone I encounter.
• To do simple acts of generosity (as Avishar says, “a biscuit with gravy on it.”).
• To remember that in defeat there is growth and the opportunity to get up and start in again on living a life of purpose, a life of love.

Have a great weekend!

Written by Matt Palmer, Partner & Co-Founder