Head Chef of Gauri Khan’s Restaurant Says 'Fake Paneer' Controversy Boosted Business: “Everything We Serve Is Top-Notch”

Earlier this year in April, Gauri Khan’s Mumbai restaurant, Torii, found itself at the center of controversy after a food content creator alleged that the restaurant served “fake paneer” by sharing a video claiming the paneer turned dark when iodine was poured on it — a common test used to detect starch. The video quickly went viral, raising questions about the quality of food served at the upscale eatery.

At the time, Torii swiftly addressed the claims, clarifying that the reaction was due to soy-based ingredients in the dish and not because of any compromise in quality. “The iodine test reflects the presence of starch, not the authenticity of the paneer,” the restaurant responded in a now-archived comment. “We stand by the purity of our paneer and the integrity of our ingredients.”

Now, months later, Torii’s head chef Stefan Gadit has spoken out about the incident in an interview with Screen, calling the episode a “blessing in disguise.”

“When people point fingers at something baseless, it can actually make an impact,” Gadit said. “The ingredients, the quality — everything we use is top-notch. We had nothing to hide. The statement we issued helped people understand what really goes into our food. Food science is complex, and pouring iodine on a dish doesn’t tell the whole story. I know the creator had good intentions, but it wasn’t accurate.”

Far from hurting business, the chef revealed the buzz ended up benefiting the restaurant. “It actually boosted our business. I even gained 20 to 30 new followers on Instagram,” he joked.

The YouTuber behind the viral post, Sarthak Sachdeva, later took down the video after Torii’s clarification.

Torii, co-owned by Gauri Khan, opened its doors on Valentine’s Day last year with a glamorous launch event attended by celebs like Sussanne Khan, Maheep Kapoor, Bhavana Pandey, Neelam Kothari, and Seema Sajdeh.