Since opening its doors in Mayfair in 2013, Gymkhana has redefined Indian dining in London, earning two Michelin stars and a devoted following for its bold, meticulously crafted approach to classic Indian cuisine. Now, founder Karam Sethi and his team at JKS Restaurants are bringing that celebrated experience beyond the restaurant's walls with Gymkhana Fine Foods – a collection of cooking sauces, marinades, and chutneys designed to help home cooks recreate the complexity and depth of their Michelin-starred kitchen.
This isn't about shortcuts or compromise. Every product in the range has been developed with the same attention to detail that defines Gymkhana's restaurant philosophy: slow-cooked tomatoes, fragrant khoya, carefully sourced spices, and small-batch cooking methods that preserve layers of authentic flavour. From the rich, velvety Butter Masala to the robust heat of Vindaloo, each jar represents a thoughtful translation of restaurant excellence into something accessible and practical for everyday cooking.
In this conversation, Karam shares the inspiration behind Gymkhana Fine Foods, the challenges of capturing restaurant-level complexity in a shelf-stable format, and how the brand balances authenticity with approachability. For anyone passionate about Indian cuisine – or simply looking to elevate their home cooking – this is an illuminating glimpse into how Michelin-starred flavours can truly come home.
What inspired Gymkhana to develop the Fine Foods at-home range, and how does it reflect the restaurant’s culinary philosophy?
Gymkhana Fine Foods was born from a question our guests often asked: how can they bring the essence of Gymkhana into their homes? With our mission to redefine Indian dining at home, we created a range that bridges restaurant excellence and the home kitchen.
Every sauce, marinade, and chutney is developed by chefs with a deep understanding of Indian cuisine, capturing the richness, balance, and complexity diners expect from our Michelin-starred kitchen. Gymkhana Fine Foods reflects our restaurant philosophy: authenticity, attention to detail, and bold, layered flavours. It allows people to recreate iconic dishes with confidence while enjoying the purest flavours of India and the memorable moments that come with them.
How involved were you in translating the complexity of Gymkhana’s kitchen dishes into these at-home sauces and marinades?
My role is to ensure that each sauce, marinade, and chutney reflects the same complexity and balance as the dishes we serve in the restaurant. The recipes are built on the foundations of Gymkhana’s dishes, adapted thoughtfully for home kitchens while maintaining the richness, depth, and authentic flavour.
What were the biggest challenges in preserving the bold, layered flavors of Gymkhana’s cooking for a product that’s shelf-stable and easy to use at home?
By carefully selecting the finest ingredients and adapting our techniques using ambient-friendly methods, we’ve managed to capture the richness, depth, and complexity of our restaurant dishes in every jar, giving home cooks a true taste of Gymkhana.
Indian cuisine is incredibly regional and nuanced — how did you decide which dishes or flavor profiles to include in the range?
Indian cuisine is wonderfully diverse, with each region offering its own unique flavours and techniques. When developing the Gymkhana Fine Foods range, we focused on dishes that best represent the richness and balance of classic Indian cooking, while also resonating with home cooks. We drew inspiration from our restaurant menu: curries like Butter Masala, Rogan Josh, Goan Curry, and Vindaloo, as well as versatile marinades and chutneys that showcase signature Indian spices. The aim was to create a collection that is both authentic and approachable, reflecting the complexity and depth of Gymkhana’s culinary philosophy, yet practical for everyday cooking at home.
For home cooks who are less experienced with Indian food, how do you envision them using the Fine Foods products — is it more about convenience, education, or both?
For home cooks, whether experienced or just starting with Indian cuisine, Gymkhana Fine Foods is designed to make cooking approachable without ever compromising on flavour or quality. It’s as much about convenience as it is about education; each sauce, marinade, and chutney is thoughtfully crafted to guide you through authentic Indian flavours while giving you the confidence to create dishes that taste truly special. We want people to enjoy the process of cooking, explore the depth of spices, and share memorable meals with their families and friends, all while bringing a touch of Gymkhana’s culinary philosophy into their own kitchen
Can you walk us through one product from the range and explain what makes it unique — perhaps a secret spice blend or preparation method?
One product that really highlights what Gymkhana Fine Foods is about is our Butter Masala Cooking Sauce. What makes it unique is the attention to detail in building layers of flavour. We start with slow-cooked tomatoes to create a rich, natural base, and then enrich it with velvety butter, fragrant khoya, creamy cashews, and the subtle warmth of Kashmiri chillies, fenugreek, and cardamom. Every ingredient is carefully sourced, and the sauce is cooked in small batches to preserve its depth and complexity. It’s this meticulous approach, the same precision we bring to our restaurant kitchen, that makes it special.
Were there any ingredients or techniques from the restaurant that you had to adapt — or leave out — for the at-home versions?
At Gymkhana, our cooking relies on time, precision, and the kind of equipment you only find in a professional kitchen, from tandoors running at blistering heat to long, slow reductions that build layer upon layer of flavour across multiple hours, or sometimes even days. For the Fine Foods range, our challenge was to capture that same depth and balance while creating something ambient-friendly and easy to use at home. Some techniques, like tandoor roasting or live coal finishing, had to be adapted, but the integrity of the recipes never wavered. We use the same high-quality ingredients, whole tomatoes, khoya, cardamom, and saffron, and employ those slow-cooking methods to achieve that restaurant-level richness. The goal was never to simplify Indian food, but to make the Gymkhana experience more accessible, without losing an ounce of its soul.
How do you balance authenticity and approachability when designing food experiences for people to recreate at home?
Authenticity and approachability go hand in hand for us. With Gymkhana Fine Foods, we preserve the depth, balance, and heritage of our restaurant dishes, while adapting techniques and timings for the home kitchen. The result is food that’s true to our culinary philosophy, yet easy for anyone to recreate and enjoy at home.
Is there a particular dish or customer response that has surprised you since launching the at-home range?
What’s been really exciting is seeing how people respond to our sauces and marinades in ways we hadn’t anticipated. For example, our Butter Masala is a favourite not just for recreating classic curries, but as a base for creative twists, from street-food inspired dishes to grilled vegetables. It’s incredibly rewarding to see home cooks experimenting and making the flavours their own, while still experiencing that signature Gymkhana depth and balance.
Looking ahead, are there plans to expand the Fine Foods range or introduce more regional or seasonal Indian offerings?
Yes, we recently expanded our range with three new classics: Korma, Tikka, and Madras, following a wonderful reception from customers on our core sauces. While we’re not quite ready to share what’s next, we do see exciting opportunities to continue exploring new formats, regional flavours, and other ways to bring the Gymkhana experience into people’s homes.
For more information, see gymkhanafinefoods.com
