PopUp Republic

Interview with Shuchi Naidoo, Founder of Twenty-Nine Calories Pop-Up Restaurant

Shuchi naidoo is the founder of Twenty Nine Calories, an innovative pop-up dining concept that creates modern Indian-inspired tasting menus for supper clubs, pop-up dinners, and private dining experiences in New York City. She has also partnered with large brands, such as West Elm, to create an enhanced, one-of-a-kind experience for customers.

• Q: What is your culinary background?

  None. I am a self-taught chef. I have always enjoyed cooking and am constantly practicing, experimenting, researching, and observing to hone my skills.

• Q: What led you to using pop-ups as one of the ways you promote and conduct business?

  They’re fun, unique, and non-monotonous. The foundation of my business is to be creative, and pop-ups allow just that. With out-of-the-ordinary spaces, decor, ideas, themes, and partnerships to work with, the sky is the limit when it comes to differentiating yourself.

• Q: How many pop-up restaurants have you hosted, and when did you begin? How hard is it to organize and operate a pop-up? Do you think that the more you’ve done, the more successful they’ve been? Do you enjoy hosting them? 

  Oh my, I doubt I have a count, but I would say at least ten since I started in June 2014 (so less than a year!). I’d say it’s pretty tricky to organize a pop-up restaurant. Having a new space to work with every time requires checklists, careful planning, organization, and buckets of patience! Not ...