Geelong’s affectionately titled “Curry Queen”, Executive Chef Manpreet Sekhon, has launched a third restaurant, Elchi, bringing her passion for timeless Indian cuisine to Melbourne’s CBD.
Occupying the former home of Press Club on Flinders Street, Manpreet—owner of Eastern Spice in Geelong and Masti in Fitzroy—has breathed new life into the space, delivering modern and colourful Indian cuisine in a relaxed, yet sophisticated setting.
With the fit out still standing in its former glory; an intimate 60-seater, with curved leather booths and distinctive design details, like the striking gold ceiling lights, Manpreet is putting her own stamp on the elegant dining room, which she hopes will become a timeless CBD favourite.
Manpreet continues to push the boundaries of Indian cuisine in Australia. Over time, she has evolved family recipes, whilst perfecting her own technique which she is proudly showcasing at Elchi, in the form of a rotating seasonal menu. Showcasing several regions of India and her proud heritage, the inventive menu will cater to different palates and dietary preferences.
Elchi, which means “ambassador” or “talented”, shines brightly in the dishes, like the 24 Carat Gold Chicken Mussalam, tender chicken leg covered in garam musala and cashew paste, which has been carefully adorned with a delicate gold leaf. And the impressive Crisp Whole Amritsari Fish, which should be appreciated for its plating, before being shared and devoured. To finish, save some room for the Apple Jalebi, made with rings of sweet honey crisp apples, deep-fried and soaked in fragrant spices.
The cocktail list is equally as exciting and has been created with the menu in mind. Signatures include Elchi, a mix of ruby port, Dark Matter rum, grapefruit and cardamom bitter and Pink City, an elegant cocktail shaken with gin, hibiscus, pomegranate and lemon.
Born and raised in the Punjab region of Northern India, Manpreet has been cooking professionally for over 20 years. Having worked alongside an array of talented chefs in her formative years, Manpreet’s unique approach to cooking won the praise of Jiggs Kalra, the “Czar of Indian Cuisine”, as well as Master Chef’s Sanjeev Kapoor, a world-renowned Indian chef and entrepreneur.
After moving to Australia and settling in Geelong, Manpreet realised her dreams of owning her own restaurant with the opening of Eastern Spice in 2014, before launching Masti Fitzroy in October 2020, in the midst of the pandemic.
With the CBD showing positive signs of recovery, Manpreet is feeling confident the industry will bounce back strongly. She said, “I’m excited to finally bring my love of cooking to Melbourne’s CBD to demonstrate how boundless Indian cuisine can be, and I look forward to welcoming more guests as city workers continues to return.”
Elchi is now open for lunch and dinner service, Wednesday-Sunday and is now taking bookings. Whilst bookings are encouraged, walk-ins are also welcome.
For more information on Elchi, or to make a booking, please visit: https://www.
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