Meherwan Irani has spent time as a jewelry importer, car salesman, computer builder, and luxury real estate agent, and is now living his best life as a chef, restaurateur, and spice mogul. Meherwan is changing the perception of Indian culture in America through his spice empire Spicewalla and his obsession with Indian street food, which is on full display at his trailblazing restaurants, Chai Pani and Botiwalla.

Along the way he’s been named host of bon appetit’s Street Eats: India video series, one of Time’s People Changing the South, a Food & Wine Gamechanger, Southern Living’s Southerner of the Year, a guest judge on NBC’s Top Chef, and with his team he won the James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurant in 2022. Meherwan grew up in Ahmednagar, a small town in Maharashtra, India, and came to the U.S. at age 20. He now lives in Asheville, North Carolina, with his wife and business partner, Molly, and a minimum of two goldendoodles at all times.