Akhtar Nawab is the chef and owner of Alta Calidad and Alta Calidad Taqueria in New York and Otra Vez in New Orleans. He’s also a founding partner of Hospitality HQ, one of the country’s premier food hall management firms with properties nationwide.
With nearly 25 years of experience in the kitchen, the Kentucky-bred chef of Indian heritage has embraced Mexican cuisine, connecting the layered, complex cooking and ingredients of Mexico with the Indian food he grew up eating. Nawab’s ‘less-is-more’ style of cooking has earned him critical praise throughout the years, beginning with his experience in the kitchen at acclaimed restaurants like Gramercy Tavern, Craftbar and Craft, the latter of which received three stars from The New York Times and won the J
In April 2019, Nawab opened his innovative Mexican restaurant Otra Vez in the South Market District in New Orleans. Much like his own culinary style, Nawab has long admired the diverse cuisines and gastronomic influences represented in New Orleans. At Otra Vez, Nawab continues to build on his refined style of cooking, with dishes rooted in the big, classic flavors associated with Mexican cuisine incorporating the ingredients of Louisiana. In June 2019, Nawab opened Alta Calidad Taqueria (ACTQ), a fast casua