Our Chef's Expertise
Possibly one of northern India's best-kept secrets is the city Jammu & Kashmir. Some of you may know it for the Dal Lake, which is spread across 15 kilometers and surrounded by snow-capped mountains. This is the main location for many floating gardens, vibrant boat-based local markets and heritage Mughal gardens.
This is where Chef Neeta (also known as Chef Bansi) was born, a small city where much of the life and food has been influenced by Persia and Central Asia. Here, life is filled with color. The locals enjoy unique cultural dances, peaceful lake cruises, beautifully designed structures, and flavorful, vibrant foods.
When Chef Neeta was a boy, his wealth was determined by the rich love of food and family, rather than material wealth. His mother loved to cook, and one of her more colorful dishes was none other than Rogan Josh, a Persian dish cooked with lamb or goat, spiced with Kashmiri chillis, which sparked Chef Neeta's future love in culinary artistry. His dream was to cook food that transported people to his homeland.
To follow this dream, Chef Neeta decided to move to the United States and take up residence in California in 2012. Here is where he met his future mentor and closest friend, Manjinder Singh. Manjinder Singh took young Chef Neeta under his wing and invited him to come learn and work with him at his restaurant, Mantra Indian Cuisine. The two worked side by side until his passing in 2015, when Chef Singh left the entirety of his restaurant and legacy to Chef Neeta. After some time, Chef Neeta decided to expand his restaurant experience and moved to Hammond, Louisiana, in 2018.
Chef Neeta instantly fell in love with the Louisiana way of life and people. The rich culture, flavors and love of food felt like home, and he aspired to make it more permanently his. Thus, a few short years later, he and his wife, Jae, opened their restaurant together in Metairie, Louisiana, in 2020, named after his original place and mentor, Mantra Indian Cuisine. Not only did Mantra survive a world pandemic, but its name has also become a symbol of family warmth and unique flavors.
Flash forward to now, 2025, where Mantra Indian Cuisine has decided to expand its possibilities in Mandeville, Louisiana. Here, the tables might be new, but the faces, flavor, and love of food are the same.
