Kishan and Radha Raikwar’s dream of owning both a business and building has been realised.

After purchasing a building from a friend in 2018, they embarked on transforming the former retail shop into a brand new restaurant
at 428-430 Pollen Street Thames.

The major fit-out required careful planning and with the support of friends and local tradespeople the premises slowly took shape. The couple are delighted with the outcome.

Kishan was 13 when he started his first job as a kitchen hand. He worked at various places, including The Claridges (a five start hotel in New Delhi India, where he acquired most of his cooking skills).

After arriving in New Zealand in 2001, Kishan worked in various places, starting in Wellington and working mostly as a head chef. He was head chef and restaurant manager at Whangamata Ocean Sports Club for four years at a time when there were approximately 5000 members and the restaurant turned over 700 meals a day during peak time.

He also worked as head chef/caterer for the Whangamata Club Inc., with a membership of around 4,500, turning over some 1500 meals a day at peak time.

Head chef and owner of Gastronomics since 2011, Kishan is an award-winning chef with over 30 years of experience in hospitality. Gastronomics been awarded for Hauraki Coromandel Business' award 2021 in hospitality category 

He is a member of the New Zealand Chef Association and has been a culinary judge for the last 13 years at the NZ Culinary Fair in Auckland. A current community Board member of TCDC in Thames Ward, A Board member of Thames Business Association (2019-2023)

He holds diplomas in food production management, money management, small business management, and hospitality management. Another feather in his cap is his expertise in vegetable, fruit, polystyrene, and ice carving.

Kishan and his hard-working wife Radha’s wealth of experience in hospitality means they can offer multi-cuisine, from old-fashioned Kiwi style, European, Asian and Italian to wild food.

Their passion for food is reflected in the next generation of Raikwars.

The couple thanks key personnel at Cool Electric, Brokenshire and Ross Ltd Plumbing Services, Peninsula Home Maintenance, Thames Structural Welders, Thames Concrete, O’Neal Engineering, Flooring First, Safe and Sound Security, Aon, the BNZ,

Bay Insurance, Art Effect, Vital Fire Service and Gateway Glass for their quality work and services.

“We’d also like to thank Murray and Roy from Whangamata, Derek the Tall Man from Paeroa and Grant from Te Aroha as well as mayor Sandra and the team at Thames-Coromandel District Council.

Also, a very big thanks goes to our old man Gary Lowe and old girl Fay Lowe for their huge help and support”