"Flavours are more robust and bold in parts of Asia, India and the Middle East. It’s tricky to infuse them while keeping it delicate," observes Vietnam-born chef Phuong Tran, who is set to helm the kitchen at Colaba’s Ellipsis. Raised in New Orleans, he began a career in engineering but found kitchen to be his calling and worked with accomplished names like Thomas Keller of the Napa Valley restaurant, The French Laundry and French chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten at Vong. He’s also opened restaurants in southern California. Excerpts from an exclusive interview:

Chef Phuong Tran