About

Chef Akhtar Nawab

FOUNDING PARTNER & CO-CEO, HOSPITALITY HQ

Bio:

Akhtar Nawab is an acclaimed chef and the founding partner CEO of Hospitality HQ (HHQ LLC), a creative consulting and management group which offers bespoke solutions for culinary-driven concepts across the country.

The son of Indian immigrants, Nawab grew up in Louisville, Kentucky. He spent a lot of time in the kitchen with his mother, a native of Lucknow, a city in Northern India famous for kebabs, biryani, and korma. A passion for cooking, born in his small Kentucky kitchen, led him to an esteemed career at some of the most acclaimed restaurants in the country: La Folie, Bizou, Gramercy Tavern, Craftbar, and Craft. The latter received three stars from The New York Times and won the James Beard Foundation's "Best New Restaurant" Award during Nawab's tenure.

Nawab received StarChefs "Rising Star Chef award while serving as executive chef of East Village gastropub The E.U., before striking out on his own as chef/partner of Elettaria in 2008. Shortly thereafter, he began a stint of consulting work with Mexican restaurants, notably at the hotspot La Esquina, where he found he had a kinship with its tradition-heavy cooking style. In 2017, Nawab opened his innovative Mexican restaurant Alta Calidad in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, which earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand rating in 2018 and 2019 and continues to thrive as a neighborhood mainstay, Akhtar is also the chef advisor and partner in Bar Chinois in Washington, DC.

In addition to his work as a chef and restaurateur, Akhtar offers restaurant consulting services. The team has developed a niche practice in the world of food hall development, management, and innovation. Today, they are widely known as the country's premier food hall management firms with properties in Silver Spring MD. (Solaire Social), Salt Lake City UT. (The Local), Houston, TX (Lyric Market), Atmore, AL. (The Market) Wetumpka, AL. (Riverside Market), Wilmington, DE (Chancery Market), and Rock Row, ME, (Rock Row).

Nawab has been featured in various publications including Food & Wine, Bon Appetit, USA Today and Eater, and has appeared on NBC's "TODAY Show," CBS's "This Morning Saturday, PBS's "Simply Ming," as well as Food Network's "Iron Chef America" and as a regular judge on "Beat Bobby Flay." He has also been featured in the acclaimed cookbook Coco: 10 World-Leading Masters Choose 100 Contemporary Chefs (Phaidon, 2009) and J'aime New York: 150 Culinary Destinations for Food Lovers (Ducasse Books, 2012). In 2020, he released his own cookbook, Good For You: Bold Flavors with Benefits (Chronicle Books, 2020). Good For You embodies Nawab's passion for healthful, delicious cuisine, showcasing his trusted repertoire of wholesome recipes influenced by international flavors and refined by decades of professional training.

Akhtar lives on the Upper West Side with his daughter Ela.

Food should tell a story. Every event is an opportunity to create something meaningful- not just a meal, but an experience.

Our Story

Hospitality HQ

Hospitality HQ Catering was created to extend the philosophy of Hospitality HQ beyond restaurants and food halls bringing chef-driven hospitality directly to private and corporate events.

Our team combines culinary creativity, operational precision, and a deep understanding of guest experience. Every event is approached as a collaboration, with thoughtful planning and tailored menus that reflect the occasion.

Our Team

Chef Akhtar Nawab, Co-CEO

Chef Akhtar Nawab is a nationally recognized chef known for bold, thoughtful cuisine that blends global influences with modern technique. As the culinary force behind multiple Hospitality HQ brands, Chef Nawab brings a philosophy rooted in creativity, integrity, and hospitality. With decades of experience leading acclaimed kitchens and developing distinctive restaurant concepts, Chef Nawab has earned a reputation for pushing boundaries while honoring tradition. His cooking reflects a deep respect for ingredients and culture-layered with modern perspective and precision. Through Hospitality HQ Catering, Chef Nawab extends this philosophy to events, crafting menus that feel intentional, expressive, and deeply memorable.

Michael Wetherbee, Co-CEO

Michael has worked with some of the world's most renowned chefs, restaurants and operators including David Chang's Momofuku Ma Peche (awarded two stars by The New York Times), as well as Avroko's PUBLIC (one Michelin star) and Saxon Parole (awarded one star by The New York Times). In 2017, Michael opened Alta Calidad with his partner, Chef Akhtar Nawab, and has been instrumental in growing the company from a single restaurant to helming the diverse portfolio of food & beverage assets Hospitality HQ has today. Michael's range of operational experience spans from fine dining to fast casual restaurants, hotels, food halls, and beyond, affording him the unique ability to create dynamic and memorable food and beverage experiences for guests of any Hospitality HQ property.