Catering by Tamarind
Where the Kitchen Meets the Occasion
Founded in 2020 by Chef Manoj Rana, a Gold Medal recipient at the 2015 Culinary Awards in Dubai and a veteran of kitchens at Burj Al Arab, Taj Hotels, and Emirates, one of the largest catering services in the UAE, Tamarind has grown into the New York’s most recognized name in modern Indian cuisine. Named Best Indian Restaurant in the Hudson Valley in both 2024 and 2025, our reputation was built in the dining room and is now carried forward, dish by dish, to every event we cater Tamarind Catering offers full-service off-site catering for weddings, private celebrations, corporate gatherings, and community events across New York and beyond. We bring the precision of a world-class kitchen and the warmth of genuine hospitality directly to your venue, estate, or chosen space, wherever the occasion calls.
Our Team
CHEF MANOJ RANA — FOUNDER, HEAD CHEF & CEO
Chef Manoj Rana grew up in Uttarakhand, India, and began his formal culinary training at the Himalayan Institute of Culinary Arts. His career took him across two of the most demanding kitchens in the world — The Taj Hotel in Delhi and the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, where he developed a cooking philosophy grounded in classical technique and regional specificity. In 2015, that foundation was formally recognized when he took home a Gold Medal at the Culinary Awards in Dubai, competing against some of the world’s most accomplished working chefs.
Chef Rana brought that global standard home to the Hudson Valley when he opened Tamarind in 2020. What followed was rapid and earned recognition: two consecutive years named Best Indian Restaurant in the Hudson Valley, and a catering program that extends the restaurant’s kitchen standards into events of every scale and character.
CHEF CHANDAN SINGH RANA — EXECUTIVE CHEF
With over 25 years of culinary experience, Chef Chandan Singh Rana brings deep expertise in large-scale hospitality and modern Indian cuisine to Tamarind’s catering program. He began his career in New Delhi with formal training at Hotel Broadway’s renowned Chor Bizarre, building a strong foundation in classical Indian cooking and disciplined kitchen operations.
His career includes leadership roles across some of India’s and Dubai’s most respected kitchens, including Qureshi Kabab & Curry, where he worked alongside Chef Imtiaz Qureshi and strengthened his expertise in international food safety standards and high-volume execution. He later joined the Taj Mahal Hotel, New Delhi, contributing to the celebrated kitchens of Varq and The Chambers, where precision, luxury presentation, and service excellence shaped his culinary approach.
Event Coordinator - Brianna
Brianna has been in the hospitality industry since she was 14 years old. Over the years she has built a career for creating meaningful, memorable experiences. “From the very beginning, hospitality has been more than just a profession—it’s been my calling…The joy of bringing people together, celebrating life’s moments, and ensuring every detail is thoughtfully executed continues to inspire me every day.” Brianna loves a challenge and was driven to deepen her knowledge while refining her craft. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality Management from The Culinary Institute of America in 2023. Now she is even more dedicated to turning visions into reality with grace, creativity, and care. Whether you’re planning an intimate gathering or a grand celebration, she thrives on turning unconventional ideas into reality, ensuring that every event is truly unforgettable.
– Call Our Team Today on 609-505-3712
OUR RECIPE
1- We Start by Getting to Know You
Share the details of your event: the setting, the guest list, the feeling you want the day to have and we’ll begin to understand what the table should look like.
2- We Get to Work on Your Vision
Once we understand your event, our team digs into the specifics: your venue, your timeline,
your guests’ needs and begins shaping a catering concept that fits the occasion precisely.
3- Your Menu, Built Around You
This is the step we look forward to most. We invite you for a private tasting where the menu comes to life on the plate. You’ll taste, respond, and refine and we’ll leave with a menu that is genuinely yours.
4. Seamless Logistics, Start to Finish
Tamarind manages every operational detail so that you don’t have to. We coordinate directly with your venue, planner, and any other vendors involved, handling timelines, staffing, and setup so that nothing is left to chance.
5. Your Day. Our Full Attention.
When the event arrives, our team is already there prepared, professional, and entirely focused on your guests. From the first passed bite to the final course, the experience we deliver is one worth remembering.
Awards & Recognitions
HOW WE SERVE
Buffet Service
Cocktail Receptions
Chef Tasting Menus
Drop-off Catering
Plated Dinners
Chef-attended Live Stations
Buffet Service
LET’S CONNECT
When the event arrives, our team is already there prepared, professional, and entirely focused on your guests. From the first passed bite to the final course, the experience we deliver is one worth remembering.