His name is Prasad Chirnomula, but you can call him “doctor chef” — a rare honor recently bestowed on him by the Asian Countries Chamber of Hospitality Industry.
He’s also the “grandfather of Indian cuisine in Connecticut,” a nickname he cheekily calls himself as we sit down at his New Canaan restaurant on a chilly September morning.
If his name rings a bell, it’s because Chirnomula’s legacy in Connecticut runs deep. Chirnomula has been the mastermind behind restaurants including INDIA Restaurant & Bar in New Canaan and West Hartford, Oaxaca Kitchen and Thali Too in New Haven, Bombay Bar and Grill in Westport, Chao Chi in Newton and the restaurant that cemented his presence in Connecticut — Thali…