Kishan and Radha Raikwar’s dream of owning 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 started his first job as a kitchen hand at age 13. He worked at various places, including The Claridges (a five-star 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 primarily as a head chef. He was head chef and restaurant manager at Whangamata Ocean Sports Club for four years when there were approximately 5000 members, and the restaurant turned over 700 meals a day during peak times.

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.

As the head chef and owner of Gastronomics since 2011, Kishan is an award-winning chef with over 34 years of experience in hospitality. Gastronomics has been awarded the Hauraki Coromandel Business Award 2021 in the hospitality category. 

He is a member of the New Zealand Chef Association. He has been a culinary judge for the last 15 years at a food competition called the NZ Chef's Championships (organised by NZCA), previously known as the NZ Culinary Fair (organised by NZRA). He is a current community Board member of TCDC in Thames Ward, A Board member of Thames Business Association (2019-2023), a member of the Thames Rotary Club, and a former member of the Whangamata Lion Club.

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

Kishan and his hard-working wife, Radha, have a wealth of experience in hospitality, which means they can offer a variety of cuisine, from old-fashioned Kiwi style to European, Asian, and Italian, as well as wild food.

The next generation of Raikwars reflects their passion for food. However, their long-term goals differ significantly from hospitality; their son is now a qualified doctor, and their daughter is in the acting profession.

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, thanks to our old man Gary Lowe and old girl Fay Lowe for their tremendous help and support.”