From Gurukripa's 1977 Legacy to Premium Catering: Akshay Shetty Introduces Palate Specialty Caterers

Nearly five decades after the late Shri Narayan Shetty founded Gurukripa in 1977, his family's second-generation restaurateur Akshay Shetty has launched Palate Specialty Caterers. The premium catering venture sits under Passion Projects Hospitality and targets weddings, corporate gatherings and private celebrations.

Launched in 2026, Palate builds on the group's restaurants: Gurukripa Restobar in Powai and Thane, and Cray Craft Kitchen & Bar in Andheri, which opened in 2023. The aim is to bring restaurant-style creativity to event catering while keeping the flavours and consistency associated with Gurukripa.

On the menu

Menus cover regional Indian and South Indian specialities alongside Asian and Continental dishes. Signatures include Tacos Uramaki, which serves sushi in a taco format; Chef Amir Khan's Biryani, a long-standing favourite from Gurukripa's menu; and Churros with Chocolate Canvas Art, an interactive dessert. Live stations, grazing tables and customisable menus complete the offer. Standardised recipes and live batch cooking keep quality consistent across events.

Palate can cater for roughly 800 to 1,000 guests. In March 2026 it catered the Haldi ceremony of the granddaughter of V. R. Shariff, Founder and Chairman of Niton Valve Industries Pvt. Ltd. (Valvinox), for gatherings of up to 1,000 guests.

"Gurukripa has been an integral part of our journey, shaping our understanding of how food brings people together. With Palate, we are taking this experience into a new space, creating bespoke culinary experiences that go beyond conventional catering." – Akshay Shetty, Proprietor, Passion Projects Hospitality

Images: courtesy of Palate Specialty Caterers