January 29, 2026
FREE FOOD DISCLOSURE: MY MEALS WERE COMPED.
THEREFORE, I TIPPED THE FULL PRICE OF THE MEALS.
Ten years ago I remember reading about Chef Natasha Gandhi-Rue (or as peeps affectionately call her “Chef NGR”) opening The Kitchen (3622 N. Oliver Ave.) in Wichita. At the time, I thought to myself “Oh that sounds interesting. An International Culinary Chef for Williams-Sonoma is opening up a spot. I’ll have to check it out.” I think my first visit consisted of Chef NGR’s famous “Steak Diane.” It was fantastic. But I had no clue she would eventually end up on Food Network.
You see, four years later, Chef NGR appeared on Food Network’s “Guy’s Grocery Games” where she took first place. First place. And I was not surprised she had done so because had already proven to me that she knew what she was doing in a kitchen. Or at least the kitchen.
But it is not just her excellent food and willingness to try out new and interesting dishes that I have grown to appreciate about Chef NGR. It’s also her passion for the Wichita community, which has been manifested in a myriad of ways over the years. Like how every year on Small Business Saturday she spends the entire day going around and streaming “interviews” with different business owners to advertise their specials. Or hell, even the other day with the winter storms causing The Kitchen to close, her husband and co-owner Scott, went to a local donut shop and posted about the spot from The Kitchen’s page. So, yeah, when she asked me if I would be willing or interested in helping out with the “Battle of the Bowls,” I immediately agreed.
This is the final week to participate in picking what bowl will be added to the The Kichen’s menu and it’s a competition between The Indian Chicken Curry Bowl (on the left) v. The Tandoori Bowl (on the right). I went in the other day to try both. And while both were excellent bowls, and frankly difficult to pick a winner because each has its own unique qualities, my vote is for the Indian Chicken Curry Bowl. With that being said, if someone disagrees, I totally get it, because the Tandoori Bowl is great and has its own advantages too.
If you haven’t been to The Kitchen before, definitely put it on your list to do.
— TKG
