A Recipe for Success: Janeya Mehta’s Journey from Psychology to Culinary Entrepreneurship

In the words of Guru Rabindranath Tagore “Reach high, for the stars lie hidden in you. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal”. Few quotes sum up better the journey that Janeya Mehta has been on since she started ‘dreaming’. Janeya’s current designation as Co-Founder and Patissierwhich she has held for close to a decade now is hardly reflective of the expedition she has been on, as a lifelongstudent, an established classical dancer, a community volunteer and finally as an entrepreneur.

A student of psychology, with a silver medal from Delhi University, and a Merit-holder from the London School of Economics and Political Science, Janeya was busy pursuing a promising Human Resources career with companies such as Bain & Co., McKinsey & Co. when the calling to ‘take the kitchen seriously’ really hit. Only it was the professional kitchen with state-of-the-art equipment and tools at the famed Le Cordon Bleu, Paris. 

Shortly after her training at LCB, she and her childhood friend, Rishikant Bharadwaj, himself a trained chef from Le Cordon Bleu, London teamed together to setup HollyBellyFood Boutique, a niche catering company bringing European techniques and flavours to mainstream Indian catering, a first for the rapidly evolving Indian market of 2015. 

In the last 10 years HollyBelly has travelled quite the distance. From private and intimate dinners to Bollywood product launch events to international curations in Europe and Middle East to Weddings across India, the boutique has truly become a brand. In 2023, Conde Nast Traveller rated HollyBelly in the Top 9 caterers to book. While catering is what the brand is best known for, their customized festive gifting options truly stand out. With a side eye on the upcoming festive season, Janeya and her team are busy working on opportunities that will help scale the brand into a full-fledged experiential food company with multiple operating models within the next 2 years. An ambitious, open-ended goal they have set for themselves as the targets are constantly moving and trends rapidly evolving.

40 Under 40 Industry Leader 2024 Janeya Mehta’s journey doesn’t stop at food. As a mother, she brings the nurturing warmth of home onto every plate. For her HollyBelly is much more than a business. It’s a reflection of her life’s philosophies. Each dish is crafted with intention, designed to reach people, to connect communities, and to celebrate diversity and indigenousness. In her words “For us, Commensality – Eating at the same table – the concept of creating and reinforcing social relationships around food, is a sacred core value. It’s about weaving culture, history, and personal experience into every bite, creating a dialogue that invites people into her world. HollyBelly is not just a destination for food, it’s a celebration of life, culture, and a passion that refuses to be contained”.

The time she spent with the Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India, in the capacity of an advisor, steered her towards the need to look at the environment from the lens of sustainability. The zero-waste processes the company has constantly endeavoured to enhance adoption of is a step in that direction. Through mentorship and community engagements, Janeya strives to inspire others, helping them recognize their potential and encouraging them to break barriers. Janeya’s holistic approach to life reflects her belief that a supportive, diverse, and empowered society is essential for progress and harmony. 

Asked if there was another quote she turns to often and she quickly reveals “Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark.” – Rabindranath Tagore. A reminder for her that more often that not faith is all we need.