INDIA TRIP — Chai Pani Restaurant Group

Chai Pani Restaurant Group India Trip

When we first opened Chai Pani in Asheville in 2009, we had a wild idea to take some of our team members to India. What seemed like a pipe dream then, came to fruition ten years later! We began taking team members on organized trips to India in 2019, and it has now become an annual excursion. Our goal is that the group returns to the US with a deeper understanding of Indian food and culture and the ability to share it with everyone who steps foot inside Chai Pani and Botiwalla.

Our most recent trip took place in January 2023. We sent eleven of our dear employees on an all-expenses paid, 10-day, street-food eating, mindblasting food tour of India, led by Meherwan Irani and Isaac Clay.

Who gets to attend CPRG's India trip?

We encourage all of our employees who have been with us for at least one year to apply to join us on the trip. Those who are interested in being selected submit an application sharing why they are interested in traveling to India and how they think it will change their experience working for Chai Pani Restaurant Group.

Scenes from the 2023 India Trip

Meherwan Irani led a group of CPRG managers during the first part of the 2023 India Trip. They grabbed lunch at the Taj Mumbai on their first day.
Isaac Clay led the rest of our CPRG team during the first part of the 2023 India Trip. One of their first stops was the Jama Masjid in Delhi.

ISAAC CLAY

TRIP LEADER & CHAI PANI RESTAURANT GROUP EXECUTIVE

What is your role within CPRG and how long have you been with the company?

I've been with the company since day one. Meherwan approached me and asked if I wanted to be involved and I jumped at the chance. I currently serve as Director of Growth and Special Projects. Also, I support the GMs in the various restaurants and help develop systems that increase sales, support our teams, and grow our concepts.

When did you first travel to India, and how many times have you been back?

I've been ten times. I went first with my dad and my sisters. My parents went to India in the 70's for spiritual reasons, and my dad took us to the same places they went. I don't remember much of that first trip, but I went back again when I was 18 and 20 to spend some time there on my own.

You’ve taken groups to India before outside of CPRG. Can you tell us a little bit about past trips that you’ve led?

I used to work for a gap year program that took college age students on trips all over the world. I served as a group leader, which was a combination of tour guide, mentor, and teacher. The India trips attracted a certain type of student: spiritually curious, more introspective. The groups I led were made of super sweet young people with huge hearts. We would be in India for three months, and would travel to 7-8 different cities and towns where we would take classes, do volunteer work, and dive into local culture. The trips were transformative for most of the participants and it was a great privilege to be a part of that experience.

What are some of the highlights of the trips to India?

It feels like a true honor to share a culture that I love dearly with people that might not feel confident enough to take a trip on their own. It's rewarding to push our team outside of their comfort zones and watch them grow. There have been dozens of moments just watching someone try a new dish, seeing their reactions never gets old. But we don't just eat, we also make sure to visit temples and religious sites. We often get feedback that some of the most meaningful moments of the trip are the cultural and spiritual experiences.

What are some of the challenges of leading a group there?

It's so incredibly different from day-to-day life in the States that it can be overwhelming. The juxtapositions can be disorienting and challenging to reconcile: there is incredible beauty and atrocious pollution, there are ancient cultures that are also totally modern, there's incredible richness of spirit and devastating poverty. It's important to be aware of these things before arriving, and to leave judgement at home. India can teach so much but one has to have an open mind and heart.