Meherwan Irani
He/him/hisYears of Participation
2018-2020, 2023
Meherwan leads a team of more than 300 as Co-Founder, Chef, and CEO of Chai Pani Restaurant Group, which includes nine locations: Chai Pani Asheville, Chai Pani Decatur, Botiwalla Atlanta, Botiwalla Charlotte, Buxton Hall Barbecue, Buxton Chicken Palace, Nani’s Piri Piri Chicken in Atlanta, and spice brand Spicewalla, which has two outposts in Asheville and Atlanta.
Meherwan grew up in Ahmednagar, in the midwestern state of Maharashtra in India, and he came to the U.S. at age 20. In 2009, he and his wife and business partner, Molly, introduced Asheville, North Carolina, to the colors, flavors and faces of India with Chai Pani.