Chef Pushkar Marathe’s culinary roots originate in the rich tapestry of flavors of his homeland, Nagpur, India, and cultivated through cooking with his parents in their family kitchen. At age 20, Marathe began his culinary training in Switzerland before embarking on a decades-long exploration of international cuisine where he gathered knowledge and inspiration from diverse global cooking traditions.

Following his travels, Marathe held cooking positions at restaurants in the Caribbean, the Cayman Islands, across the US, and the Middle East. In 2020, Marathe and partner Andy Dugard opened Stage Kitchen & Bar in Palm Beach Gardens, bringing all of Marathe’s culinary experiences and explorations together in a vital cuisine born of interwoven traditions.

In 2022, Marathe and Dugard opened Ela Curry & Cocktails, their greatly anticipated second concept that showcases refined and culturally focused cuisine from across India. In 2024, the duo opened Mango Mercado, a playground for Marathe’s culinary inspirations that features grab-and-go ready-made items and a curated market along with made-to-order breakfast and lunch sandwiches, soups, salads, and more.

In 2023, Chef Marathe was nominated “Best Chef: South” semifinalist by the James Beard Foundation, a testament to his talent, leadership, and ability to inspire both his team and patrons.