Karan Manavalan spent 15 years honing his skills in renowned kitchens like Oberoi Bangalore and Brunettis Dubai, but his true culinary passion was shaped in his Ammama’s kitchen, where fresh, soulful food was the focus.

In 2020, during the Goa lockdown, he recreated her famous beef pickle, which quickly became a favourite, even winning over his wife, Aishwarya, a cautious eater, who instantly fell in love with it.

After testing the pickle at pop-ups and friends, it became clear there was a deep love for Kerala flavours in Goa.

This led Karan and Aishwarya, his wife-turned-business partner, to open Chakos in Panjim, blending treasured family recipes with his passion for delivering authentic food experiences.