Saikripa Sen Choksi is the true definition of a global citizen.
By the age of 20, she had gained exposure of living and exploring the cultures of different countries and cities like Delhi, London, Mumbai, Istanbul, Brussels and New York. This exposure gave rise to her keen interest in food, travel and exploration.
She has been a passionate foodie since her childhood, thanks to her Punjabi roots. Discussing food and where to find the best dishes seemed to be in the family DNA with numerous discussions, till date, on the best spots for chole bhature, or reminiscing the simple joys of eating at old time Delhi favourites.
She first got a hands-on experience in the hospitality industry with an internship at Swissotel Istanbul and then in Brussels, working at one of the first Modern Indian restaurants in the city.
She combined her passion for food into a fulltime business, by launching Escobar (India’s longest bar at 78 feet) with her husband, a decade ago. They developed and introduced the first Global tapas menu of the country that includes traditional Spanish recipes alongside Oriental and Italian favourites. This eclectic menu still stands strong and is loved by Escobar’s patrons ten years later. Escobar has developed a legendary reputation for its consistency, its valuable relationship with its loyal patrons from around the world over the years, it’s gorgeous expansive interiors and as a number one nightlife destination of the country.
Saikripa was able to create another opportunity to combine her love for food and travelling when she moved to Dubai. With endless dining options and things to do in the city, she started scoping the best places to get vegetarian food and check out different activities, sharing her recommendations and experiences on her Instagram @neonsalsa. Her effortless style and positive outlook in life are seamlessly embodied in her account, which has grown over the years, making her a prominent influencer in the region.
What makes Saikripa a unique influencer is that she’s also a restauranteur, and that gives her a unique approach towards every review as she understands the complete backend and front-end operations which enables her to share an in-depth review about the restaurant that very few can. She’s a perfect bridge between the restaurant and the consumer as she is able to communicate the restaurants brand ethos and culture to the customers, at the same time understanding the customers’ requirements and likes.
Her quest to find good food carried on to her travels around the globe, which led to her developing particular interest in not only enjoying mainstream fine dining restaurants, but rather discovering charming hidden gems in alleyways & corners of cities she’s visited. With her multi-cultural exposure growing up, her travel stories portray a unique sensibility & understanding of local culture and people, which is a treat to see on her Instagram page.
She is always up for an adventure and ready to try unique experiences, so you can be sure to find quaint cafes, street food options and fun discoveries on her travels!
She is also an advocate of animal welfare and currently a student at Mindvalley where she focuses on spirituality and becoming a better version of herself. Her adoration for theatre and drama prompted her to co-produced her short film Raakh which received the fastest 1 million views and became a record for any short film in Youtube history.