Baljits

Media kit

Everything press needs, in one place.

Founder biographies, restaurant portfolio, awards and a curated press archive — prepared for editors, journalists and brand partners covering Baljits Hospitality Group.

Founder
Baljit Singh Padda
Group
Baljits Hospitality
Based in
Oslo, Norway
Press contact
press@baljits.com
Baljit Singh Padda, founder of Baljits Hospitality Group

Baljit Singh Padda · Second-generation founder

Short bio · 60 words

Baljit Singh Padda is the second-generation founder of Baljits Hospitality Group in Oslo, the family behind New Delhi, Masala Politics and Barish. He grew up inside the family's first Oslo restaurant, opened by his father Gurdial Singh in 1985, and now operates three of the city's leading Indian rooms. In 2025 he received the Annapurna Certificate from the Indian Council for Cultural Relations.

Long bio

Baljit Singh Padda (b. Oslo) leads Baljits Hospitality Group — a family-run hospitality house operating Indian fine-dining rooms in Oslo. The family's hospitality work in Norway begins in 1982, when Gurdial Singh arrives from Punjab. In 1985 Gurdial opens the original New Delhi in central Oslo, one of the country's first Indian fine-dining rooms. Baljit grows up inside it — on the floor, in the kitchen, learning service as a rhythm before it becomes a business.

Four decades later he operates three concepts: New Delhi on Tjuvholmen (the flagship, relocated to the waterfront in 2018), Masala Politics on Frogner (2021), and Barish (2024). The group is privately owned, reinvests in new rooms, and trains its head chefs in-house. Press coverage spans VG, Aftenposten, Dagens Næringsliv and Finansavisen.

On 9 April 2025, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations presented Baljit with the Annapurna Certificate at a ceremony in New Delhi — the first Norwegian restaurant to receive the honour, awarded for promoting Indian culinary culture abroad. He works today as restaurateur, operator and cultural bridge between India and Norway.

Award recognition

Recognised in Oslo and in New Delhi.

2025

Annapurna Certificate — Indian Council for Cultural Relations, New Delhi (9 April 2025). First Norwegian restaurant to receive the honour.

2024

Repeated press coverage across VG, Aftenposten and DN for the group's three Oslo restaurants.

1985 — today

Continuous operation of New Delhi, central Oslo — one of Norway's longest-running Indian fine-dining rooms.

Full awards page

Press images

High-resolution imagery for editorial use.

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Baljit Singh Padda — portrait
Baljit — editorial
Annapurna ceremony · ICCR 2025
Interior — New Delhi
Signature dish
Barish
Kitchen brigade
Dining room
Bar programme

Web-resolution previews shown. Print-resolution files and additional imagery (kitchen, plates, founder, venues) available on request. Credit: Baljits Hospitality Group unless otherwise stated.

Press contact

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For interviews, image rights, restaurant visits and on-camera bookings with Baljit, write to the press desk directly. We typically respond within two business days.