Main content starts here, tab to start navigating

We welcome you to Stage—an integrated, small-plates experience, inspired by diverse culinary influences from across the world. Discover innovative dishes interwoven with tradition, utilizing fresh and often local ingredients that come together in vital, new and flavorful ways.

Stage (Noun) Pronounced STAAHJ /

A culinary intern evolving their palette and skills through experiences in different kitchens around the world.

“The way I see Stage is like it’s a big tree. The branches are my travels all over the
world, but the roots are deep in India.” 

-Chef Pushkar Marathe

PUSHKAR MARATHE

Born in Nagpur, India, Chef Pushkar Marathe’s culinary roots originate in the rich tapestry of flavors of his homeland, cultivated through cooking with his parents in their family kitchen. Yet, his desire to experience something more drew him out into the world. At age 20, Marathe began his culinary training in Switzerland before embarking on a decades-long exploration of international cuisine. Marathe gathered knowledge and inspiration from diverse global cooking traditions from the far east of India to the western edge of California.

In addition to cooking at restaurants led by his mentor Dean Max, he has held cooking positions at restaurants in the Caribbean, the Cayman Islands, across the US, and the Middle East. In 2017, in collaboration with Niven Patel, Chef Marathe pushed the boundaries of Indian cuisine with Ghee Indian Restaurant, celebrating its fragrant delicacies alongside bold flavors. In 2020, Chef 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.

With Stage firmly established in the hearts of the Palm Beach Gardens community, Marathe and Dugard opened Ela Curry Kitchen in 2022, their greatly anticipated second concept that showcases refined and culturally-focused cuisine from across India in a dynamic selection of street food and fresh, daring thali-style dishes. A passion project for Marathe, Ela Curry Kitchen draws on his experiences growing up in India and inspirations from family and friends, most significantly the traditional cooking of his mother, whose influence resonates throughout Ela’s menu.

In 2023, Chef Marathe was nominated "James Beard Best Chef: South Award" semifinalist, a testament to his talent, leadership and ability to inspire both his team and patrons.

Marathe resides in Jupiter with his wife and son and continues to nourish his constant inspiration through cooking seasonal and regional cuisine— merging the roots of his home with the fruit of his travels.

Andy Dugard

Andy Dugard is a Liverpool, England native and maven of the Palm Beach restaurant scene. His entré into the world of cooking and hospitality began at a catering college in his hometown. While working towards a degree in hospitality management at Huddersfield University, he travelled to the US and interned at The Old Toad, an authentic English pub in Rochester, NY. After graduating, Dugard worked as a cultural representative at Disney’s Epcot Center at the UK Pavilion. He then took to the seas as the Beverage Manager for Disney Cruise Lines®. 

Dugard spent almost a decade as Manager and Company Trainer for Planet Hollywood locations in Orlando, London, and New York while working to open the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. Dugard transitioned to South Florida to serve as General Manager at Meat Market, Miami, while overseeing the openings of Meat Market locations in Puerto Rico and Palm Beach. 

In 2019, Dugard left his position as General Manager of Clay Conley’s acclaimed Buccan and Imoto restaurants to partner with Chef Pushkar Marathe for the opening of Stage Kitchen & Bar— an integrated, small-plates dining experience, inspired by culinary influences from across the world. Combined with Marathe’s vision and creativity in the kitchen, Dugard’s keen talent for hospitality excellence quickly put Stage on the culinary map. In 2022, the passionate duo realized their dream of opening a traditional Indian restaurant with the birth of Ela Curry Kitchen, which showcases refined and culturally-focused cuisine from across India in a dynamic selection of street food and fresh, daring thali-style dishes.