Photograph by David Engelhardt for Find. Eat. Drink.

To TV audiences, chef Jehangir Mehta is the guy who nearly landed the bragging rights as the "Next Iron Chef" when he provided some serious competition for fellow cheftestant Jose Garces. But to New York restaurant patrons, he's the former Jean Georges pastry chef who incorporates Indian influences into French and American food at his diminutive 18-seat restaurant Graffiti in the East Village.

This fall, chef Mehta will open his second and larger venture, Methaphor, in the Duane Street Hotel in Tribeca.

We asked the chef to share his favorite places in New York:

FIND.

S.E.A. MARKET (52 15th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215, T: 718.965.6500, view map)

"They carry a variety of Asian products that I like to play around with."

EAT.

BARBES (19-21 East 36th Street, New York 10016, T: 212.684.0215, view map)

"They serve a lamb tagine with prunes, which is good. A lot of people in the US do not use prunes much with their cooking."

HAANDI (113 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10016 T: 212.685.5200, view map)

"They make great Biryani and I recommend you pack some up and eat at home."

TIFFIN WALLAH (127 East 28th Street, New York, 10016 T: 212.685.7301, view map)

"For a quick meal, I like South Indian food better than North Indian food. So, for me, a rava dosa at Tiffin is delicious."

DRINK.

PUBLIC (210 Elizabeth Street, New York, NY 10012, T: 212.343.0918, view map)

"I like the overall experience. Fun, good crowd and great service."

More F.E.D.

27 August, 2010 August's Top Five Top 5 recs from the month.

25 August, 2010 5 Chefs, 5 Knives Chefs knife recommmendations.

20 August, 2010 Big Cities, Small Places Chef recs for off the beaten track.

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