A competition organized by the 6th Earl of Mayo in 1869 to recruit a personal chef in Paris launched the professional life of Federico Peliti in India. After moving to Calcutta, the Italian entrepreneur expanded from culinary operations into hotel management, food canning, and photography, becoming a fixture in the social spheres of the British Raj.
Early Training and Migration
Born in Carignano in 1844, Peliti studied sculpture under Vincenzo Vela at the Accademia Albertina in Turin. Following his 1865 graduation, he served as a cavalier in the 1st Nizza regiment during the Third Italian War of Independence. His transition to the culinary arts began through associations with pastry makers during his military service. Following his victory in the Earl of Mayo's competition, he relocated to Calcutta, marking the beginning of his career in British India.
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After the assassination of Lord Mayo in 1872, Peliti established a bakery called O'Neill & Peliti on Bentinck Street. In 1875, he moved operations to 18/1 Chowringhee Road. By 1881, he opened a restaurant at 10 and 11 Esplanade East, while simultaneously expanding into the summer capital of Shimla. His Shimla café, located near Combermere bridge, became a hub for high society. He later founded Peliti's Grand Hotel at Bentinck Castle in Shimla and launched a canned food export business in 1884. His catering reach was extensive, including a luncheon for the Prince of Wales in Burma in 1891.
Photography and Legacy
Trained by Felice Bardelli, Peliti practiced photography alongside figures such as Felice Beato and Lala Deen Dayal. He established a laboratory at his Mashobra residence, Villa Carignano, where he documented regional subjects and his own catering events. His work gained recognition at the 1898 National Exhibition of Turin, where he earned a gold medal for his photography. Peliti handed the management of his Calcutta offices to his sons, Edoardo and Federico, in 1902. He returned to Carignano, where he died in 1914.
Fast facts
- Born: 1844, Carignano
- Died: 1914, Carignano
- Citizenship: Kingdom of Italy
- Occupations: Photographer, entrepreneur, sculptor
- Education: Accademia Albertina, Turin
- Known associates: Rudyard Kipling, Earl of Mayo, Angelo Firpo
- Honors: Chevalier (French government, 1889)
- Residence: Villa Carignano, Mashobra
Questions readers ask
Where were Peliti's most successful businesses located?
His primary operations were situated in Calcutta and the summer capital of Shimla.
Did Peliti have formal training in photography?
Yes, he trained under Felice Bardelli and maintained a photography lab at his villa in Mashobra.
