Ahmedabad: The Food for Thought Festival, a delightful amalgamation of flavours, culture, and conversations, kicked off today at the Sabarmati Riverfront. The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), in collaboration with the South Asian Association for Gastronomy (SAAG), organised the festival.
The festival was opened by the Minister of State for Co-operation, Jagdish Vishwakarma, alongside Ahmedabad West MP Dr Kirit Solanki, Rajya Sabha MP Narhari Amin, Ahmedabad Mayor Pratibha Jain, and others. Maneesh Baheti, Founder of SAAG, delivered the welcome address, stating, “We are privileged to organise the Food for Thought Festival, India’s premier luxury gastronomy event, in Ahmedabad. It’s not just a unique event for food enthusiasts, but also a distinctive forum for culinary conversations, cuisines, and a celebration of all things food. We have master chefs from across India and the subcontinent who will display their unique culinary skills. We invite the people of Ahmedabad to witness the rich culinary heritage of South Asia.”
The inaugural day featured an engaging panel discussion with renowned personalities such as Padma Shri Dr Pushpesh Pant, Rohini Rana from Nepal, Chef Rajith Abeysekara from Sri Lanka, and Nahid Osman from Bangladesh. An intriguing panel discussion on the topic “Conservation of Royal Culinary Heritage” included Anshu Khanna, Founder of Kitchen of the Kings, conversing with the royal families of Balasinor, Chota Udepur, Nepal, and Chhatari.
Running from 8th to 10th March, the Food for Thought Festival is a multifaceted experience with three broad segments – Food Fest, Thought Fest, and Fun Fest. Participants can embark on a culinary journey through South Asia, featuring talks, cookery demonstrations, food courts, bazaars, and live entertainment.
Everything You Need to Know About the Food Festival:
The Food Fest is showcasing two exciting themes – A Taste of Luxury and The Regional Flavour – where luxury hotels are providing a taste of luxury and showcasing their top dishes, and curated street food vendors are serving regional dishes. The festival also includes three distinct culinary pavilions: the Royal Pavilion, showcasing the cuisines of royal families; the Spiritual Pavilion, serving food offered as Bhog in Puri’s Jagannath Temple and Vrindavan’s Radha Raman Temple; and the Wellness Pavilion, serving modern Indian cuisines inspired by Ayurveda prepared by Celebrity Chef Gautam Mehrishi. The Coffee Pavilion by Sutra Coffee is a must-visit, especially for coffee aficionados, where they can experience the journey of coffee, from the farm to the cup.
Participants were treated to two cookery masterclasses by India-born British restaurateur and owner of Darjeeling Express Restaurant in London, Asma Khan, Chef Manisha Bhasin, Corporate Chef at ITC Hotels, and Celebrity Chef Suvir Saran. The day also featured the launch of Rohini Rana’s latest cookbook “108 Recipes from Nepal” and a captivating dance performance of Shiv Tandav by award-winning Chhau performer Govind Mahato. The first day concluded with a thrilling performance by renowned Sufi artist Farhan Sabri.
The next two days of the Food for Thought Festival also feature intriguing panel discussions, cookery masterclasses, live entertainment, and much more.
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