Category: blogs

Unity in diversity, this clearly defines India. With more than 415 languages, diverse religions and geographical differences, India is rich in its culture and heritage. The cultural fiestas, thus, are equally extravagant and colourful. Of late, yet another trend is on the rise, that of conducting utterly flavourful, larger-than-life food festivals.

As such, every well-known restaurant in the country is cashing in on the trend and hosting one or the other food festival to give its guests a taste of

authentic delicacies from different parts of the nation. However, there are some that stand out from the rest.
The next time you want to visit a food festival and can’t decide which one, the below guide to 5 of the most amazing food festivals, in India, can be of great help.

National Street Food Festival, Delhi
How happy you would be if you could get the most delicious Kachoris of Jaipur, the delightful Puchkas from Kolkata and some lip-smacking Pav Bhaji from Mumbai, that too at the same time and place. Yes, you heard it right; the National Street Food Festival, conducted by NASVI in Delhi, will entice you with Indian street favourites that will make your taste buds span the length and breadth of Indian local food. In this festival, you will be able to explore the rich and diverse roots of genuine Indianism. You can also get to know some interesting cooking tips from the experts.

Make in India Festival
This festival is India’s favourite gastronomic do. This food fiesta exhibits various Indian cuisines with conventional recipes reverberating regional cultures. The food market in this food festival also has items from local entrepreneurs and NGOs. This festival is an authentic foodie heaven that one can get pleasure from while listening to music and enjoying diverse Indian flavours.

Asian Hawkers Market
The joy of being taken on a marvellous culinary trip from China & Japan to Bali & Vietnam, that too without stepping out of India, is unmatched. Alas, India’s foremost food festival mainly focusing on Asian cuisine makes its first appearance in the Capital. Be prepared to engage at New Delhi’s 17 different eateries including the 5-star ones. Also, trendy food-conveyer services resembling Asian Haus as well as The Pho Kart distribute delicious delicacies.

Sattvik : Traditional Food Festival
Sattvik was started twelve years back to endorse preservation of agro-biodiversity and create demand for wholesome crops that are rarely cultivated these days. The absurdity of growth is such that wholesome food is still eaten in the most developing regions. This festival tries to bring the lesser known, but supplement rich sustenance from these ranges to the urban masses. The celebration likewise plans to urge farmers to grow such products and increase their income.

Organic Food Fest, Chennai
Who says natural food is dull? Varagu/saamai cutlet, sola maavu dosai and thinai halwa were a portion of the dishes that enticed the taste buds of guests at the organic food festival at the Organic Food Fest, Chennai. The goal was to draw out the advantages of natural sustenance and pass it on to the society at large.
We’re sure you’ll love to make your taste buds travel in these food fiestas that blend diverse cultures on beautifully served platters. Don’t forget to try some, this year.

Organic food is finally getting its rightful buzz in India, with people rushing to their favourite grocery stores and online organic retailers and stocking up on freshly farmed organic fruits, grains and veggies. It is a well-known fact that organic food and products are safer and healthier for you and your loved ones – the absence of synthetic additives, pesticides and insecticides, fertilisers, sludge, artificial hormones and antibiotics makes for ‘clean’ produce, not to mention the environmental benefits that organic cultivation brings in. That’s not all; the good news is that there are several great restaurants in India that serve organic food!

Across India, especially in the metros and Tier I cities, organic restaurants are springing fast, due to the growing demand and awareness of the health benefits of organic food. Here are some of the best restaurants in India that serve organic food.

Lumiere
Located in Marathahalli, Bangalore, Karnataka, Lumiere is known for its contribution to organic farming and for preparing food that boasts of ingredients that are farm-to-table. Every ingredient used in the dishes is organic; no artificial preservatives, flavours or colours are added to enhance the appeal of the dish, instead relying on the natural and delicious taste of fresh organic ingredients. The food is prepared by using steaming, grilling, pan frying and boiling methods, with the addition fresh herbs and spices to up the nutrition content and taste of each dish. Lumiere serves a variety of dishes – vegetarian and non-vegetarian thalis, continental dishes, hot soups, fresh salads, specials, beverages and even desserts made with organic ingredients! A meal for two would cost approximately INR 900 at Lumiere.

Birdsong Organic Café
Nestled in the locales of Bandra, Mumbai (Maharashtra), Birdsong Organic Café s is often frequented by its patrons and new visitors for its tasty organic food. It is a pioneer restaurant in Mumbai for serving all-organic food, along with vegan and gluten-free dishes. Birdsong serves a variety of delicious dishes, skewing towards Continental cuisine – English breakfast options, various flavoured teas, fresh fruit and vegetable juices, warm and cold salads, soups and sandwiches, pizzas, pastas and risottos, vegetarian and non-vegetarian sides, and of course, a magnificent mains menu! A scrumptious meal for two at Birdhouse Organic Café will amount to approximately INR1, 400.

Rasa India
This south-Indian cuisine-serving restaurant is located in Indiranagar, Bangalore (Karnataka) and boasts of its affiliation to the UK-renowned Rasa India heritage. Rasa serves only vegetarian food cooked to wholesome perfection in authentic Kerala style, using only organic ingredients. The menu offers a range of options for breakfast, lunch and dinner – one can avail from meal options like the Box Lunch, Super set Lunch, Quick Lunch and the Diabetic lunch! The evening menu offers an eclectic spread of healthy soups, starters, Indian breads, mains and of course, delicious desserts. A meal for two would cost approximately INR 800.

Tattva Art & Fresh Organic Kitchen
The culmination of an endeavour to introduce organic food in Delhi and world-favourite dishes is Tattva, tucked away in Haus Khas Village, Delhi. This quaint and cosy 16-seater vegetarian restaurant serves some of the most mouth-watering dishes and refreshing beverages, all made from organic produce. In a nutshell, Tattva is a gourmet organic restaurant, serving world cuisine. Do try out their Cucumber & Mint Gazpacho, Pasta with Creamy Amaranth Sauce, Couscous Salad and Baked Fig & Almond Tart. A meal for two at Tattva may cost you approximately INR 1,500.

Green Café
Serving south-Indian cuisine, Green Café is located in T. Nagar, Chennai (Tamil Nadu), and is home to some of the most wholesome dishes prepared from organic ingredients. Friendly on the pocket and with an unintimidating ambiance, Green Café presents some authentic South Indian vegetarian favourites like Adisil meals, Uthappam and a delicious array of snacks. A meal for two would cost approximately INR 300.
It is a delight to see that India is home to several top organic food restaurants serving delicious and healthy dishes, thereby nourishing the patrons with wholesome and nutritive food while educating them on the benefits of organic food and ingredients.

In this age of Instagram and Facebook, almost everything goes on the wall. There are irresistible pictures everywhere of who’s munching what snack or who tried cooking what new. People these days are not only passionate about what they wear, where and with whom they hang out, but also what they eat and drink, where and how.

Last Saturday as we went out for a regular dinner outing and ordered regular paneer and dal makhani, an enticing aroma from the table next to us captivated our senses. And suddenly the food in our plates seemed oh-so-boring.

Are you making the same mistake which we made? When was the last time you tried eating something new? Update yourself about the top food trends before it is too late.

Keep reading for some snackable bites on latest food trends,

1) Indian street food across the globe
Don’t be surprised if you find queues in front of golgappa mobile trucks in London or rush in the restaurants offering pao-bhaji in New York. There’s growing obsession with Indian street food around the world. The exciting combination of flavours and spices of Indian cuisines is gaining popularity amongst consumers around the world.

2) Going the natural way
Food enthusiasts are showing a growing inclination towards the use of natural ingredients, may it be using homemade cheese or organic products. People now are more aware and want to avoid frozen and processed food. The idea is to minimise the use of preservatives and at the same time keeping the natural flavours intact. Authenticity in ingredients and sticking to the basics in cooking are the heightened trends of today.

3) Regional food goes mainstream
It seems like regional cuisines will finally get their overdue credit. There’s a surge in the interest and keenness amongst food critique and top chefs towards local spices and cuisines. Restaurateurs are bringing traditional servings from regions like Lukhnow, Bihar and Telangana to the table. From the small family supper clubs to chef-driven restaurants, everyone is ready to explore the lost taste of ethnic food. It is not surprising that the fascination that was once there for foreign cuisines has now shifted more towards an excitement for regional food.

4) Keeping it spicy
Chefs are going generous with flavours of chillies and spices. Infusion and blending of flavours with sauces and spices is particularly a widespread practice. Spice infused desserts and beverages are one of the top food trends. Particularly Sriracha from Thailand is a popular choice amongst sauces.

5) Eating mindfully
Dietitians and food gurus emphasise to be aware of what you eat. The informed generation is paying lots of attention to what makes their daily intake. With more and more awareness, weight management business models from yesterday are fighting for space, and custom made start-ups that cater to the knowledge-driven consumer, are finding new niches. Ideally, anything consumed in moderate amount is the key to a healthy diet.

6) How about a turmeric latte?
This healthy alternative to coffee has created its cult following around the world. While the age-old health remedy by Indian grandmothers, commonly known as “Haldi-doodh” involved adding turmeric powder to hot milk, its modern counterpart famous as “golden milk” as seen on the menus of cafes from the UK, is all about steamed almond milk with freshly squeezed turmeric juice and honey. On the spice front turmeric is certainly the star of the moment. From juices and teas to salads and curries, everything has a flavour of this rich ochre coloured spice.

7) Say yes to the bowl of health
Forget about plates, eating meals out of a bowl is the in-thing. Call them super bowls or energy bowls, the diet-conscious generation of today would pick them over a plate of salad. Gobble down a simple power-packed bowl for a meal, and you are good.
A mixture of grains, lean protein, healthy vegetables and sumptuous looking dressings gives an interesting flavour and texture to your meal. A serving of health, convenience and style, all in a single bowl!

8) Vegan again
With more and more chefs emphasising vegan cooking, this trend is carried forward yet another year. The recipes with pulses, lentils and beans are on the rise. Almost all good restaurants offer healthy vegan options which are equally tasty. Vegetables continue to be an enduring trend. Most of the top food trends indicate that the vegan craze is here to stay.
Spicy Indian street food to flavoursome regional cuisines, use of natural ingredients to spicy sriracha for cooking, benefits of power bowls to healthy turmeric beverages, the food scene this year has so far seen a lot of twists.

Other trends that are catching up are ice creams made with vegetables, coffee served in cones, healthification of fast foods, anti-happy hour drinking, cooking out of peels and discards. Not only all this, if you invite, now the top chefs will not hesitate to come and cook at your home. Concepts like pop-up food stalls and vegetables in spiral strings from last year are still a mainstay.

Up your food quotient by incorporating these top food trends to how you cook, serve or eat. And let us know which is your favourite trend.