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Hunting in Nature’s Garden of Edibles
forage/foridz/ verb (of a person or animal) search widely for food or provisions All that is old becomes new is the way of the world. Millennia ago, our ancestors roamed the land looking for food. Later, with increasing urbanisation, the practice became restricted to indigenous communities. But now, there is a renewed interest in foraging with a growing emphasis on eating local, reducing our carbon footprint and reconnecting with nature. And people such as Shruti Tharayil, who conducts online sessions on wild edibles and medicinal plants, ac…
Deliciously vintage
Step into the vibrant world of heirloom tomatoes, where each fruit carries a story as rich as its flavours. Rooted in tradition, farmers select the juiciest, sweetest, and most colourful tomatoes each season, harvesting and saving their seeds to plant anew when the warmth of spring arrives. These valued varieties, evoke a sense of nostalgia for culinary traditions long cherished. As the global food scene embraces a renaissance of authenticity, they reclaim their rightful place at the centre of our plates. From rustic farms to gourmet kitchens…
International Coffee Day: An ode to Lorelai Gilmore and her favourite brew
Troy Dyer's (Ethan Hawke) advice to Lelaina Pierce (Winona Ryder) in the 1994 dramedy Reality Bites is actually quite sound. Sometimes all we do need is a cup of coffee -- and a little bit of conversation. And the pop culture figure who screams 'caffeine addict' has to be Lorelai Gilmore! On International Coffee Day, let's explore why fans of this beloved beverage see a kindred soul in this iconic character from the show Gilmore Girls. One of the best things about this brewtiful concoction is that it's the perfect stimula…
A Platter you cannot refuse
If you are a regular at Delhi’s Lodhi colony, rejoice! There’s a new player in town—Dos—that gives your old favourites from across the globe—sometimes also your biggest rejects—an unexpected spin, making them as easy on the tummy as they are on the eye. Food: The menu largely features regional ingredients—think raw banana, fish, kasundi, kalari cheese—and Dos scores in creating dishes that combine nostalgia with a modern thrill. An example is a dish served featuring split white peas and candy tomatoes, with a garnish of brown onions and radis…
A plate less ordinary
Think Rajasthani cuisine and dal baati, churma, laal maas, safed maas, come to mind. In touristy places like Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Udaipur, restaurant menus often feature these popular dishes. However, they highlight only a fraction of the region’s culinary heritage. Dig a little deeper and you realise that food in the land of royals has been heavily influenced by the region’s arid climate and scarcity of water, not to mention a past laden with warfare and survival. “Rajasthani cuisine is a masterclass in resourcefulness, especially in the ari…
Culinary seaman on top of the world
It is simply impossible to separate the chef from the artist when it comes to the Michelin-starred Virgilio Martinez—Peru’s de facto culinary ambassador, whose restaurant Central, in Lima, was judged the ‘World’s Best Restaurant 2023’, sponsored by S Pellegrino and Acqua Panna. The concept of altitude and verticality rules at Central. Martinez uses the Andes mountains, the Amazon river and rainforests, and the Pacific Ocean as his grocery store. “The tasting menu plays with the unevenness of altitude cuisine, going deeper into the locally ava…
Turning over a new leaf
Not sure if you’ve noticed, but the leaves have begun sporting an ochre hue, the winds are getting cooler, and the sun gentler. The shift in the season is evident, especially along some of Delhi’s most beautiful roads. The festivities are just around the corner too, with Lord Ganesh marking his arrival this weekend — could this be the beginning of the best times? I’d say yes. Speaking of turning over a new leaf, the city’s esteemed progressive-Indian restaurant, Indian Accent, which gave Delhi and its food lovers a taste of what re-imagined I…
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