Spicezee Bureau
New Delhi: It was a foodie’s delight as gourmand chefs from India’s top hotels descended at the famed Dilli Haat to do what they do best- prepare some mouth watering delicacies, share some of their kitchen secrets and talk about their scrumptious profession.
The occasion was the 6th Gourmet Speciality week organized by the PHD Chambers along with Indian Culinary Forum (ICF); and Indian Federation of Culinary Associations (IFCA) in association with Delhi Tourism. The week is an annual event which is a run up to the Awards for Excellence in Culinary Art.
As a cool evening settled in the busy grounds of Dilli Haat, chef Karan Mehta from Le Meridien rustled up a simple salad and told us why he liked making it, “A salad is the most simple and healthy dish to make. It needs no heavy equipment and you can just open your fridge, pick up any vegetable and fruit and make a dressy salad.”
That was simple and healthy indeed. But is healthy food good to eat? “Of course! The clients are so aware these days about food. You just need to know what food has what calorie value,” he said.
Celebrity chef Rakesh Sethi of the cookery show ‘Mirch Masala’ fame followed the green trip with an Italian one. Before he started making Chicken & Prawn Mosaic, the chef invited a woman from amongst the guests to be by his side. “It gives me a sense of confidence if there is a woman by my side- women are natural chefs, men just learn to follow them,” he announced happily.
What followed was a complicated preparation which looked like a piece of art and tasted heavenly! It was a day of European flavours at the event. As we wondered aloud about Indian food, a chef came in with assurances.
"Indian cuisines and healthy organic food would be the special attraction in the gourmet week as they are in vogue," chef Vivek Saggar from Food Art told us.
The event will culminate in a multi-cuisine "Green Dinner" celebrating the International Chef`s Day on October 30 where on the platter would be organic, trendy and healthy cuisine.
First Published: Sunday, October 25, 2009, 17:34
