All posts tagged: Food Festival

Dragon Boat Festival celebrations @ Yauatcha (1 MG Road Mall)

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The Dragon Boat festival is a traditional holiday that has its origins in China 2000 years ago. As with most festivals, the focus inadvertently shifts from the original purpose to the rituals of food and drink associated with it. So in present day India at Yauatcha, we are celebrating this festival by eating Zongzi and drinking some cocktails. The festival menu is available a la carte till the 30th of June, so let the celebrations begin!

Fatty’s Ode to Summer @ The Fatty Bao (12th Main, Indiranagar)

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I just got back from a mini trip to Dubai and the temperatures there, were lower than in Bangalore *gasp*! Thanks to the rains the past three days, we have all but forgotten the furnace that Bangalore was this Summer. My electricity bills tripled and the general grumpiness that comes with too much heat, has hung around like a sordid aura. We still have a couple of weeks before the official monsoon hits us, so The Fatty Bao stepping in to ease the pain with a Summer menu, sounds just about right. Running from the 20th – 29th of this month, it promises light and refreshing drinks & eats to beat the heat. My only grouse – when you put so much effort into a menu, the least you can do is run the festival a little longer 😛

Toddy Shop Shenanigans at Ente Keralam (Ulsoor Road)

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Kerala has the privilege of being Gods Own Country and the dubious distinction of having the most number of toddy shops across India as well. For anyone who has tried toddy, the fermented buttermilk-like-drink is no connoisseurs poison of choice, but it sure is the cheapest way to end the day on a ‘high’ note. For people like me however, the highs are linked to the very unique food that is ubiquitous of Toddy Shops in the state. Considering women are rarely never encouraged to go to toddy shops, I’m beyond thrilled that Ente Keralam has bought the toddy shop experience to me. Just one downer – Karnataka doesn’t let establishments sell Toddy in the state (without a special toddy license), so we’ll just have to make do with the food!

Grab your forks – DineFest debuts in Bangalore this February

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Curated three course dining experiences at a fraction of the a la carte rates across 10 exciting restaurants in Bangalore – now we’re talking! Taking off on the popular concept of Restaurant Week and Chef’s Table Week by its parent group, DineFest hopes to open up gourmet experiences to a wider audience. You won’t find the usual suspects here and that’s what makes it interesting. At INR 500++ per person, I hardly feel the need to elaborate on the deal!

Bao Chica Wow Wow @ The Fatty Bao (Indiranagar)

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Tis the season to be jolly, but for a whole different reason! A Bao festival at The Fatty Bao can only multiply your Christmas cheer. Fourteen different Bao’s compete for your attention till the end of this month. A mix of old favourites and new dazzlers, the #baowowfestival showcases why Fatty won Best Pan Asian Restaurant at the Times Food Awards two years in a row!

Spice Island Flavours in South Tamil Nadu @ Dakshin (ITC Windsor)

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You learn something new every day. Like there is a community in Madurai that has erstwhile Tamils who settled in Sri Lanka, who repatriated to Tamil Nadu. And that our very own Priya Bala is from that small and unique community. ITC Hotels under the aegis of ‘The Kitchens of India’ has been showcasing unique & undiscovered cuisines and cooking styles from across India. They now present “Spice Island Flavours” which is the food of Southern Tamil Nadu that has absorbed the influences of Sri Lankan culinary repertoires. This rare cuisine is on showcase at Dakshin, ITC Windsor till the 31st of August. I was invited last Friday, for a preview of the menu and a tete-a-tete with Priya, who lovingly curated and cooked the food of her childhood, alongside the chefs in the ITC kitchen.

Thai Food Festival @ Feast, Sheraton Bangalore Hotel (Malleshwaram)

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Spicy, Tangy and Aromatic – the unique character profile of Thai food that finds almost instant appeal everywhere. Thai food always ranks as one of the most popular cuisines in the world, and it’s no surprise that Bangaloreans have taken to it enthusiastically. Like Indian Cusine, Thai food differs substantially by region. While Thai Red Curry and Phad Thai have its loyal fan base, there is a lot more variety that begs to be tried. While seafood and curries with fresh herbs are favored in the south, you will find the spiciest food and meat based dishes popular in the northeast. Whatever the region, the ideal Thai meal is a harmonious blend of the spicy, the subtle, the sweet and sour, and is meant to be equally satisfying to the eye, nose and palate.

Amar Sonar Bangla – Bengali Food Festival @ Cubbon Pavilion (Residency Road)

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Bengali Food holds a special place in my heart. From standing in line at the Ulsoor Bengali Association as a nine year old waiting for Bhog to be served, or having the canteen attendant set aside extra rosagullas for me as a student in IIM Calcutta or finally being surrounded by so many Bengali’s at work that Muri Ghonto was as familiar as sambar. I am irresistibly drawn to this wondrous cuisine that has great reverence for its ingredients, method of cooking and perfectly balanced flavours. Like a moth to a flame, I land up at the Cubbon Pavilion for a festival that celebrates the land inspired by poetry – “Amar Sonar Bangla”. Chef Bhagmita Jena hails from Dhiga, a small town at the border of Bengal and revels in the opportunity to showcase a cuisine she adores, to the rest of the world. Years spent in the kitchen watching her mom churn out exquisite Bengali recipes cemented her love for cooking. The diminutive Bhagmita’s passion for her art is clearly visible in the spread …