Indians carry food from home on trips: Chef Manish Mehrotra

The fun, Food and Fashion at the fourth Mail Today Tourism Summit, saw panelists like celebrity chef Manish Mehrotra, fashion designer Suket Dhir, Parikrama's keyboardist Subir Malik and Shobha Mohan, founder partner of RARE India, indulge in an intriguing discussion on the importance of travelling and exploring in their respective fields, guided by the moderator chef Ruchira Hoon-Philip, co-founder of The Piano Man Jazz Club bakery.

Stating that he primarily travels for work, chef Manish said, "I travel to go and cook and show people what Indian food is. To tell them chicken tikka masala is a British invention and not traditionally Indian cuisine." He also pointed out the typical Indian habit of carrying home-cooked food whilst travelling, thus missing out on the local cuisine of their travel destination.

"Indians get scared of trying out food, especially vegetarians. But there's vegan food available everywhere in the world now. It's crucial to explore the place via the local cuisine," he added, confessing that he carries a packet of chaat masala every time he travels. Suket, who confessed to carrying a stack of meetha parathas made with sugar and sauf in it during roadtrips, said, "Handcrafted products are important till they serve a purpose. You have to spend energy to ask craftsmen to weave like their forefather did and evolve gradually whilst retaining the traditional elements."

Shobha said, "Everyone wants progress. For example, in the hills they have houses which don't have flat roofs. People there want the same kind of houses. But it's not practical in that terrain and we need someone to convey that to them." Subir reminisced about his travels. "We went on bikes to Kaza 20 years ago, where we collaborated with monks. We even went to Ziro about seven years before the festival existed. I'll always have a soft spot for Sikkim where we've jammed umpteen times.Read more at:evening gowns | plus size formal dresses australia