Food for Thought Fest, the internationally recognized food extravaganza organised in Ahmedabad for the first time, drew to a close on Sunday, the festival ended with phoolon ki holi where more than 100 kg flowers were used.
Presented by Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation in collaboration with the South Asian Association for Gastronomy (SAAG), the festival was a delightful fusion of diverse flavours, cultural richness, and engaging conversations.
Maneesh Baheti, Founder, SAAG, said, “. The love and affection showered on us by the people of Ahmedabad is truly amazing. More than 10,000 food lovers visited the Fest over three days, which was beyond our expectations. We are immensely grateful to the people of Ahmedabad and our partners, including Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, participants, food industry leaders, and sponsors for making Food for Thought Fest a truly special and unforgettable experience.”
A highlight of the final day was a captivating panel discussion on royal culinary heritage, featuring Maharani Radhikaraje Gaikwad of Baroda, Gauri Mankar of Kolhapur, Nawab of Rampur, Yuvrani of Dhenkanal, and Rani of Kotwara, who delved into the nuances of royal cuisines, food preparation techniques, and regional ingredients.
Another engaging panel discussion centred on the theme of women power, featuring author Rashmi Uday Singh, Rohini Rana, Sonal Ved, and Chef Anahita Dhondy. They shared their journeys as cookbook authors, highlighting the challenges they faced and how they translated their ideas and recipes into published works.
A panel explored the nutritional benefits of India’s superfood Sea buckthorn and its international equivalents. Panellists Arjun Khanna, Monique Jhingon, Nahid Osman from Bangladesh, and celebrity chef Suvir Saran stressed incorporating antioxidants and whole foods into one’s diet.
Panel discussions also covered topics such as emotional eating during times of stress, and dietary insights from sports icons like Asian Games medalist Shagun Chowdhary and International Fitness and BodyBuilding Federation Pro Anand Arnold, and culinary masterclasses by renowned chefs like Nahid Osman, Dhruv Oberoi, and Anahita Dhondy.
Curtains came down on the event with a spectacular performance by DJ Rahul Pai.