FUSION REVOLUTION
Chef Ranveer Brar combines traditional recipes with olive oil and says it’s become de rigueur for Indians
The Indian culinary scene has refreshingly evolved. The fascination with exotic food is now being balanced with our need to explore regional food of India. At the recently concluded HT Palate Fest, one could easily tap the difference. “What is a substitute for cream cheese?” was one of the many queries at Bertolli Master Class by Chef Ranveer Brar. Chef Brar, who had also come to unveil his book, A Traditional Twist, happily answered the question and obliged fans with selfies and signed copies of his book.
Bertolli Olive Oil had invited entries for the cookoff contest, to prepare a dish, keeping olive oil as a main ingredient. The winner of the contest, Garima Sharma and Anshika Sood, created Walnut Crusted Fish with Couscous and Vierge Sauce. Garima, said, “We picked Vierge sauce, which had the base of olive oil. Also, for the searing of the fish, we used olive oil.”
Talking about the brand, and his book, Chef Brar, said, “My association with Bertolli is very organic. I feel the right amount of oil and salt can make or break a dish. Bertolli gives you an advantage in offering three kinds of oil, which when used in right proportion can be extremely beneficial. My book is about making Indian food lighter. It has recipes from across India, cooked in a healthier fashion with olive oil.”
At the event, Riddhi Kapoor, India brand manager, Bertolli Olive Oil, said, “India has a diverse food culture. Since we cook most of our dishes in oil, getting the right oil is important. And, that’s where Bertolli comes into the picture. We want to ensure that our consumers are not compromising on the taste of their food and are yet getting a healthier deal.”
Talking about Bertolli’s association with HT Palate Fest, Kapoor said, “It has indeed helped us to interact with the right people.” On Brar’s book she said, “He has done all the recipes in different flavours of olive oil, where people won’t sacrifice their love for food but stay healthy.”