Straight from the farm to your plate

TO EAT IS A NECESSITY but to eat intelligently is an art – was the basic concept of Healing Recipes – Back to Roots, an event held in the Capital recently to unveil a platform that advocates sustainability and wellness. It is an event where people will get to interact with Ayurvedic doctors and chefs, attend specially curated master classes, explore local cuisine, learn the trick of growing vegetables and spices organically, and master the art of making gourmet meals.

With an experience of 120 years, the experts at Kairali – The Ayurvedic Healing Village, and some of the leading culinary minds, designed Healing Recipes – Back to Roots, in an attempt to make people realise how food can be their biggest investment for happiness and wellness.

Speaking at the event, Chef Manjit Singh Gill said, “Food is the most important investment that we make every day, and yet in modern times we see food being defined as ‘junk’ and ‘unhealthy’. A thought I completely disagree with. How can something that heals and nourishes be harmful? Hence, it is imperative that food should be well balanced with the six tastes i.e. sweet, astringent, sour, salty, pungent and bitter.” Gita Ramesh, Jt. Managing Director, Kairali Group added: “Healthy food is what is prepared with love, is fresh, eaten in a proper environment and is non-toxic. The first chapter of Healing Recipes – Back To Roots is a conscious effort at food sustainability.”

Talking about the need for platforms that supports sustainability and wellness, Chef Vikas Seth added: “Healing Recipes... is a window into the world of food for chefs and others alike to experience the various culinary trends that have held centre-stage in the past five years. Food is divinity. It is not the ingredients that make food unhealthy, but it is the cooking technique that makes it unhealthy. Healing Recipes is an exciting journey that starts from the farm and culminates as a breathtaking dish on the plate. It is an opportunity to discover the wonders of food, philosophies and the culture of tastes,” said Madhulika Dash, Curator and Co-founder, Healing Recipes.

The idea behind this is to create a fascinating platform that brings forth ancient food wisdom and philosophy presented through modern culinary practices. They believe, ‘if it does not give you goodness, it is not good food’.