LETTER from the Editor

LAUGHTER IS BRIGHTEST WHERE FOOD IS BEST’: the old wisdom of the Irish chimes with my personal sense of

hygge. Food can indeed make circumstances better. I’m a kitchen disaster, but every time the husband cooks up a bowl of spaghetti, it’s magic! The persistent lockdowns in India have shown us that all ‘travel’ within our homes inevitably must have the kitchen on the itinerary multiple times in the day. This is why

Travel+Leisure India & South Asia’s annual Food Issue is a labour of love for a team of food fanatics.

Our cover star and the man of the hour, Michelin-starred Chef Vikas Khanna, is a culinary genius who has become a household name globally. And with his charity work, he has proven that no matter where you are, your heart always belongs to your home (p. 30). We have restaurateur Samyukta Nair giving us a sneak peek into London’s dining culture and a list of must-visit diners for any gastronome visiting the city (p. 52), while the indomitable pioneer of fine dining in India, A D Singh (p. 28), and celebrity chef Marco Pierre White (p. 24) share their culinary wisdom in this delectable issue. While the F&B industry gets back up on its feet, sustainability must be factored into the equation. A feature on the industry’s most significant trend and its practitioners sheds light on the way forward for everyone (p. 46).

From a rendezvous with the repurposed cave dwellings of the 2019 European Capital of Culture, Matera (p. 60), to the cabin food culture of Kolkata (p. 56), Stockholm’s penchant for museum cafes (p. 64), Serbia’s delicious wines

(p. 72), and Argentina’s communal drink, maté

(p. 76)—this issue takes you on a unique culinary trail around the world. Our list of India’s most prolific food bloggers and Instagram stars will help you brush up your ‘gram game and offer some tasty kitchen tips along the way (p. 05).

In our other stories, the unique tribes of Omo Valley in Ethiopia and their ways of life are captured with beautiful nuance by a photographer and conservationist (p. 36); and Puerto Rico, which is ready to welcome

MY LOCKDOWN

I’ve been confined to my home for 90 days now, with limited movement outside for essentials. Every evening, the balcony of the house is my escape. The clear blue sky (the lockdown has ensured Gurugram remains pollutionfree), the occasional spotting of birds, and just taking in some fresh air have formed a routine of sorts—one that I must confess I have started looking forward to. As they say, seize the moment while it lasts.

inbound tourists this month, comes alive through a feature on its resilient residents, who are determined to rebuild their vibrant community after successive disasters (p. 104).

As the world cautiously, but surely, starts to reopen to a new normal, we cannot wait to embark on our journeys. Only this time, a bit more responsibly.