Kerala tourism to organize international culinary fest

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Tourism, in association with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) is all set to organize a mega International event Spice Route Culinary Festival which will be attended by prominent chefs and embassy representatives from 31 countries that are part of the Spice Route Initiative.
Scheduled to be held at Bolgatty Palace in Kochi from September 23 to 26, the gastronomic extravaganza will also showcase the Kerala cuisine and its traditional spices, and provide the local culinary talents an opportunity to interact with the foreign participants.
Regional competitions or the qualifications rounds for local chefs in three locations (Kozhikode, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram) will be held from September 1 to 8 and the entries are open to both professional chefs and amateur enthusiasts.
“The culinary festival is a great opportunity to refortify our ancient links with the countries along the historical Spice Route. It will provide a space for exchanging ideas and promoting understanding between different cultures and traditions and also help facilitate trade opportunities with these countries,“ said tourism minister A C Moideen, while releasing the logo of the festival here on Tuesday .
The standout contestants, selected by a judging panel of culinary professionals, will compete in the finals at Bolgatty Palace and Resorts in Kochi on the last day of culinary festival.
The festival's highlight, however, will be the international competition that will feature chefs from 31 Spice Route nations whipping up dishes representing the cuisine of their home countries, but with a dash of spices from Kerala added in. “The regional competition intends to identify and promote Kerala's culinary talent and it will showcase both the strength of public participation in Kerala and its fabled cuisine," the minister added.
The filled-in application forms, available on the Kerala Tourism website http:www.keralatourism.org, should be sent via email or handed in by August 27 at the entrant's nearest competition venue (State Institute of Hotel Management, Kozhikode, Phone: 04952385861, E-mail:sihmcalicut@gmail.com, Food Craft Institute, Kalamassery, Phone: 0484-2558385, E-mail: foodcraftkly@gmail.com or Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology at Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram, Phone: 0471-2480283, 2480774, E-mail:principal@ihmctkovalam.org) Also to be included is a recipe for four portions of a traditional Kerala dish, highlighting the judicious use of traditional ingredients and spices and taking into account that each contestant needs to prepare and present five individual portions of the same dish, one each for the judges and another for presentation, within the three hours.
The winning entrant and two runners-up will be felicitated during the valedictory session.
“The festival will honour and rekindle the shared legacy of cosmopolitanism, commerce, connectivity and cultural exchange between the countries on the ancient and enduring sea link,“ said Kerala Tourism director U V Jose, who was also present on the occasion.