Food Fests 2015: The Best of The Best in Delhi and Gurgaon

If gluttony is your sin, watch out! The coming weeks are sure to leave you craving for more, as the sprawling lawns of Delhi and Gurgaon are ready to come alive with food and festivities. The passion for great food may be universal, but New Delhi is known to take its food very seriously. And entrepreneurs are taking full of advantage of this. So we’ve rounded up the best of the best just for you. Here are 6 exciting food fests, one different from the other and all set to take you on a gastronomical journey and make your love for food cross all borders.1. Foodistan and Toddy FestCurated by Chef Sabyasachi Gorai and Abhishek Mankad is the 10 Heads Festival i.e. 10 festivals rolled into one over a span of 4 days. Picture this: food, fashion, technology, arts and music. Yes, you and your family are in for a treat since the event aims to reinvent the concept of spending the day with your loved ones. Foodistan, one of the 10 festivals, brings culinary treasures from the nooks and crannies of the country to the capital city - Daulat ki Chaat, Mathura ki Kachori, Taufiq ki Biryani and lots more. Gourmet restaurants such as Rustom’s - Parsi Bhonu, Cafe Delhi Heights, Chaayos, Fat Lulu’s and The Beer Cafe have also been confirmed for the event, plus a Farmer’s market. Still not convinced? The event will also feature exclusive pop-up restaurants and bars such as Ibiza’s Bar Barlovento, Berlin’s FluxBau and London’s Mavericks Pizzeria, 23 Grosvenor Gardens & Atlantic Bar and Restaurant. Beyond the gastronomical experience is The Toddy Fest dedicated to mixology,
cocktails, wines and beers - all set to quench your thirst and satiate your cravings.When: October 22nd to October 25th, 12 pm to 10 pm
Where: Dhanchiri Camping Resort, Gurgaon2. The Gourmet High StreetA total food lover’s paradise. With a venue like no other and exciting features, The Gourmet High Street is back in Gurgaon with India’s best celebrity chefs under one roof. You name it - Manish Mehrotra, Vikas Khanna, Kunal Kapoor, Sarah Todd, Saransh Goila, Anahita Dhondy – they will be the stars of the show and this year, you can even learn cooking techniques from the masters in person in the first of its kind cooking studio. Restaurant pop ups, gourmet market, all things BBQ, international sommeliers, mixologists and great food all come together… we can’t wait!When: Dec 4th to 6th
Where: Leisure Valley Park, Gurgaon
Price: Rs. 350 per person (single entry) and Rs. 650 per person for all 3 days
 
3. The Grub FestIn April this year, around 1 lakh visitors indulged in cuisines ranging from Italian to Lebanese, Chinese to Mexican, et al at the first ever Grub Fest held at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. The food fest featured kitchens and restaurants across the city such as Fio, Dimcha, Smokeys, Zizo and Holy Smoke as well as home bakers and upcoming chefs in the capital city. And now, just a few months later, The Grub Fest is back and with a bang! They have upped their game this time around and included more restaurants such as Social, The Backyard, Indigo Deli, B Bar and Indigo for their October edition, plus a luxury zone curated by The Leela, Gurgaon wherein an international chef will orchestrate a unique Japanese and Italian fine-dining experience. And if that wasn’t enough, it will also feature some pop-ups and a multi-storied travelling restaurant. The highlights of this edition would be Grub Explore, where cuisines from different parts of India will be on offer and chefs mastering Kashmiri, Bengali, Iranian, Arabic, Coastal and Naga cuisines will hold workshops. The Entertainment section where artistes like Parikrama, Astitva, Nikhil Chinapa and others will perform. The event also includes a Grub Market offering a range of fresh farm produce and organic preparations such as jams, waffles, gluten-free cakes, biscuits and more.Where: Ambience Lawns, Gurgaon
When: Oct 23rd to 25th
Price: Rs. 200 for an Open Voucher
 
4. Asian Hawkers MarketAre you ready to go on an amazing culinary journey from China and Japan to Bali and Vietnam without stepping out of Delhi? Finally! India’s first food fest which solely focuses on Asian Cuisine makes its debut this October in the Capital. Get ready to indulge at New Delhi’s 17 leading stand-alone and 5-star restaurants including The Fatty Bao, Mamagoto, Guppy by Ai, En, Asia 7, Jade at The Claridges, Royal China, Pan Asian at The Sheraton, Yum Yum Cha, and Neung Roi at Radisson Blu Plaza over 3 days. Also, popular food-delivery services like Asian Haus and The Pho Kart are all set to dish out scrumptious delicacies. Note: The portions will be small, so you can sample lots.When: Oct 23rd to 25th
Where: Select Citywalk Saket
 
5. The Palate FestThe Palate Fest promises to turn nine acres of Nehru Park into pure foodie heaven yet again, with a melange of India’s finest culinary names. 50 top restaurants of the country will be setting up their booths such as Indigo Deli, Baking Bad, Amicii, Mistral, Jamie Oliver’s, Elma’s Bakery, Kylin, Wendy’s and Smokeys to name a few. This time around, there will also be a Market Square, including 30 stalls promoting Indian and International gourmet products and ingredients like The Sugar Story, Keventers, Nutty Gritties, Sinful Bites, Chaayos and House of Candy. And that’s not all - cooking sessions with renowned chefs as well as upcoming chefs just might be on the menu!When: Nov 27th to 29th
Where: Nehru Park
Timings: 11 am to 11 pm
 
6. National Street Food FestGol gappas, papdi chaat, dahi bhalla and more -- the chaotic narrow gullies of India narrate many stories through the overwhelming variety of street food. Yes, it doesn’t get more dynamic than our country’s hidden gems. Just the whiff of piping hot samosas and crispy jalebis make it simply impossible to resist digging into them. If you believe that the real Michelin stars lie in the streets of India, The National Street Food Fest by NASVI (National Association of Street Vendors of India) is a must for you.When: Dec 11th to 13th
Timings: 1 pm to 10 pm
Where: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium7. DineFestDineFest celebrates some of India's best restaurants such as Cafe Lota, The Fatty Bao, Lavaash by Saby, The Sassy Spoon, Rara Avis, EatThai, Cafe Zoe, The Yum Yum Tree and more. These informal dining restaurants get the opportunity to showcase their food by selecting dishes representative of their philosophy, but at a fraction of the price it would normally cost (say INR 600++) through a 3 course prix fixe menu. We can't wait! Note: It is a pre-paid, though refundable booking.When: 23rd October to 1st November
Price: Rs. 600 (exclusive of taxes)