Indulge in Culinary Delights at these Food Festivals in Jaipur

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The month of September is indeed a delicious one for the gastronomes of Pink City. A plethora of food festivals and special curations are taking place in the hotels around the city where foodies can sample both global delicacies as well as cuisines from different regions of the country. Here are some food festivals and promotions you can try to satisfy your culinary cravings:

Tonkatsu and Tempura: Comfort food of Japan

For those who love Japanese food or are looking to try out a new cuisine, House of Han at Crowne Plaza is holding a Tonkatsu and Tempura special menu for their guests. While Tonkatsu is essentially a Japanese dish that consists of a breaded, deep-fried pork cutlet, Tempura is a typical Japanese dish usually consisting of seafood, meat and vegetables that have been battered and deep fried. “Tonkatsu and Tempura is a combo meal and it is a unique concept in Jaipur. For those who love experimenting with their food and especially like Japanese, must try these delicacies. There are options for both vegetarians as well as non-vegetarians”, says Chef Naresh Sharma of House of Han.

For vegetarians, there is Tofu Vegetable Katsu Curry, Kinoko Tempura (Deep fried mixed exotic mushroom) as well as the Tokyo Tempura (Kabocha, bell peppers, lotus root and sweet potato). Prawn and crab tempura is a must-try for those who love sea food. If you are a non-vegetarian like me who does not want relish pork, there is chicken katsu too. Tender and succulent chicken pieces coated in a crispy batter and served with sticky rice and a thick and rich gravy that is not heavy or spicy, makes it a bowl synonymous with comfort. What stands out about the katsu curry is that it is made in-house from scratch and is not bought off the store shelves.

While you’re there also try their dessert options – fried ice cream, crème brulee as well as chocolate spring rolls. The chocolate spring rolls and fried ice cream do sound absurd at first but they are worth giving a try. The crunch, warmth and sweetness are just the right amount. While the distance of the hotel from the city center may seem a bit much but the food more than compensates for the long drive.

When: September 4 – September 13, 7.30 pm to 11.30 pm
Where: House of Han, Crowne Plaza

Vada Pav: The quintessential street Food of Mumbai

Looking at the rainy season, Hotel Jaipur Marriott decided to bring the vibe and taste of the streets of Mumbai to Jaipur. “Cutting chai, vada pav, samosa pao and dabeli are some popular street foods of Mumbai that are loved by everyone. So we decided to bring them to the Pink City as well”, says Executive Chef of Jaipur Marriott, Jatinder Dhaliwal. The chai and snacks are made fresh during the evening tea hours every day. They are served with a wide assortment of chutneys and condiments. Thelas (carts) have been used to give the authentic feel in a modern coffee shop.

When: September 5 – September 30, 4 pm to 7 pm
Where: Jaipur Baking Company, Jaipur Marriott

Punjab Di Mehek

The culinary chronicles of Punjab are coming alive in the Pink City as a food festival ‘Punjab Di Mehek’ is currently ongoing at Hotel Holiday Inn’s Monarch restaurant. From the mandatory lassi to Amritsari chole kulche, butter chicken, sarson ka saag and makke ki roti to pinnis, doda barfi and gud ki barfi for dessert, there are a wide array of Punjabi delicacies available at the festival.

“I did my course in hotel management from IHM Gurdaspur which is in Punjab. I also worked in Ludhiana for four years and I have used my experience with the food there to curate this festival and bring the delicacies of Amritsar and Ludhiana to Jaipur”, says Executive Chef of Hotel Holiday Inn, Raj Kumar.

The ambience of the hotel has also been amped up with colourful pin wheels, khaats and accessories to give the vibe of the rural bylanes of Punjab.

When: 2 September to 11 September, 7 pm to 11 pm
Where: Monarch, Hotel Holiday Inn