Cooking Up A Storm

With Michelin-starred celebrity chefs bringing exclusive pop-ups to India, are we becoming the next global culinary powerhouse?

- Satarupa Paul

Imagine stepping into a transformed dining room at The Leela Palace, New Delhi, where every detail-from the music to the table settings-echoes the essence of the three-Michelin-starred Osteria Francescana in Modena. The mastermind behind it, chef patron Massimo Bottura, greets you warmly. The first course arrives: 'The Crunchy Part of the Lasagne', an ode to childhood memories, its texture as bold as its flavour. Later, 'Oops! I Dropped the Lemon Tart' makes a playful appearance. Between bites, Bottura weaves stories of heritage and innovation, creating an experience that transcends food.

This dinner marked Chef Bottura's third visit to India in as many years, highlighting the deep connection he feels with the country. For long, India was a forgotten destination on the global culinary map. Chefs from Michelin-starred restaurants and those ranked on the World's Best lists toured Asian gastronomic hotspots like Hong Kong, Bangkok or Dubai, but not India. However, over the past few years, India has hosted a constellation of culinary titans, transforming its dining landscape into a stage for gastronomic theatre.