WHAT'S ON THE MENU?

Here's what you will be eating and drinking this year; top chefs from around the country weigh in on what will headline this year's food stories.

- Nivedita Jayaram Pawar

The culinary landscape in India is dynamic, constantly absorbing flavours and inspiration from across the globe while remaining firmly rooted in the country's rich and ancient culinary heritage. With India's rise as a global culinary powerhouse, its chefs transform from mere cooks to visionaries, uniquely positioned to capture the very heartbeat of what's next in food. So what's on the menu for 2025? What flavours will ignite our palates and conversations this year? Here are eight food trends poised to tantalise and transform the culinary landscape, according to some top shelf taste ambassadors.

Go Bold, Or Go Home

Bold flavours with unexpected combinations will continue to influence menus in 2025. "Diners are now more open for bold, unexpected flavours that challenge their perceptions of traditional dishes. So chefs are blending elements from various cuisines to create dishes that not only showcase their creativity but also introduce new taste profiles and provide diners with a narrative that connects them to different cultures. Lately a few Spanish and Italian chefs have been combining Japanese ingredients (read umami) into classic European dishes," says Chef & Owner Manuel Olveira of Mumbai based restaurants La Loca Maria and La Panthera.

La Loca Maria's paella de Verduras (vegetable paella) cooked in a miso broth is a fusion of classic Spanish flavours with a gentle hint of Japanese.

High on India