FARMLORE PUTS INDIA'S BENGALORE ON THE GASTRONOMIC MAP

Bangalore has long been hiding in the shadows of more tourist-preferred cities in India like Delhi and Mumbai.

- NINO ANGELO COMSTI

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But when Farmlore, a humble farm-to-table restaurant tucked in Sathnur Village, bagged the American Express One to Watch Award by the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants early this year, it singlehandedly put the “Silicon Valley of India” in the spotlight and made the capital of the southern Indian state of Karnataka an emerging culinary hub.

Set inside a 37-acre farm owned by the family of co-founder Kaushik Raju, the 18-seater fine dining restaurant wasn’t supposed to be what it is now. Former professional tennis player Kaushik was inclined to play with food. “I was very curious about it. I still am. Back then, Indians weren’t as experimental when it comes to food. Most of my peers weren't,” he said. He scratched his culinary itch and made friends with people who had the same degree of interest in food.

He adds, “I started researching on YouTube. Ferran (Adria) and Heston (Blumenthal) were some chefs I really got into, specifically Ferran’s idea of science behind cooking and Heston’s storytelling. They got me excited.”