BHUBANESWAR: One of the biggest draws in the ongoing Bhubaneswar City Festival has undoubtedly been the Food Fest as it has catered to the needs of foodies and connoisseurs alike.
The fest has been organised by Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) and Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC). 23 top notch hotels have been roped in to provide the visiting Hockey World Cup teams and their fans with something to relish besides witnessing the mega sporting event.
Interestingly, numerous international cuisines have found a place in the menus of chefs besides delicacies from across the country and state. Delicacies like Arisa, Manda, Chennapoda and Dahivada among others from the state have also featured in various stalls in the fest.
Delicacies from China, Germany, England, Malaysia, USA, Afghanistan, France and Ireland seem to be the most preferred by foodies. Interacting with Orissa Post, Chef Michael of Michael’s Kitchen said, “We have various kinds of Non-Vegetarian items as well as sumptuous main courses. For instance, our Grilled Prawn Peri Peri with Spanish salsa has been ordered for the most number of times by visiting food lovers.”
“The recipe for making Grilled Peri Peri Prawn is quite intricate. The ingredients for making one plate of the aforementioned item includes 10 prawns, 6 garlic cloves, 6 red chilies, one teaspoon of Paprika powder, Vinegar and lemon juice each, one tablespoon of olive oil, salt, pepper, salad, coriander, salsa, mayonnaise, two teaspoons of palm sugar,” he added.
The method to prepare this finger-licking delicacy is quite detailed too. Firstly, one needs to clean and devein the prawns. This is to be followed by boiling of chilies and removal of seeds. The whole thing needs to be cooled down and kept in a tray. Then the oil is to be heated and chilly paste is to be fried. All the ingredients are to be added and cooled down. The paste of spice which is prepared is then added to the prawns and marinated for about half an hour. It is to be then grilled hot. Palm sugar is added to balance the taste of the dish.
According to Chef Nandita, Grilled Sausages with Sauerkraut has been the most preferred dish for many. Applying bacon and sausages have become very common these days. However, the preparation which involves ingredients like white wine and herbs makes it unique. British Fish and Chips with Scotch tails were also a huge hit among food lovers.
A foodie Sugupta Sen said, “English food is usually quite bland. However, fish and chips are really great. I am also relishing Spanish dishes like Pinchitos chicken and Veg Croqutes.” Another foodie Madhusmita Mohanty said, “It’s a shame that the fest is going to conclude Sunday. It’s not every day that we get to relish global cuisines at such affordable prices. Non-vegetarian items both grilled and fried have attracted me the most.”
Besides western delicacies, one can also find Asian flavours with Chinese Sehzwan chicken and Malaysian Chicken Maung Satay among others. Denizens of the city seem to relish every moment of the ongoing food fiesta. Despite the featuring of numerous Indian dishes, it’s the foreign delicacies that seem to attract food lovers the most.
