Food Nerd Labs 2024: Where Indian Flavors Meet Global Culinary Expertise
At this year’s Food Nerd Festival, the Labs promise a culinary adventure like no other. Held in Bangalore and Mumbai, these labs focus on essential culinary elements—Salt, Fat, Acid, and Heat—teaching participants both traditional and advanced techniques.
As Anusha Murthy, co-founder of Edible Issues, notes, “these labs allow food geeks to go a step ahead and learn layered, nuanced techniques with experts.”
The Festival’s Origins and Purpose
The Food Nerd Festival started as a casual gathering in 2021 for people in the food industry to relax and connect.
Anisha Oommen, founder of Goya Journal, explains, “The F&B industry is quite fragmented, stakeholders are pitted against one another.” She, along with her co-founders, saw this event as a way to bring people together in a non-competitive setting, sparking conversations and collaborations.
By 2023, they introduced a more formal structure, emphasizing community and industry insights with the help of branding expert Rohita Madappa.
What’s Cooking at the 2024 Labs?
This year’s labs offer hands-on sessions with prominent chefs in Bangalore on November 16 and in Mumbai on November 23.
In the “Salt” lab, Chef Gautam Krishnankutty and charcuterie Bala of Salty Cured Pigs will guide participants through meat preservation techniques, highlighting Indian pickling methods.
The “Fat” lab, led by Chef Heena Punwani of Maska Bakery, will explore the science of fats like butter, ghee, and oils through cookie-making.
At the “Acid” lab, Chef Payal Shah of Kobo Fermentary will delve into the role of Indian vinegar and demonstrate shrub-making techniques.
Finally, Chef Gresham Fernandes of Bandra Born will lead the “Heat” lab, showing how different heat sources enhance flavors in everything from jammy eggs to jerky.
Bridging Indian and Global Culinary Worlds
For Murthy, blending Indian flavors with global techniques is a key aim. She explains, “When you go to culinary school, you are taught French cooking but rarely…to understand Indian flavors.”
These labs strive to marry India’s culinary heritage with Western methods, making it a one-of-a-kind experience for participants.
The Food Nerd Labs bring together culinary passion, skill, and cultural exchange, creating a unique platform for food lovers and professionals alike.
Want to learn about traditional and advanced food techniques from top chefs? Check out more on our homepage for culinary insights.
