FPJ Anniversary 2022: ‘Chef-driven spaces and regional cuisine are on the rise’

The F&B landscape in Mumbai is constantly evolving and growing. And, it’s an absolute pleasure to be in the thick of the action and see the food culture of Mumbai develop.

India, today, has a populous which is well-exposed to other cultures. It’s amazing to see products from other countries like Korea, France, among others, co-existing with regional Indian products in an eclectic market like
Mumbai.

I feel the F&B landscape in Mumbai is redefining itself due to a new breed of consumers who essentially want experiences more than simple vanilla-style F&B spaces. Restaurants are trying to cater to that.

Chef-driven spaces and regional cuisine are on the rise. Authentic cuisines of the world coming into India are spaces to watch out for. I also feel we are on the verge of a beverage revolution in India. It’s exciting to see homegrown spirit brands coming out and competing with international brands. All these pillars will play a huge role in redefining the food culture of the city.

There is a renewed interest at large in different cultures, cuisines, and dining formats. Sharing and gifting are the DNA of India’s food culture and several of the above-mentioned assortments play very well to that core sentiment.

Also, the taste profile and texture of breads, pastries, crepes, and macaroon are not necessarily foreign to India. Hence, adapting it into the system comes fairly easy.

Unpopular opinion, but I think India is going to see an increase in a variety
of meats consumed. Japanese dishes like sushi have become the flavour
of the decade.

(Vidit Aren is Chef and Co-owner of Soufflé S’il Vous Plait, Mumbai)