Food for Thought to tickle taste buds of masses amid pandemic

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 30

At a time when businesses are grappling with the adverse impact of Covid-19 pandemic, Phulkari, a women’s group in the city, has been trying to promote Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through a campaign, which connects Amritsar’s food lovers with its entrepreneurship aspirations. Launching its pilot project ‘Food for Thought’, the group aims to highlight and connect local food entrepreneurs through social media platforms that promise more than 7000+ followers.

From organising virtual weekend bistros (October 30 and 31, November 6 and 7) to webinars on food economy and launching a cookbook compiled of grandma’s recipes from home bakers, the campaign aims to give visibility to local produce and food experts.

These weekends will allow the citizens to order food of 11 home chefs from a common menu giving them greater visibility and an increase in their clientele base.

“Phulkari had promoted 75 MSMEs in the month of May alone when relaxations were given and businesses needed a boost. Under ‘Food for Thought’ initiative, we have organised business-oriented activities and engagements that will ensure exchange of ideas between entrepreneurs and industry experts,” Phulkari chief Deepa Swani.

“We are also coming up with a cookbook with home recipes of members. Its purpose is to document the age- old recipes, which have been passed from generation to generation,” said Swani. The cookbook’s innovation lies in the fact that the recipes are shared not just by members who are food experts, but by others as well.

This book is being endorsed by celebrity chefs, including Deepak and Samta Gupta. Deepak has managed 45 restaurants in Dubai, Doha, Bahrain and India Habitat Centre over the years. His culinary experience also includes assignments in London, Southampton, Glasgow and Birmingham. Gupta has cooked for MF Hussain and international supermodel Naomi Campbell. Her culinary experience ranges from Japan to New Zealand and Goa. She is a food consultant for several leading five star chains.