The foodie islands
Brunch|Feburary 20, 2022
The best way to enjoy the food of the world's greatest chefs is to catch them in the Maldives where you don't have to worry about restaurant bookings or dressing up
VIR SANGHVI
The foodie islands

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Julien Royer sent his sous chef to suss out local ingredients. Then, the two created a new menu that included this Garden Salad

Nobody disputes that the food at India's restaurants is better than it has ever been. But equally, those of us who hunger for a taste of the global action have had a bad time over the last two years or so.

More Indians are travelling abroad than ever before or at least they were till the pandemic struck. In 2019, around 27 million Indians went abroad. This number was expected to shoot up in 2020 (one optimistic estimate said that 40 million of us would visit foreign countries that year) till, of course, the world suddenly changed.

Many of the Indians who went abroad regarded restaurant-going as an essential part of the experience. Indian chefs will tell you how guests now keep them on their toes, comparing their food to meals they have eaten in London, Florence, New York or Hong Kong.

Unfortunately, the world is taking longer to recover from the pandemic than we had expected. Even if you can get into foreign countries now (there are still many that will either refuse to let you in or insist on a quarantine), a fear of contracting Covid has prevented many of us from travelling.

So, how do you get your foodie fix? During the pandemic, I have eaten well in two foreign destinations that welcome Indians. One of them is Dubai which has a small restaurant scene of its own though the city mostly depends on branches of restaurants from elsewhere (mainly London) and nearly every local restaurant tries to copy the Zuma menu.

The other option-though most people don't realise this-is the Maldives.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der Feburary 20, 2022-Ausgabe von Brunch.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der Feburary 20, 2022-Ausgabe von Brunch.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS BRUNCHAlle anzeigen
Rohit Chawla
Brunch

Rohit Chawla

Photographer, artist, @RohitChawlaPhotography_

time-read
1 min  |
November 02, 2024
Congratulations, it's a goal
Brunch

Congratulations, it's a goal

Lakeside vows, pastel palettes, bayous, backyards and boats. These celeb weddings are what modern fairytales are made of

time-read
2 Minuten  |
November 02, 2024
Rail against the machine
Brunch

Rail against the machine

Valay Shende's Virar Fast depicts more than Mumbai's constant state of rush. Despite the struggle, there's empathy too

time-read
2 Minuten  |
November 02, 2024
No need for soirée excuses
Brunch

No need for soirée excuses

Not all party guests are created equal. Make sure you have an escape plan, in case you're stuck with someone dull

time-read
2 Minuten  |
November 02, 2024
100 years, one epic dinner
Brunch

100 years, one epic dinner

How did the Hindustan Times celebrate its centenary in Delhi? With a lavish, ambitious dinner served by a top chef, in a magical garden. It can never be done again

time-read
3 Minuten  |
November 02, 2024
Sauce and sorcery
Brunch

Sauce and sorcery

Video projections on your plate, holograms dancing at the table, customised tunes with every course. Tech's coming to dinner. Will you reorder or reboot?

time-read
5 Minuten  |
November 02, 2024
Who hates the haters now?
Brunch

Who hates the haters now?

Online trolls used to terrify influencers. Now, hate is hardly a surprise. It's a sign of engagement, real viewers; a chance to clap back and wield power. Take a look

time-read
3 Minuten  |
November 02, 2024
Are you earring this?
Brunch

Are you earring this?

Don't put the heavy jewellery back in storage after the festivities. Stylists offer tips on how to wear them all year and still look chic

time-read
2 Minuten  |
November 02, 2024
Clash of clans: Festive edit
Brunch

Clash of clans: Festive edit

Set boundaries, ask your own questions, prep for the prying moments. Here's how to survive the family gathering without going nuts

time-read
2 Minuten  |
November 02, 2024
Krutika
Brunch

Krutika

Content creator, @TheMermaidScales

time-read
1 min  |
October 26, 2024