Through her company Guestronomy, which is on a mission to “redefine the art and heart of hospitality”, Sareeka John has curated many delectable culinary experiences, including food pop-ups showcasing the richness of global flavours, and food and wine trails like ‘The Grape Escapade’ in Nashik and ‘Flavours of the Desert’ in Rajasthan. She was also one of the 100 jury members for the fourth edition of Conde Nast Traveller’s Top Restaurant Awards, which were announced on October 9. Here, she tells THE WEEK about what went into judging the restaurants, what are the current culinary trends, and how Indian restaurants weathered the pandemic.
Q/ How did you choose the restaurants?
A/ I had to vote for 10 restaurants across India—seven from my city/ south India, and three from anywhere else in the country. I had to rate each restaurant on food, service and ambience on a scale of one to five. Another criteria was that I should have dined at the restaurants within the past three months. They selected people from 13 cities across India who are food critics, influencers and tastemakers. I primarily selected restaurants from south India, particularly in Bengaluru and Chennai.
Q/ So which cities are ahead in the awards?
A/ Mumbai is a natural choice, with several acclaimed restaurants. Additionally, Bengaluru saw a notable presence, while Pondicherry and Goa emerged as sought-after food destinations.
Q/ Can you tell us about some culinary trends in the country?
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