PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Nainital
Being at the same time delicious and health-boosting, Kumaoni cuisine needs recognition across the country and the world. This is what the celebrity chef Rakesh Sethi averred while speaking at a programme held at Hotel Namah, Nainital under Hotel Radisson Group. “Aware of its taste and health-supporting qualities, I have been striving to take this cuisine far and wide, across India and the world,” he added. Currently, Rakesh is the corporate executive chief chef of Radisson Hotel Group, South Asia.
“We all know that most of the health problems are food-related. To address this, a new concept has been churned out: Fresh, Local, Organic, Seasonal and Sustainable (FLOS). Based on this concept which is catching the fancy of the people at large, the quality and variety of food is being changed in the hotels under Radisson Hotel Group. Now, our focus is trained on developing the qualities and taste of the traditional food items of Kumaon region to enhance their acceptance,” he said.
Asserting that the food items coming under the Kumaoni cuisine are unique, given their lip-smacking taste and health-bolstering qualities, he said, “The mountain-fresh produce is usually healthy and its consumption keeps away diseases. Keeping this in mind, Namah, Nainital has launched Kumaoni thali. Not just this, we are also going to set up a kitchen garden for organic, Ayurvedic and fresh vegetables,” he added.
Speaking on the same mater, the executive chef, Shivangi said that Kumaoni food has been included in their menu to ensure its recognition as a special cuisine. “It is our responsibility and we have appointed a separate chef for this, to cater to the rising demand of the tourists,” he added.
The general manager of the hotel, Naresh Gupta said that a special menu has been prepared in the hotel under the guidance of celebrity chef Rakesh Sethi. “The tourists are increasingly liking it and this is providing our hotel a special identity among the highly rated hotels of the State,” he observed.
