The European Union’s ‘More Than Food’ campaign brought European flavours to the International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) in Bengaluru through an interactive culinary masterclass led by renowned Chef Ajay Chopra, the campaign’s Ambassador in India.
Bringing together 60 aspiring chefs, the masterclass offered an exciting opportunity to discover the diversity, quality and authenticity of European food and beverage products while exploring their versatility in Indian cuisine.
The session kicked off with an introduction to the EU’s food values of quality, authenticity, safety and sustainability, alongside insights into the importance of European Geographical Indication (GI) labels.
Students then put their senses to the test in the ‘Guess the Origin’ challenge, discovering ingredients such as Prosciutto di Parma PDO, Chania Kritis, PGI and Dijon mustard. A live cooking demonstration by Chef Chopra brought these ingredients to life, showcasing creative ways to incorporate European products into contemporary dishes.
Creativity took centre stage during the ‘Mix & Match: EU × India Fusion Challenge’, where students developed innovative recipes blending European ingredients with Indian flavours. The winning creation, Masala Pork Wellington with Dijon Cherry Jus, earned its team a specially curated hamper of European products.
The masterclass concluded with tastings, lively interactions and fresh culinary inspiration, highlighting how European ingredients can open up exciting possibilities for the next generation of Indian chefs.
Discover more about the ‘More Than Food’ campaign and explore the quality, authenticity and diversity of European food and beverages!
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