Wednesday, February 13, 2008

The Gourmet Explorer is finally happening!

Dear all,
I am pleased to announce the arrival of The Gourmet Explorer!
It all started with a car, a map of India, endless kilometers of roads and an insatiable appetite for adventure. This led to the discovery of an India far removed from any flight of imagination or any guide book ever written.
Upon arrival, anywhere, at any time, invariably the first question was: “Have you eaten?”, and not ordering even a cup of tea was regarded as really odd. This led to an increased waistline, of course, but also to an increased awareness that here, almost everything happens over food, starts with food, or ends with food. Every social occasion or ritual in India invariably has a component that involves the taste buds. And as kilometers rolled under our car’s wheels, so changed the flavours. Food was becoming not just a pit stop during a long drive, but a very important part of the exploration and the overall sensory experience. Thus was born the idea of sharing the little dots on the map which represent my India – out of the box, unique and delicious!
Our concept: we are against anything canned and processed. Each journey is an organic spread of cultural and olfactory experiences centered around food. Beyond culinary tourism, we are also looking at exploring food as an ecological act, through organising talks, book discussions and demonstrations by experts.
Our audience: expats living in India; foreign guests with a passion for food; Indians and NRIs looking to expand their knowledge of regional Indian cuisine. Small, exclusive groups, allowing people to enjoy the experience to the fullest and take active participation in food demonstrations and hands-on classes.
Our destinations: unusual, out-of-the-box rural or urban locations in India, which offer a mix of cultural and olfactory experiences hard to forget; authentic restaurants in Mumbai city (through our Bombay-centric programme Ladies Who Lunch, exclusively for women); residences with terrific master chefs; food stores; fresh produce markets.
Our exploration ‘subjects’: We may invite guests to watch a prince working his magic over the stove at a fort perched above a river, or welcome them to join us while chopping vegetables sitting around the communal cooking fire at a Rajasthan village… Celebrity chefs, food writers and historians, nutrition experts, food activists… You never know what may come next.
Our USP: The Gourmet Explorer has access to both the expatriate market in Mumbai, as well as to some of the best and most unique heritage properties around India. Each property has been personally ‘tested’ by us and the best service and standards are guaranteed. An in-depth knowledge of the culinary traditions of India, the people who propagate it, and on the other side, the people who are eager to know more about it.
Is your seat belt on?

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