Deepali Nandwani
Editor
In a world as ephemeral as ours, where Instagram dictates trends, how do you map an entire year in trends that will endure? And yet, sometimes, conversations about the future of dining can reveal a larger picture.
Bhopali Chicken Rezala. Regional food willl continue to make its way out of home kitchens, and on to restaurant menus. Image: Courtesy Bombay Canteen
Like our article on dining trends for 2023, with some of India’s well-known chefs, does. While some ideas that resonate are a throwback to 2022 (vegan), some are clear markers of how people are eating, or at least, chefs are cooking (gluten-free, millets).
Chef Varun Totlani of Masque—the toast of India’s contemporary culinary landscape—plumps regional and hyperlocal cuisines.
But the more exciting trend he alludes to, one I believe will take off sooner than expected, are products made by chefs and restaurants on our neighbourhood store shelves. This one will be big as we explore options for easy-to-make meals or products and masalas that are healthier, nutritious, and different from the mass-produced stuff we get today.
The other trend that emerged in 2022, and will only get stronger, is how diners experience a meal. Experiential dining in hotels and restaurants, with special menus and pop-ups by chefs, will define premium dining in 2023. Read what some of India’s leading chefs have to say in the current edition of the Traveldine newsletter.
(Left) Ibiza may be the next wellness destination as its spas and wellness centres offer therapies such as sound bathing. Image: Shutterstock.
Experiences also define how we travel. Millions travel to Ibiza for drunken night outs. But there is another, far calmer, face of tourism in these Balearic islands. Ibiza is supporting an alt culture of meditation and wellness therapies. Our article on sound bathing in Ibiza explores how Ibiza may well be your next wellness destination.
If you are looking for inspiring journeys within India, head to Rajasthan to explore its haveli culture armed with our guide on the best haveli hotels. Do it before the summer heat makes it impossible to travel to the state. Right now, Rajasthan’s evenings are salubrious as cool wind blows through the desert after sunset.
Rajasthan’s haveli hotels, such as RAAS Jodhpur, blend nostalgia of the past, lure of royal living and beauty of Rajasthani architecture. Image: Courtesy Studio Lotus © André J Fanthome
Keep travelling, explore new restaurants, and look out for more inspiring ideas in our next edition of the Traveldine newsletter.