One of the very much awaited food festival/event for Delhi foodies happened at the Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium. Around 200 Food stalls has participated in the Food Festival. Cuisinier from all over India has came and conveyed their specialties in this Fest. It appeared to be a perfect food amusement event to me. With a hope to explore so much varieties and taste as much as possible, We visited the Food Festival on the last day. I expected it to be over crowded because of the fact that it was a public holiday and bought the tickets and food coupons online at  http://www.nasvinet.org The ticket price was Rs.50 per adult and a coupon worth Rs. 10, buy as much as you can eat :)

Below were some of the few food items we tried, but there were much more which were sadly missed out but I manage to capture most of them. Now, articulating about the whole experience of the Street Food Fest, it was somehow a disappointing and flavorless food venture for me. Quality was not that good and the prices were also not justified by the quantity and popularity of any food item. The intentions of the food vendors were more into earning money and finish their stock rather providing best possible flavors and quality to the consumers.

Street Food Festival, an inside view of this event at
Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium

The service and approach of most of the food vendors were not kind and generous. Another important thing to mention here is the overall ambiance of the food event. I would have expected it to be more artistic and colorful which depicts the diversity and culture of all different states we have in India. Though this event was all about the street food but we neither found it hygienic nor healthful at all.

Check out below pictures for their looks and taste reviews:

Bhaji Kachori at a Chaat Stall name Subeh-A-Banaras. It was mutter Paneer Sabji with stuffed urad dal pooris. The bhaaji was nice but low on salt, poories were crispy and nice. Very Ordinary in taste but would called it a decent start. Cost Rs.50 for 2 poori style kachoris and a small bowl of Sabji. The quantity was fine according to its price.

Jalebis to follow with Kachori Bhaaji, was something above average made of desi ghee and looks like emartees. Cost Rs. 30 per piece.

Batata Vada Pav - This is one of the favorite item and was on our list to t
ry. A simple and quick snack of Maharashra, a paav/bread stuffed with Aaloo Pakora and served along with green chilies and a red chaat masaala (which was unfortunately not available that day) 

Ragra Patties -  Heard of ragra patties before but its the first time I tried it. its a mixture/chaat of aaloo tikki, matar (cholle kulche) with chutneys on the top and sprinkled with dhania leaves. It was just an ordinary chaat with above combination. It costs Rs. 80 and expensive as per the quantity and quality.

Hyderabadi Biryani - This was the first thing came in my mind when heard about this fest. Regrettably, it was not satisfactory outcome. The biryani was quite ordinary and do not find it appealing at all. It was just like a Pulao with chicken in it. Cost Rs. 120 for a small plate with 1 piece of chicken. The above stall was managed by a group of ladies and believe me they were the most kind and active food vendors we met in this event

Mutton Nihari with Multi grain Roti - looks delicious but the taste was not compelling. It had a strong flavor of cloves which overpowered the taste of nihari and made it little bitter. Cost Rs. 140 for above quantity.

Mirch Pakora - It was at a Raasthani stall. A Green chilli layered with Corn Flour and fried. I quite liked it, was not appealing from the looks though. Cost Rs. 40

Chaina Mishti at West Bengal Stall - It tasted of cheap oil and lots of sugar, no other flavor. Completely out of taste and when we shared it with the seller he didn't replied. Cost Rs. 40 for a single piece and that too made of cheap oil

Boondi at West Bengal Stall - Same taste as chaina mishti, nothing different. Most disappointing mishti we ever had.

Dabeli - at a gujrat stall, aaloo tickki stuffed in a paav and served with chutnis. Again nothing special, just another chaat which was presented differently. Cost Rs. 60

Fish Pakoras - Rohu Fish and dry fish on the left.

Dry Fish

Vegetable Pulao

Paav Bhaaji

Pizza Dosa

Katni

Palappam with Chicken Stew at Kerela Stall

Paddu at Karnataka Stall

Mandi Kachori at Himachal Pradesh Store

Sepa Badi with Rice at Himachal Pradesh Stall

Jhinga Fry

Desi Murga with bhaat at Jharkhand

Grilled Sandwich - vegetable

Chicken Tikka and Seekh Kebabs at Delhi Stall

Chicken Curry and Chicken Korma at Delhi Stall

Bhature at delhi Stall

Fried Chicken with Gravy

Daal Laddo

Gajar Ka Halwa

Chandrakala

Gulab Jamun

Haleem

Galoti Kebab at Lucknow Stall

Paan - It was outside the Street Food Festival and was the most refreshing thing we had that day.

 

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19th December 2014, Friday. We witnessed the battle between the best burgers claimed in the town. To make this event possible, Eat Treat has lined up fourteen of Delhi's most celebrated restaurants in search of the most appetizing and delightful burgers in town. All Participants has been asked to showcase their own version of a classic burger (Vegetarian and Non-Vegetarian) which been judged by a Panel of esteemed food experts. The face off was opened to public and everybody was found enjoying the assortment of the best burgers available. The environment was fascinated and filled with the sense of aromatic, smokey cooked out bun stuffed with beef/chicken/lamb/vegetables patty and swirled with ingredients such as cheese, ceddar, onion slices, lettuce and sauces.

The event was full of food enthusiasts with holding booze on one hand and waiting in queues to get the bite of the signature burgers by the participated restaurants. It was an amalgam of some of the finest restaurants and cafe nowadays like Fat Burger, Cafe Delhi Heights, Fork You, The Hungry Monkey, Terminus1, Holy Smoke, Monkey Bar, Hard Rock Cafe, Double Roti, Depot 29, Smokeys and bit more. Undoubtedly a wonderland for the admirers of Burgers.

Considering myself as one of those burgers lover, my hunt started with the Lamb Burger at Terminus1 known for American, European and Continental Cuisines. The burger was huge muscular with Morrocan spices, lettuce, onion, tomatoes, pickles, cheddar, sesame sumac brioche and Lamb Patty. It was not something spicy, but if you like to taste and feel each ingredient used in the burger, then this gigantic bun is the right choice for you. The best part in most restaurant's menu was the inclusion of sliders which gives you opportunity to taste more versions rather than get loaded with just one burger. I tried Goan Sausages Slider and Pulled Duck Slider from The Hungry Monkey and found the taste exactly I like to have.

Terminus1 - Ambiance Mall Gurgaon, The only outlet in the town right now. You'll find interesting items like Masala Kadak Tea and Makhan Waali Maggi and many more in their Menu. The concept is quite alluring and goes well as per its name.

Vikrant Batra - Owner of Cafe Delhi Heights and Terminus1, This man is an absolute food enthusiasts, passionate about his restaurants and behind all the success of CDH. I talked to him for 15 minutes and he named bundle of food eating joints/places and their specialties for what they are famous. It was self-realization moment and I was delighted to know that I still have a lot to explore within Delhi-NCR...

Double Roti SF 64, First Floor, DLF Galleria, DLF Phase 4, Gurgaon

Holy Smoke - 103, First Floor, Cyber Hub, DLF Cyber City, Gurgaon - Their Sliders looked tempting, but the new orders were on hold because of long queue waiting for their first bite.

Monkey Bar - This place is pretty well known, but not sure why it was least crowded that day.

Judges - On Duty

The Hungry Monkey - They had some good mouth watering stuff and I ended up having Goan Sausages Slider and Pull Duck there.

Result: Fat Burger and Cafe Delhi Heights has been declared the winners at EatTreat BurgerFest

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New Delhi Palate Fest 2014 happened to be showcased at Nehru Park, Chanakya puri. When it comes about Food Festivals we do not recall such grand events in the past. Palate Fest 2014 was a buffet of food outlets, cookery workshops, food-tasting, events and live performances. With more than 30 restaurants like Dakshin, Khan chacha, Punjabi by Nature, Olive Bar and Kitchen, Taj Vivanta, The Leela Palace, The Park, The Oberois, Sakae Sushi, The Hungry Monkey, Sodabottleopenerwala, Guppy by Ai and many more participated in the Palate Fest 2014, it was definitely an opportunity for food enthusiasts  to explore variety of international cuisines. It was claimed to be first of its kind of international level food festival held in New Delhi, India. When it comes about food, Delhi has the taste of all and gives you the option of choosing from the wide variety of cuisines, regional and international food. Palate Fest 2014 motive was to give an opportunity to all food enthusiasts to come and enjoy every bit of all famous and delicious cuisines available at one place and that too for 3 days.

Food Outlets on the on the beds of green grass

Friday 28th was absolutely fantastic in terms of experience as it was the first day and didn't report many visitors. I was there on the first day and fortunately got ample time to chat with one of the finest and emerging chefs in Delhi and talked about their restaurants, specialties and shared their belief on  the cuisine which will be popular in near future. The first bite we had in the Palate fest was California Crab Roll (includes real crabmeat, creamy avocado and crunchy cucumber rolled inside-out on a bed of sushi rice) at Sakae Sushi. Me and my wife are not very keen of Japanese food, this is probably why it did not hit our palates in a good way. However, I am confident that we should try different dhes from Japanese cuisine more because world is not mad after it for no reason!!  Later on during our conversation with the Owner of Sakae Sushi Mrs Chandrima Aggarwal we got to know about her passion about the Japanese food and how she started her food venture.  Following on we had conversation with veteran chef Vikram of Guppy by Ai, Naina from Bistros and discussed the familiarities and expertise regarding their domain of food cuisines. We witnessed an overly crowded place on Sunday (30th November 2014, last day of Palate fest) evening because of the weekend and had to stand in long queues to get the food. At some places food were sold out or left with few options which were disappointing. Many people were complaining about lack of the proper seating arrangements, parking and other stuff,  but one thing was hit among everybody which was the food . Foodies walking around holding beer, sitting/rested on the grass with their family, kids and friends. It was truly a mesmerizing, relaxing and fun sight to watch. Among the plentiful of delicacies, we tried out following items and loved them -

Labanese Food at Habibi

Kunafa (cheese pastry soaked in sweet sugar-based syrup)
Lamb Shawarma
Four Seasons (Flat Labanese bread topped with seasonal vegetables)
Mouhalabiya (Lebanese Milk Pudding with sugar and rose water)

Tres

Quarter Chicken with Juju spice

Khaan Chacha 

Chicken Tikka Roll

Indissin Cup Noodles

Monchow and Chicken flavours


ALSO READ : Restaurant Reviews by fOOD aur mOOD

Drool

Tex mex Fiesta (Savoury)
Mellow Marshmallo (Sweet)

Sucre

Red Velvett Cake with Cheese Cream

One of the greatest part of this fest was reasonably priced food and the other was Live music.

Organizers of Palate Fest 2014 made an ingenious effort to make this Food Festival a phenomenal event. It is worth the mention that this fest had facility of Medical center, Lost and Found Center, Kids Zone etc.. Though omission of washrooms and Drinking water was uncomfortable and revealed that the event organizers were not prepared or might not have expected such a big crowd, but I still feel it was worth visiting the place and enjoyed one of the biggest international level food festival in Delhi. Hoping to see more of such events in Delhi and all over India as we are a country of diversity and welcome each man-kind with open hands!

Sucre - delight for pastires

Sakae Sushi - Authentic, Healthy Japanese and Pan Asian Cuisine

Beautifully decorated Cookies n cakes at Sucre

Chef Kunal Kapoor enjoying segway ride

Innovative presentation of art, made of used tins

guppy by ai outlet at palate fest

Bistro's part of olive bar n kitchen

Seating at Olive Bar and Kitchen

Chnadrima Aggarwal Founder/Owner Sakae Sushi

L-R: Chef Vikram Khatri/guppybyai, Naina/Founder of Olive Bistros, Chef Sujan Sarkar/Chef Olive Bar & Kitchen, Mohit/Sodabottleopenerwala

 

L-R: Chef Vikram Khatri/Guppybyai , Naina/ Founder of Olive Bistro, Chef Sujan Sarkar/Olive Bar and The Kitchen, Mohit/SodaBottl - See more at: http://www.shoppingstylenus.com/2014/12/what-i-wore-to-palate-fest-2014-and-people-i-met.html#sthash.Zg8YaYFM.dpuf

Quarter Chicken with juju spice at Tres

Live Music at Palate Fest 2014

Thai Food inside the Pan by Kylin

Kunafa at Habibi

Lamb Shawarma accompanied bu French Fries and Hummus (kind of dip)

Lamb Shawarma at Habibi

Jiya posing and about to eat habibi's kunafa and lamb Shawarma

Chicken Shawarma

Lam Shawarma

Tex Mex Fiesta at Drool

Fresh Waffles at Drool, Marsh mellows in above picture

Juice Up, they claimed it as fresh fruit Juices. Melon, Pinapple, lichi amongst few available flavor

Kylin

Four seasons Veg at Habibi

Mouhalabiya at Habibi

I'd like to conclude this post by saying that when you become a part of food, music and art you see how people from different races, communities and strangers become one face, one voice- that is when you feel there is no place for hatred but love and acceptance...

Grow Your Network and Spread Love

Palate Fest Food Festival New Delhi 2014

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