Nagpur chef Vishnu Manohar invited to Tel Aviv for Indian food showcase

Nagpur's well-known celebrity chef Vishnu Manohar is set to take India's food heritage to an international stage. Israel's foreign ministry has invited him to take part in a culinary and cultural exchange programme in Tel Aviv in November.

Manohar shared the news at a press conference on Wednesday at Vishnuji Ki Rasoi on Central Bazaar Road. He said he would represent India's varied food traditions there, with special emphasis on dishes made from millets, cold-pressed oils and the use of traditional brass utensils.

Only two Indian chefs have been chosen for the programme. Manohar is one of them and the only representative from Maharashtra.

The six-day visit will be held under the name Curated Culinary and Cultural Engagement. The initiative aims to promote food traditions and strengthen cultural understanding between India and Israel.

Manohar also said that Israel's Consul General in Mumbai, Yaniv Revach, will visit Nagpur on October 19 to hand over the formal invitation in person.

Explaining the importance of the initiative, Manohar said it was an opportunity to present India's traditional eating habits and their diversity to the world. His presentation will discuss millets, indigenous cooking methods and the importance of traditional ingredients, which continue to hold cultural and nutritional value in Indian food.

Besides presenting Indian food, the chef also wants to understand Israel's farming methods. He will also examine the similarities and differences between the food cultures of the two countries. The exchange is expected to offer a glimpse into both countries' cooking methods, ingredients and approaches to food production.

Manohar also wants to bring some Israeli dishes back with him and introduce them to food lovers in Nagpur, so that people in the city can taste the culinary traditions of that country.

Vijay Jathe, Milind Deshkar and Sachin Jahagirdar were also present at the press conference. They also spoke to the media.