The flavours of Korea

South Korea is already winning over the hearts and minds of youngsters the world over through its music and dramas. Now let its cuisine win over your palate too! Korean cuisine is a delightful and diverse culinary tradition that offers a harmonious blend of flavours, textures and colours that provide a balance of spicy, sweet, salty and umami tastes. Warm up your festive season by starting with a bowl of Kimchi Jjigae-a hearty stew or delight in the exquisite Haemul Tang, a seafood hotpot.

Go on a Korean food festival with tantalising main course of Batter-Fried Baby Chicken, which harmoniously blends Korean chilli powder, rice vinegar, butter, ginger, garlic, gochujang and honey. Experience the flavoursome Kimchi Bokkeumbap, a savoury fried rice infused with the fiery charisma of kimchi.

What you must try: Indulge in the divine Korean Pork Belly, a sumptuous delicacy that captures the essence of Korean culinary excellence.

Where: Honk, Pullman Aerocity, New Delhi

A taste of Mykonos

Transport your palate to sun-kissed Mediterranean shores with the spread of Greek menu this festive season. Greek food is known for its health benefits, which might be the perfect palliative rest for your palate between all the gorging on sweets that is unavoidable during festivals. Greek meals typically start with a variety of mezze, which are small plates of appetisers. Popular choices include Tzatziki (yogurt and cucumber dip), Hummus, Dolmades (stuffed grape leaves) and Taramasalata (fish roe dip).

If you have a craving for seafood, then Greek cuisine is sure to satiate you, as seafood plays a significant role in this cuisine. From grilled fish to calamari, octopus and prawns, there is something for every seafood lover. Greek desserts are a sweet indulgence. Baklava, made from layers of phyllo pastry, nuts and honey, is famous worldwide.

What you must try: The signature Cilantro Panееr Baklava served with pеrfеctly-seasoned potato wеdgеs, to offеr a dеlightful crunch that impеccably harmonisеs with baklava’s soft tеxturеs.

Where: Praia Bar & Kitchеn, Atria Mall, Mumbai

The best of Anglo-Indian Cuisine

Anglo-Indian cuisine is a unique and flavourful culinary tradition that emerged during the colonial period in India when British settlers and Indian cooks combined their culinary techniques and ingredients. This fusion cuisine reflects the blending of British tastes with Indian spices, herbs and cooking methods. The fusion food is basically Western food elevated by Indian spices, making it more flavourful for us. Slip into nostalgia by trying out this cuisine the next time you are having friends and family over for the festive season.

What you must try: Keep the Anglo-Indian culinary hеritagе alive with an array of dishеs—from Lahori King Oystеr Mushroom Kеbab to inventive takеs on classics lіkе thе Brioche Pav with Crеam of Pav Bhaji. For desserts, opt for Chikki Cheesecake, Sizzling Browniе or Pinеapplе Mеringuе Tart.

Where: Anglo Indian Café, Lonavala, Maharashtra

A culinary sojourn to Turkey

Looking for something more familiar to the Indian palate but still want to experiment? Then revel in the exotic and diverse flavours of Turkish cuisine that is appealing to food enthusiasts the world over. With its blending of sweet and savoury, use of aromatic spices and incorporation of unique ingredients, Turkish cuisine provides the right blend of exotic and diverse flavours for a perfect festive get-together.

Let your taste buds traverse the spectrum of delight—from tender Lamb Adana, a kebab dish from Anatolia; to the fusion of familiarity and novelty of Pide, a Turkish pizza; and discover the convivial tradition of eating Mezze, small plates of appetisers. Walk into some exotic food festivals curated by cafés that provide a farm-to-dining experience.

What you must try: Journey through layers of taste and texture of Kunafa, a traditional Turkish dessert.

Where: Farmer’s Basket at Pluck, Pullman Aerocity, New Delhi