The two-day G20 International Food Festival, themed "Taste the World," was inaugurated on February 11 at 11:30 a.m. by Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri.
The festival is being held in four G20 countries: China, Turkey, Japan, and Mexico. Cuisines from 14 Indian states and union territories are also available, including Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Delhi, Bihar, Punjab, Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Manipur, and Meghalaya.
Taj Palace, Taj Mahal, The Connaught, Taj Ambassadors, Le Meridian, ITC Maurya, and The Park are among the hotels offering their signature dishes. A large crowd gathered at the Tihar jail bakery stall, which sold a variety of products ranging from biscuits to savoury snacks and jalebis.
At a stall set up by a Saket-based restaurant owned by an Indian man and his Chinese wife, a chef is busy rustling up authentic Chinese delicacies. "I am Indian and my wife is Chinese. The Chinese embassy approached us, and our chef is also Chinese. "We have specialties like kung pao chicken and fried long beans here," said restaurant owner.
The Ministry of Agriculture has also set up stalls at the festival on the theme of 'International Year of Millets'. Several small businesses with stalls at the festival were overjoyed with the positive response to their millet products. "We started this company two years back but suddenly our business is picking up. PM Modi's promotion of millets is to blame. People are learning about the benefits of millets, which is beneficial to us," said Manisha Srivastava, whose company sells millet-based snacks.
At the food festival, hundreds of people were seen enjoying their favourite delicacies. According to an official with the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), which organised the event, the public has responded positively and contributed to the success of the food festival.
