Timeless food of the North

                                 

Chef Ajay Chopra re-discovers authentic gastronomic delights from north India through ‘Northern Flavours’, which launches on 28 March

Mumbai, March 22, 2016: India’s premium foodtainment channel, Living Foodz, is launching a new show, ‘Northern Flavours’, which celebrates authentic recipes and cooking styles from this region of the subcontinent. The show will explore hidden regional recipes from Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttaranchal, Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh. Through ‘Northern Flavours’, Living Foodz will introduce acclaimed culinarian Chef Ajay Chopra on their channel for the first time!

“North Indian food has been shaped primarily by the traveller. The region has witnessed a constant movement of people, including armies, trading communities saints and fakirs, who have all taken ingredients and flavours far and wide. More recently, refugees from Pakistan carried the sanjha chulha (village kitchens of rural Punjab) to many parts of North India, adding another interesting layer to an already hybrid cuisine. The trucker community too, primarily Punjabis, have spawned the quintessential highway dhabas across the region. Overall, the food is a wonderfully rich mixture of multiple cultural influences and it is with great excitement and pride that I look forward to its launch”, says an excited Chef Ajay Chopra.

North Indian cuisine, characterised by its rich, aromatic flavours, includes several spices. Dishes such as Bhel Ka Sharbat and Cha Gosht are regional favourites, and will be brought into the mainstream for the first time.

“We are excited to bring Chef Ajay Chopra on board with the launch of ‘Northern Flavours’. Through this show, we aim to bring the hidden dishes of North India in to the limelight because we believe that they appeal to a global palette. The show will ignite a sense of nostalgia among viewers from these states who once cooked these scrumptious dishes.” says Amit Nair, Business Head, Living Foodz.

Chef Ajay will intersperse the show with interesting anecdotes behind the delectable dishes. For example, how Murg Shikasta Hariprasada, a delicacy from Uttar Pradesh, was specially created by Begam Akhtar who was in love with Maharaja Hari Singh and could find no other way to express her feelings for him. When Maharaja Hari Singh visited the city, she ordered this dish for him, which was symbolic of her broken heart. (‘Shikasta’ means ‘defeated’).

On Northern Flavours, Chef Ajay Chopra will recreate other such dishes such as Bhoot ka Halwa, from Rajasthan, Besan ki Kheer” and “Aloo Wadiyan” from Punjab, Dal ka Dulha &Potol Mithai from Bihar and Sikandari Raan from Delhi.

Join Chef Ajay Chopra every Monday and Tuesday at 2 PM as he takes you on a journey of the culinary secrets of north India! Repeat telecast of the episodes will air every Monday &Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

About Chef Ajay Chopra:

Chef Ajay Chopra started his career with the Cecil (Oberoi Hotel) in Shimla. He later went on to complete a management training program at the Oberoi Center for Learning and Development (OCLD) and emerged a gold medalist. He was assigned in an Indian specialty restaurant - Kandahar at the Oberoi New Delhi for 2 years where he assisted the hotel large banqueting operations as well as the coffee shop. Later, Ajay became the Sous chef at the Lotus Cafe (JW Marriott) and worked his way up the ranks as Chef de Cuisine at Saffron (an Indian speciality restaurant) before heading to open a chain of restaurants in the United Kingdom. In London, Ajay became the Executive Head Chef of the acclaimed Mint Leaf chain of restaurants, which specialised in Indian cuisine. Mint Leaf has over the last 21 years enjoyed critical acclaim for its ability to reinterpret classic Indian dishes in a contemporary fashion. During his culinary trail in the United Kingdom, Ajay has brushed shoulders with the likes of Gordon Ramsay and Angela Harnet. Ajay is an outgoing and fun loving person; he loves to meet new people. He is greatly committed to taking Indian cuisine into the progressive domain and constantly experiments with new ingredients and flavors. His repertoire of food and his attitude are his strengths.

About Living Entertainment Enterprises Pvt Ltd:

Living Entertainment Enterprises Pvt Ltd in India is the company housing all the brands of the Living network belonging to Essel Group. The Living Group of channels already exists in the international markets catering to a large audience in the health and lifestyle space. Living in India aims at bringing alive all things factual with an element of entertainment in order to appeal to global audiences. The Living group of channels in India will truthfully echo the ‘Living’ philosophy and encompass everything that will help one to discover, awaken and transform oneself.

The company’s pioneer channel is Living Foodz the international food & lifestyle channel that has a universal feel and appeals to the new age Indian. In the future the space will see launch of more channels under the Living Entertainment group fulfilling the growing need of Factual Entertainment of the audiences.