For decades, Amritsar was defined by the crackle of tandoors and the unmistakable aroma of butter-laden kulchas. The city did not just serve food, it served emotion on steel plates, often eaten standing, elbows brushing against strangers who quickly became part of the experience. Fine dining was never the point. Flavour was.

But something has been quietly shifting.

A new generation, a rising affluent class, and a more travelled audience have begun to demand something beyond nostalgia. They want experience. They want aesthetics. They want a story plated as carefully as the food itself. And Amritsar, surprisingly yet confidently, is responding.

From Streets to Statements

The transformation is not about replacing the old. The kulcha still rules. The langar still humbles. But alongside this legacy, a parallel dining culture is emerging. One that embraces design, global cuisine, curated menus, and Instagram-friendly spaces.

What used to be a city of quick indulgence is now learning the art of lingering.

The Beach Comes to Punjab

Step into Elgin Cafe and you almost forget where you are. Tucked away in the Cantonment area, the space leans into a relaxed, almost coastal vibe. Think lush greens, open airy sections, and an ambience that feels closer to a beachside café than a North Indian city.

It is designed as a day to night destination, where brunch conversations melt into cocktail evenings with live music and curated menus spanning Italian and global flavours.

The charm here lies in its escapism. It offers Amritsar something it never really asked for before, but now seems to enjoy. A pause. A setting. A mood.

Zen, Space, and Scale

If Elgin Cafe whispers, Grain By Elgin speaks in a more confident tone.
Located in Ranjit Avenue, this expansive, nearly 250 seater space represents a different kind of ambition. It is large, modern, and deliberately designed to feel global. The menu travels from sushi to Mediterranean plates, while the interiors aim for a calm, almost zen like vibe that distances itself from the chaos of traditional dining.

Heritage Reimagined

And then comes the most telling sign of change. The arrival of spaces like The Governor House.

An old haveli (Circuit House) transformed into a modern Indian fine dining destination, it brings together the past and the present in a way that feels both respectful and aspirational.

White table cloth service, live piano, and a focus on refined Indian cuisine mark a sharp departure from the city’s traditionally informal dining culture.

This is not nostalgia. This is reinvention.

The haveli is no longer just a relic. It is now a stage.

A City Learning to Dress Up

What is fascinating is not just the emergence of these restaurants, but what they represent.

Amritsar is no longer eating out just to eat. It is dressing up, reserving tables, choosing wines, and occasionally, lingering over dessert instead of rushing back to the next bite.

There is a clear shift from consumption to experience.

And yet, the soul of the city remains intact. Just a few kilometres away from these swanky spaces, you will still find queues outside a kulcha joint at 9 in the morning.

That duality is what makes this transition so compelling.

The Road Ahead

Will Amritsar ever become a full blown fine dining capital? Perhaps not in the traditional sense.

But it does not need to.

What it is becoming is far more interesting. A city where heritage and aspiration coexist. Where a traveller can begin the day with a plate of chole kulche and end it under soft piano notes in a restored haveli.

And somewhere in between, pause at a café that feels like Goa and dine in a space that feels like Tokyo.

That is not just evolution. That is confidence on a plate.

Learning about different cultures is a significant reason why people choose to travel, and food is a huge part of that. But it’s not just about visiting cafés, restaurants and street food stalls. Another way to learn about local eating habits is by visiting the supermarket to see what everyday items people buy, and what they’ve got that you can’t get back home. 79% of Indian travellers always or often visit local supermarkets abroad, according to Skyscanner’s Travel Trends Report.

So what local foods should you be looking out for on your next trip? Here are four of the best.

1. Brunost, Norway

Brunost, AKA brown cheese, is unlike any cheese you’ve ever eaten. It’s made by boiling milk, cream and whey until the water evaporates and the milk sugars turn into caramel. The result is a dense, fudge-like block with a sweet, tangy and slightly savoury flavour profile.

The texture is smooth and firm, yet it melts on the tongue. To enjoy it like a local, use a cheese slicer to cut a thin ribbon of brunost and place it on a piece of crispbread or a waffle. It also pairs well with a strong cup of coffee.

2. Kewpie mayonnaise, Japan

Head straight to the condiment section and you’ll spot a soft, squeezable plastic bottle topped with a red cap. This is Kewpie mayonnaise. Unlike Western mayonnaise, which typically uses whole eggs and white vinegar, Kewpie is made using only egg yolks and rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar. This gives it a richer, creamier texture, a slightly sweeter taste with an umami kick, and its signature golden hue.

Use Kewpie as a dip for crisps or vegetable sticks for an easy snack, or as part of a Japanese egg sandwich (tamago sando) – it’s the secret ingredient that makes them so delicious.

3. Tim Tams, Australia

Walk down the biscuit aisle of a Woolworths or Coles in Australia and you’ll be met with a wall of chocolate. Among them? The beloved biscuit, Tim Tams. A Tim Tam consists of two layers of malted biscuit separated by a light chocolate cream filling, all textured and coated in a thin layer of chocolate. It’s satisfying, but not sickly.

While you could just eat one in a few bites, you can also attempt the Tim Tam Slam for the true Aussie experience:

• Bite off two opposite corners of the biscuit.
• Dunk one open end into a hot drink.
• Use the biscuit as a straw to suck the hot liquid through the other open end.
• As soon as you feel the liquid hit your tongue, put the melting biscuit into your mouth before it disintegrates.

4. Ajvar, The Balkans

A trip to a supermarket in Croatia, Serbia or North Macedonia will reveal jars of a vibrant red spread known as Ajvar. Ajvar is a roasted red pepper relish, often combined with aubergine, garlic and chilli. The vegetables are roasted until smoky, peeled, minced, and then slow-cooked with oil for hours. It ranges from sweet (blagi) to spicy (ljuti).

Ajvar is very versatile. It elevates every dish, transforming crusty white bread into a meal and grilled meat into a feast. You can also stir a spoonful into scrambled eggs or use it as a base for pasta sauces.

Next time you’re abroad, resist the urge to stick to familiar brands. Walk into a local supermarket, grab a basket, and hunt for one of these items. You’ll taste the authentic flavours that fuel the locals every day.

New Delhi, October 3rd: The 12th edition of The Big F Awards, hosted by food critic Pawan Soni and presented by Indian Food Freak, lit up Le Meridien New Delhi last evening as the city’s most celebrated chefs, restaurateurs, and food personalities came together to honour excellence in the dining industry.

From stalwarts like Rohit Khattar, AD Singh, Rocky Mohan, Zorawar Kalra, RJ Khurafati Nitin, Rocky Singh and Mayur Sharma, to culinary leaders such as Chef Manisha Bhasin, Chef Manish Mehrotra, Chef Kunal Kapur, Chef Ajay Chopra,  Chef Saby Gorai amongst others, the gathering reflected the depth and diversity of Delhi NCR’s food culture.

A Fair and Transparent Process
What sets The Big F Awards apart is its uncompromising commitment to fairness. The honours are not influenced by sponsorships or lobbying. Each year, an independent jury visits nominated restaurants, experiences their food, and casts a single, non-revisable vote. Winners are revealed only on the night of the awards, ensuring transparency and keeping the suspense intact till the very end.

The 2025 jury featured some of the most respected names in the culinary and hospitality world: Chef Kunal Kapur, Chef Sabyasachi Gorai, Sameer Bawa, RJ Khurafati Nitin, Chef Nita Mehta, Rocky Singh, Chef Ashish Bhasin, Diwan Gautam Anand, and host Pawan Soni himself.

Celebrating Food Stories that Matter
“The Big F Awards have always stood for honest recognition,” said Pawan Soni during his address. “This gathering reflects the incredible depth of talent, passion, and creativity that defines Delhi NCR’s dining culture. We celebrated chefs who preserve heritage with pride, visionaries who are redefining how we experience food, and restaurants that have earned trust through years of consistency. Awards matter only when they are deserved, not when they are bought, and last night was about applauding the people who bring joy, comfort, and inspiration to our lives through food.”

Highlights of the Winners
The evening recognised some of the most inspiring names in the industry. Rohit Khattar was honoured with the Culinary Icon Award. Varun Tuli was named Best Restaurateur and Sahil Sambhi received the award for Best Nightlife Entrepreneur. The legendary Bukhara at ITC Maurya joined the Hall of Fame, where it will be recognised each year but will no longer compete in the awards.

Other notable winners included:

• Comorin as Best Modern Indian
• Lair as Best Cocktail Bar
• Fort City as Best Microbrewery
• Varun Sharma as Best Mixologist
• Megu at Leela Palace as Best Japanese Restaurant
• Orient Express at Taj Palace as Best European Restaurant

For the complete list of winners, visit the official Instagram page www.instagram.com/thebigfawards

An Evening of Camaraderie and Inspiration
The ceremony wasn’t only about competition. It was also a night of meaningful conversations, reunions, and collaborations. Guests enjoyed a specially curated menu by the Le Meridien team that added to the flavour of the celebration. The winners represented every facet of the dining landscape, from boutique spaces to landmark establishments, showing how Delhi NCR continues to evolve as a culinary powerhouse.

Since its inception in 2014, The Big F Awards has grown into one of the capital’s most authentic platforms for recognition, dialogue, and exchange. The 2025 edition carried this legacy forward, with conversations spilling beyond the stage and sparking collaborations that promise to shape the future of dining in the region.

For the many who gathered, the night was more than an awards ceremony. It was a celebration of food, community, and the people who make dining in Delhi NCR unforgettable.

The post Twelve Years Strong: The Big F Awards 2025 Showcases the Best of Delhi NCR’s Dining Scene appeared first on Indian Food Freak.

I sell only what I eat, says Kuldeep Gupta, the man behind an organic store in Chandigarh. Recently, he brought his passion for clean eating along with his son Arjun and daughter Saru to Delhi by opening Organic Bistro in Khan Market. During my visit, he proudly showcased the organic ingredients used in the kitchen like A2 cow ghee and milk, seasonal vegetables, dals, and cold pressed oils.

The name Organic Bistro might suggest a predictable spread of salads, smoothie bowls, and detox juices. But this cafe is full of surprises. The menu, curated by celebrity chef Nishant Choubey, offers an impressive variety including well executed non vegetarian dishes. In my opinion, this is among Nishant’s finest work, and there may be two reasons for that. First, Kuldeep is a seasoned restaurateur, and the synergy between him and the chef has resulted in a product that is greater than the sum of its parts. Second, as Nishant admits, he is not under pressure to cut costs, allowing him to use the best ingredients and it shows on the plate.

In fact, I would go so far as to say that this is currently one of the most reasonably priced cafes in Khan Market, even without factoring in the premium cost of organic produce. Perhaps it helps that the property belongs to Kuldeep, so rent is not driving up the prices.

Located on the first and second floors, the cafe’s interiors are minimalist and predominantly white, a design choice that echoes its clean food philosophy. However, with a lively group of guests, I noticed the space quickly became noisy due to low sound absorption.

We began with a buckthorn and fermented turmeric mocktail, refreshing and well balanced.

Then came the hot purple aloo chaat, three pieces of naturally fermented purple potatoes atop crisp vadas, topped with chilled sweet yogurt. At Rs 425, it was delicious and, in my opinion, excellent value.

The sweet potato tikki followed, topped with Korean gochujang sauce, torched at the table to release its smoky aroma. It rested on a Japanese spinach sesame sauce, paired with an extraordinary black garlic jam. The jam, made by fermenting garlic for six days until it turns rich and sweet, deserves to be the star of a dish in its own right rather than an accent.

Next came the beetroot kebab on an ulta tawa parantha, accompanied by a raw mango salad. Paper thin beetroot slices gave it texture and flavour, and my friend and I polished it off quickly.

The Burrata Salad, lightly live smoked with cinnamon, was flavourful though I feel smoking it in a covered vessel could intensify the aroma.

Until this point, we had stayed vegetarian, but then arrived the prawn balchao with buttery pao — tangy, spiced, and well worth ordering. When I asked Chef Nishant about using non vegetarian ingredients in an “organic” cafe, he clarified that this is more about “clean eating” than claiming absolute organic purity. Around 70 to 80 percent of their produce is organic, and the rest is simply the best quality available.

The menu also features crowd pleasers like Choley Bhature and Butter Chicken.

We wrapped up our meal with ragi makhani mani, a comforting dessert akin to suji halwa, but made with ragi and desi ghee. Simple, warm, and satisfying.

Organic Bistro is a product of love, passion, and respect for ingredients. The food is flavourful, the pricing surprisingly fair, and the experience refreshingly honest. Next time you are in Khan Market, step in. You might walk out as pleasantly surprised as I did.

Address: Organic Bistro, 1st Floor, 38, Khan Market, New Delhi | Phone: 9667799446

The post Organic Bistro, Khan Market, Delhi: Hidden Gem for Clean and Delicious Dining appeared first on Indian Food Freak.