The First Annual Varli Food Festival Celebrates with Renowned Chefs and Celebrities at the Altman Building in New York City
April 7, 2011, New York City: It was a night of fun and food at the first ever Varli Food Festival, an Indian Culinary and Chef Showcase, held at the Altman Building in the heart of Chelsea in Manhattan. This was a one of a kind, event where the who’s who of the Indian culinary world, including chefs, restaurant owners and other celebrities walked the red carpet amidst a sea of media and guests.
Inside the venue were multiple representations of the unique flavors of India. Over 35 restaurants featured a unique variety of samplers such as tandoori chicken sushi, paneer Kati rolls, coconut shrimp, and masala crab cakes with lotus root crisp. Celebrity chefs participated in various activities including cook book signing, food demonstrations and a silent auction as guests enjoyed wine parings, a full bar and a live performance of tabla and dance by Tina Sugandh.
Sanjeev Kapoor, award winning chef and host of popular cooking show Khana Khazana, indulged guests with a live cooking show. His book How to Cook Indian was available for purchase at the festival. Other unique items that the festival offered were a gift certificate book with over $500 in discounts from participating restaurants, a V card membership and a large spice market offering everything from spices and rice to cookies and snacks.
World renowned celebrity chefs that participated in the Varli Food Festival included Master Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, Vikas Khanna, Jehangir Mehta (former runner up on The Next Iron Chef) Hemant Mathur, Floyd Cardoz, Suvir Saran, Prasad Chirnomula, Hari Nayak, Maneet Chauhan (The Next Iron Chef), Walter D’Rozario, Mel Oza, and Peter Beck. Chef Pankaj Bhadouria, winner of Master Chef India and Radhicka Agarwaal, runner up of Master Chef India both flew in to be a part of the Varli Food Festival.
The Varli Food Festival was organized by Varli Singh, founder and publisher of Varli Magazine, the ultimate guide to great India dining. Varli Magazine donated 10% of the proceeds from ticket sales and 100% of the proceeds from cookbook sales and the silent auction to the Food Bank of New York.
Later this fall Varli will be hosting the Dichku Ichku Food Festival for children.
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