In pictures: Magical moments from Food Superstars 2024 by Culinary Culture

Food Superstars 2024 by Culinary Culture, presented by Zoya Gin, was unveiled on October 21 at the sprawling Mementos by ITC Hotels, Ekaaya. Set against the backdrop of Udaipur’s breathtaking Aravalli hills, the stunning property offered a blend of luxury and natural beauty

Founded and supported by Sameer Sain of Everstone Group, Culinary Culture is driven by co-founder (right) Vir Sanghvi and (left) CEO Raaj Sanghvi, all united by a shared dedication to celebrating the excellence of chefs. What sets the Food Superstars chef awards apart is its commitment to financial independence, ensuring autonomy from outside influences.

The top 30 chefs and special awardees gathered for a photo with the Culinary Culture team, celebrating the unveiling of Food Superstars – the “ultimate culinary honour,” recognising chefs who have transformed India’s food scene. There is a single eligibility criterion to be part of the FoodSuperstars Top 30 – the chef has to be an Indian who is currently cooking at a restaurant, hotel or delivery kitchen in India. Notably, these awards focus solely on the chefs themselves, not their restaurants!

Regi Mathew, crowned #1 in the 2023 edition of Food Superstars, was honoured with his induction into the Hall of Fame 2024. He shared the stage with 2023 Hall of Fame inductee Chef Manish Mehrotra and Vir Sanghvi

Chef Doma Wang proudly represented Kolkata, securing an impressive #15 on the list. ‘The countdown was thrilling, and I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness leading up to this year’s edition. This achievement is a team effort, and I dedicate this award to the entire team at our restaurants The Blue Poppy, Boma Asian, and our newly-launched Popo’s by Sachiko and Manisha,’ said Wang

Nine wow women featured on the Food Superstars 2024 list: (L-R) Amninder Sandhu, Niyati Rao, Nooresha Kably, Shri Bala, Doma Wang, Seefah Ketchaiyo, Vanshika Bhatia and (not in picture) Pooja Dhingra

A fun pose by chefs on arrival at Mementos by ITC Hotels, Ekaaya in Udaipur, the City of Lakes

The winners were gifted Tarun Tahiliani scarves

The following day, October 22, featured a riveting culinary conversation, moderated by Vir Sanghvi. The session brought together chefs (L-R) Regi Mathew, 2024 Hall of Fame inductee; Shahzad Hussain, ranked #1 on the 2024 list; and Manish Mehrotra, 2023 Hall of Fame inductee

Another engaging culinary discussion followed, featuring (L-R) pastry chef Pooja Dhingra (#18), Tibetan food expert Doma Wang (#15), and ingredient-focused chef Niyati Rao (#5), the youngest chef on the list

The Food Hunters team gathers for a group photo. The selection process begins with nominations from the Food Hunters — a dedicated team of city representatives, including this writer. These nominations then go through a jury review, leading to the final list

Women in vibrant traditional Rajasthani attire brought the art of roti-making to life at the live counter at Mementos by ITC Hotels, Ekaaya Udaipur. From missi roti to bajre ki roti, each was freshly prepared and served with a dollop of butter, along with chutneys and pickles for a true taste of Rajasthan

Flair bartender, mixologist and juggler Ami Shroff ensured the tipple flowed freely through the two-day getaway