Culinary/Textile Explorations
 

We can create trips around a particular interest, example; “tastes and textiles” or “Spa and Spice“ Staying at a carefully chosen mix of accommodations, from hip city hotels, Palaces & luxury houseboats to Spice farms. Jayne offers a chefs perspective to these trips.  Participate in cooking demonstrations; dine at restaurants, which excel in preparing local specialties.

There is certainly a lot more then say Curry, Naan bread and Tandoori Chicken. Indians love to eat and there are countless fantastic restaurants serving authentic regional specialties. Being so varied in climate, culture and religion each region has its own distinct style of preparation, which utilizes ingredients abundant locally and appropriate to their religious belief. Most of the spices used in Indian cooking were originally chosen thousands of years ago for their medicinal qualities and not for flavor. Many of them such as turmeric, cloves and cardamoms are very antiseptic, others like ginger, are carminative and good for the digestion. Food in India has strong ties to both religion and ancient Ayurvedic beliefs.

The Mughlai cuisine of the north is known world wide, with its richly spiced meat stews and kebabs, lentils stewed slowly over the open fire finished with cream and flat breads lavished with butter. This differs sharply from the preparations of the tropical south where a much lighter, fresh cuisine predominates.   Rice replaces wheat as the staple grain and dairy products are used sparingly, instead fresh coconut flavors and enriches dishes. Tamarind and Jaggery and curry leaves give dishes a distinct sweet sour taste. Fermented rice and pulses form the base for dishes such as masala dosas, crisp pancakes served with a fragrant tomato and spice broth Sambar and fresh coconut chutney.

Jayne has mastered the art of shopping and is happy to share her insider tips. Shopping in India is certainly an experience! Be it a slick Bombay Home wares store or a simple villagers handicraft stall or market. We can arrange visits to textile producers. One personal favorite is Mysore famed for its luxurious silks and sandalwood products. Its extravagantly colorful Devaraja fresh market sells everything from strings of Jasmine blossoms, green bananas to locally grown spices.

In the same region of South India head to the green Cardamom hills. Visiting coffee, tea and spice plantations.

Kerala is renowned for its Ayurvedic treatment centers, spend time being pampered and learning of the benefits of Ayurveda. No trip to Kerala would be complete without a stay aboard a luxury converted rice barge cruising through the sleepy backwaters.
 

Gujarat, possesses a rich cultural heritage, famed for its distinct tribal textiles, kite flying festival and its vegetarian cuisine, which is light well balanced, uniquely sweet and fragrant.

For centuries Gujrat has been renowned for its textiles; craft traditions are retained, villagers use time-tested techniques in producing a stunning collection of block prints, embroidery and weaving.