Scrumptious delights from across the colorful heartland of India were on display for food connoisseurs at the Indian food festival at Elaf hotel in Jeddah on Wednesday.

Ahmed Kidwai, the Indian consul general, Ziyad Ahmed bin Mahfouz, president of Elaf Hotels and Faiz Al-Abideen, special adviser to the Saudi royal family, inaugurated the week-long festival in the presence of passionate food enthusiasts, residents and Indian expatriates.

Food has always been a means of enhancing cultural exchange and strengthening relations between citizens of the world.

“The Indian cuisine is a mirror to our culture, which dates back 5,000 years. Consequently, various conquerors, traders and delicious flavors from different regions have all influenced Indian food. We have brought a sample of our rich heritage from the coastal areas and the mountainous terrains for our friends in Jeddah to taste our exotic dishes,” Kidwai said.

He added that three chefs have come from India especially for this occasion and are ready to whip up dishes from all the orientations of India.

“The success of last year’s food festival encouraged us to once again bring the taste of Indian spices to rejuvenate Jeddah,” he said.

The consul general thanked Elaf hotel and all the sponsors for making this festival a successful endeavor.

Commenting on the event, Al-Abideen said this is a unique opportunity for residents to taste authentic Indian cuisine at its best.

Meanwhile, bin Mahfouz expressed the hotel management’s delight to be a part of the Indian food festival for the second year, especially given the significance of food in enhancing cultural ties. “There are many similarities between the Saudi and Indian culture, which were fostered through a passion for Indian spices and cuisine. We are thrilled to be hosting this event,” he said.

Balram Jaiswal, head chef, told Arab news that he and his fellow chefs Minoj Kuma, an expert in north Indian cuisine, and Genaish Kumar, who is specialized in south Indian cuisine, presented 12 main courses, three different deserts and will introduce one main course from a different region every day.

“We will be serving one dish per region to conjure all the diverse and unique recipes from across our beautiful nation. We hope this year will be as successful as last year’s event,” Jaiswal said.