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Visiting a food festival is akin to taking off on a culinary journey. Here is a guide to the most popular food festivals in Karnataka to indulge your tastebuds.
India is a land of rich diversity, including diversity in cuisines. But with so many options in flavours and dishes, you can’t possibly taste everything. Therefore, if you are a food enthusiast and want to try different cuisines under one roof, I recommend that you head to a food festival.
These food festivals offer the opportunity to explore and enjoy local delicacies, and national and international cuisines. For food lovers like me, food festivals are a great place to appreciate the culinary diversity and participate in a range of entertaining events and activities. You get a chance to meet upcoming chefs, watch cooking demos, and interact with fellow foodies while chomping on some delicious fare.
If you find yourself in Karnataka during a food festival, be sure to visit one and enjoy all the merrymaking. However, it can be challenging to figure out which festival you should attend – this guide will help you make that perfect choice. I've put together a list of some of the most popular food festivals in Karnataka that I have visited; you'll not want to miss these! So, mark your calendars and get ready to explore these culinary extravaganzas.
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Karunadu Swada, which translates as "The Taste of This Great Land", gives any Karnataka resident a sense of joyous homecoming. The food festival is organised by MTR, which is a famous food products company based in Bengaluru. It is also a platform for people to showcase their skills; so, expect plenty of wholesome home cooking here. There are over a hundred different types of dishes available that you can try. Many of these dishes are long-forgotten recipes, rediscovered by the participants and organisers.
I had the chance to taste the best food from six culturally diverse regions here. From unde kadubu (rice and cucumber dumplings), and masala dosa to pathrode (colocasia roundels with a spicy rice and coconut paste), adgai (jackfruit pickle), and rava idli, you can explore so many distinct textures and flavours at the festival. I feel there isn't a better way to explore the culinary heritage of Karnataka. Additionally, if you love desserts, remember there is a whole menu that you can try. So make the best of your time here by indulging in unlimited food.
Originally a Delhi-based food festival, Horn OK Please has found a second home in Bengaluru. This food festival features some of the most amazing restaurants in the city, treating festival attendees to lip-smacking fare. This festival also has pop-ups, a cocktail bar, endless pints of beer, live music, and much more. I tried all popular favourites, including biryani, garlic bread, idli, baked goodies, and momos – and needless to say, it was all perfectly done. Most foods are priced at a pocket-friendly rate, so you don't have to worry about spending big bucks.
The best thing that I like about this food festival is the ambience, with a superb line-up of live bands. Talented homegrown artists will make you sing, dance, and shout out as they croon popular tunes and the best of the underground, setting the perfect state of mind for an enjoyable weekend. The eye-catching decorations will give you plenty of opportunities for taking Insta-worthy shots.
This unique food festival celebrates the avarekai (hyacinth beans), which is also known as the Bangalore bean. Avarekai, or the Bangalore bean, is in highlight every January in the city. This festival is inspired by the famous peanut fair in Bengaluru. The avarekai is directly brought from the fields of Hunsur, Chikmagalur, and Kolar to be showcased at the festival. The festival is organised by the proprietor of Shri Vasavi Condiments, S Geetha Shivakumar. The significance of this festival is that it helps promote the crop among farmers.
The city's favourite food street VV Puram comes alive with this food festival that usually lasts for 12 days and is one of the city’s major attractions. At the festival, I witnessed a gathering of around 200 farmers selling farm-sourced and fresh avarekai at retail prices.
You will get to taste various dishes that are prepared using hyacinth beans at the festival. I tried the sambhar, vada, hithkabele (a gravy dish), holige (sweet stuffed flatbread), idli, dosa, and upma, as well as jamoon and honey jalebi for dessert here. Avarekai Mela is usually held in December or January and it’s one of the must-visit festivals in Karnataka. Here's a pro tip: visit the festival in the evening when you can pick up some fresh beans.
The Grub Fest is one of the most exciting food festivals in Bengaluru. The festival looks like a carnival which makes for a superb ambience. You can experience the perfect combination of fun, food, and entertainment at this festival. Additionally, you can take part in various culinary workshops here. The festival also hosts an organic food market and popular restaurants.
The best part is that I got to watch wonderful music performances and even film screenings while enjoying my food. Don't miss the Grub Mile here, which is a special arena for mini-food trucks. Overall, the festival is a great place to experience good vibes with some great food!
Dasara Aahara Mela is celebrated in Mysuru in Karnataka and is one of the most remarkable celebrations in this city. Celebrated during Dusshera (locally known as Dasara), the festival hosts around 170 stalls serving delicacies from various states across India, including Kerala, Hyderabad, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Punjab, and Tamil Nadu. It’s also the perfect place for those who want to try tribal specialities along with the authentic cuisine of Karnataka.
Although I tried a variety of dishes at the festival, it was bamboo biryani that I haven't been able to forget. When you visit this festival, be sure to try this flavourful biryani infused with bamboo essence. Besides food stalls, the food festival also hosts cooking competitions, fancy dress competitions, and snack-eating competitions. There are magic shows and cultural performances which you can watch while digging into platters of delicious food. All in all, the food festival has something for everyone to experience and enjoy.
Super Ruchi Habba is one of the biggest vegetarian food festivals that takes place over three days in Bengaluru. When I attended the festival, I saw around 150 stalls, serving wonderful local dishes and international delicacies as well. Some of these unique dishes were a complete surprise, with unexpected flavours and textures. Several famous restaurants in the city are part of the Super Ruchi Habba food festival, thereby offering you a plethora of options to choose from the various menus at an affordable cost. The desserts are just as delectable as the main course.
The festival also hosts a handicrafts exhibition, with artisans selling a diversity of beautiful craft items and accessories. Besides checking out the food stalls, you can take part in other fun activities here and enjoy live performances by musicians. There is usually a kids' area with exciting games. So, if you are a foodie and need a little break from your routine like me, head to this food festival to have fun with your family and friends.
The Bangalore Food Fete is among the city’s largest food festivals. Every year, the scale of celebrations goes up a notch. If you are a binge eater, be sure to attend this festival that hosts many food stalls and food trucks. They also host a Gourmet Chef Challenge where you battle with other participants to win the prize using your top-notch culinary skills. Festival-goers can also expect stand-up comedy, live performances, and lots of dancing. Be prepared to have a blast and a jolly good time with your friends and family while enjoying truckloads of food!
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These food festivals aren't just a great way to satiate one's appetite for trying new flavours, but also enjoy fun activities in the company of your loved ones. If you're planning a trip to Karnataka soon, don't miss attending these colourful food festivals for a brush with the vibrant culinary culture of the south. That said, be sure to check the festival calendar while planning your trip. I'm sure you'll make memories to last a lifetime, as well as learn some cool new culinary skills while enjoying the festive atmosphere.
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