Chef Manu Chandra is all praises for local produce

The benefits of eating foods local to India are not just good for our carbon footprint but it’s pretty exciting for our palates as well. And Chef Manu Chandra is yet another chef to sing the praises of produce in India. One region that stands out in particular for him is Nagaland. He says, “It’s a pristine and largely untouched part of the country, development of course would catch up rapidly.

There’s so much to explore and be inspired by. Herbs, berries, seeds, fruits, processes, all unique to the region.”

Apart from Nagaland, there are a number of other regions that inspire the chef when it comes to his cooking. He lists Jharkhand, the Gonds in Madhya Pradesh, Manali and Karaikuri as some of the places he’s learnt a lot from.

Chandra adds, “India is fascinating, every region has something that completely makes you rethink everything you’ve ever learned before.” While travel is a source of inspiration for the chef, he tells us that inspiration is nearly everywhere. “Stories, books, people, feedback, ideas. One needs to keep inspired to keep creating, and hence should not be restricted to singular sources, ” he says.