Ahmedabad showcases global flavours and culinary talent at FFTFest 2025

The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) successfully presented the i Food for Thought Fest (FFTFest) 2025, held from November 16 to 17 at the Sabarmati Riverfront Event Centre. The four-day event reaffirmed Ahmedabad’s position as India’s most dynamic hub for global gastronomy, culinary innovation and cultural exchange.

Presented by AMC and conceptualised by the South Asian Association for Gastronomy (SAAG), FFTFest 2025 brought together some of the most respected names in international culinary arts. This year’s speakers and master chefs included Rashmi Uday Singh, one of India’s most acclaimed food critics, along with celebrated chefs Ranveer Brar, Suvir Saran, Abhijit Saha, Osama Jalali and Vicky Ratnani. Adding global flair was Chef Alvar Hinojal Crespo from Valladolid, Spain, which is also Ahmedabad’s sister city. Chef Alvar had conducted a live demonstration of a signature vegetarian dish from his Michelin-star establishment.

A key intellectual highlight of the festival was the Royal Families Session on Conserving Royal Culinary Heritage, where royal dignitaries from Balasinor, Jashpur, Panchkote and other princely states discussed the preservation of traditional palace cuisines. Another widely attended session explored the resurgence of the traditional Indian mithai. It highlighted India’s evolving dessert culture and the renewed global interest in handcrafted sweets.


FFTFest remains the only gastronomy event in India featuring an official cinema partnership with PVR INOX, enabling deeper cross-category visibility and amplifying the event across mainstream lifestyle audiences.

Additionally, several experiential zones at FFTFest provided unique avenues for engagement:

• The Spiritual Pavilion offered the authentic Bhog of Lord Jagannath, prepared by the same temple cooks from Puri who serve at the revered Jagannath Temple. A unique experience, unavailable elsewhere in India.
• The Luxury Pavilion, designed with opulent interiors, offered an exclusive Table d’Hôte menu at surprisingly accessible pricing, drawing significant visitor appreciation.
• The Taste of Luxury” Food Court, a concept seen only at FFTFest, showcased seven curated dishes from luxury hotels, served in tasting portions and priced between Rs 150 and Rs 550 to enable wider access.

"A heartfelt thank you to the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation for presenting the Food for Thought Festival - 2025. It was great to be here, thank you, Ahmedabad. See you next year," said Maneesh Baheeti, Founder, South Asian Association for Gastronomy – Food for Thought Fest.

The festival culminated with the prestigious AMC–SAAG Awards, which recognised excellence in hospitality. The awards were presented by the SAAG founders alongside legendary chef Manjit Gill, further heightening the festival’s credibility and leadership position in the gastronomic landscape. Over four days, FFTFest hosted panel discussions, cookery workshops, cultural performances and interactive demonstrations. With strong participation from hotel management students, hospitality professionals, food entrepreneurs and culinary enthusiasts, the fest served as a powerful platform for both knowledge exchange and industry networking.

By presenting FFTFest 2025, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has strengthened its commitment to positioning the city as a global culinary destination. Thus, celebrating food not as nourishment alone, but also as a precious heritage, artistry and a major economic driver.

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