Culinary Sojourns

The quest for food has been a major catalyst across all of history. This search for spices and exotic foodstuffs led to the European discovery of the New World and the flourishing of commerce and trade across the globe. Modern warfare, from Napoleon's conquests to World War II, was made possible by advances in food technology. In the words of Epicure Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin “Gastronomy governs the whole life of a man”.

Realizing the integral role that food plays to help gain a deeper understanding of the destination per se and that of the people of that region, The Leela has put together a collection of these epicurean trails in four of India’s most fascinating destinations of Delhi, Udaipur, Goa and Chennai.

While Delhi’s culinary preferences have evolved over centuries of Mughal influence, Udaipur’s is largely drawn from the rich & royal cuisines of the Mewar dynasty. Goa’s preferences are largely influenced by the Portuguese and Hindu while Chennai’s culinary influences is drawn largely from the Chettinad dynasty’s lavish use of spices and herbs.