Chef Manu Chandra Wins Hearts At Cannes With Food
The Cannes Film Festival 2022 is the flavor of the season and definitely for all the right reasons. From Deepika Padukone being part of the jury for the first time, Pooja Hegde’s stunning pictures by French Riveria, Rajasthani folk singer Mame Khan gracing the red carpet to R Madhavan’s movie “Rocketry” getting a standing ovation, Cannes is on everyone’s mind. While movies, dresses, and the red carpet are on the news, Indian delicacies on the festival menu are quietly winning hearts. And the credit for it goes to Chef Manu Chandra.
Bengaluru-based chef Manu Chandra handled the catering for the India Pavilion at the 75th annual Cannes Film Festival and the official inaugural dinner. According to a Times Of India report, the reputed chef created a vibrant new menu that celebrated India’s culinary diversity with a French spin. This surely impressed the celebrities at Cannes. From a vada pav prepared with toasted French brioche, keema biryani arancini balls, duck confit galouti kebabs to jackfruit samosas, the dishes were unique and drool-worthy.
Chef Manu Chandra and his two other Indian team members also fascinated guests with a one-of-a-kind baingan ka bharta served in French tart shells and the steamed batter paddu shaped like French madeleines. He specially prepared Jodhpur’s onion kachori in croissant style, laal maas lamb medallion, and bajra khichdi for Indian celebrities like AR Rahman, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, and R Madhavan.
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Talking about his thought process to Times of India, Chandra said, “I put together a menu which would showcase the confluence of India and France because it’s a landmark: 75 years of India, of Cannes Filmm Festival and of Indian and French diplomatic ties, as well as India being the country of honour so it was only apt that I create a menu which gives a nod to both sides.”
The chef got a huge round of applause when he walked out to meet and greet the guests. He revealed to TOI that this was the first time people ate so heartily at Cannes, where usually they’d get a drink and a canape and walk around.
Well, this is the power of desi food right!
