FARM TO FORK: A JOURNEY TO TRIKAYA FARMS NEAR TALEGAON

Chef Roberto Zorzoli

This was one incredible trip, a wonderful experience that gave an insight into respecting the produce that farms across the country churn day in and day out for our kitchens.

It sometimes becomes so imperative to understand how numerous ingredients that make it to our plate are grown and what it feels like to eat them fresh, straight off the farms. I guess, we truly begin to respect the ingredients and work with them accordingly when we are able to witness this process.

In order to understand this journey, we visited Trikaya's farms, which are in Talegaon, about 130 kms from Mumbai with Chef Roberto Zorzoli - Chef De Cuisine - Romano's at JW Marriott Hotel Mumbai Sahar. Arriving at the farms after a 3-hour journey, all of us were as excited as a child on his/her first class picnic to explore the place and what it had to offer.

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We set foot on the farms along with Chef Zorzoli, Chef Vishal Atreya - Executive Chef at JW Marriott Hotel Mumbai Sahar and their team and Mr. Manje Gowda from Trikaya's. We began by exploring the huge variety of herbs, mints and fruits grown here. Each herb enchanted us with its strong aroma and exquisite flavor, which we experienced firsthand while picking them ourselves. Before we could blink, our baskets were full of nature's wonderful gifts. Plucking and eating mulberries , tasting freshly cut bamboo, relishing the red flesh dragon fruit and star fruit straight off the trees were just a few of the multiple experiences we had wading through the farm.

From the ample varieties grown, here is a look at a few of the fruits, mints and herbs that I could capture:

The farm also produces an array of vegetables including greens, micro greens, different types of lettuces, Continental and Asian staples. Trikaya's farm is into production of some beautiful varieties of cut flowers as well. Here is a look at some of vegetables and cut flowers:

After picking all the ingredients, it was time for Chef Zorzoli to dish up a delicious fare with these ingredients. Here is the yummy food Chef so lovingly prepared for us. Wine Kart was very gracious to provide three lovely Italian wines that paired excellently with the yummy Italian food that was dished up.

I am really thankful to JW Marriott Hotel Mumbai Sahar, Chef Roberto Zorzoli and Food Bloggers Association of India (FBAI) for providing this wonderful experience that I will cherish for a life time.

Do remember to respect the produce you work with to create your recipes and it will payback in the way people appreciate your food creations.
Till then, HAPPY EATING...