Top chefs go on a spice trail at Delhi’s Khari Baoli

The narrow lanes of Khari Baoli had some high profile visitors on Tuesday.

The narrow lanes of Khari Baoli had some high profile visitors on Tuesday.

Members of the Le Club des Chefs des Chefs visited Khari Baoli on Tuesday. (Ravi Choudhary/HT PHOTO)

Eighteen chefs of Heads of State who are visiting India for the annual general meeting of Le Club des Chefs des Chefs (CCC), known to be world’s most exclusive gastronomic society, were given a tour of Asia’s largest spice market by the Delhi Pradesh Trade Association.

“This was the most amazing part of the trip. To experience the sights, smells, sounds and meet the people here was so amazing,” said Cristeta Comerford, chef to the head of the state of United States of America.

While some specifically looked for flavours created using the Indian ghost chilli or Bhut Jolokia, a few others were amazed to find seeds including poppy in the market. “I have bought some dried chillies. But I’m looking for the world-famous ghost chilli,” said Ingimar Ingimarsson, chef to the President of Iceland.

Ulrich Kerz, chef to the chancellor of Germany, said, “We met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and later visited the spice market. The best pepper is available in India. Now that I have been to the Khari Baoli, I know the ways to differentiate between good and poor quality pepper.”

Magnus Ake Rehback, chef to the King of Sweden, said, “Our visit to the spice market was a wonderful experience. There was chaos but there was certain order in that chaos. The trip has left an impression on us. I’m interested in vegetarian food and after visiting India, I would definitely create a paneer dish when I go back. I have tried many paneer dished at different places here including the one by the chef at Bukhara, ITC Maurya, and each chef’s preparation was amazing.”

Since food is an important part of any country’s economy, Gilles Bragard, founder-secretary, CCC said, “One gets a variety of cuisines from Italian to French here, hence India is an important country to be explored.”