Kerala Tourism to organise Spice Route Culinary Festival

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 24: A competition involving the choicest cuisine from countries along the historic Spice Route will be the highlight of the 'Spice Route culinary festival' to be held from September 23-26 in Kochi.

An international competition, it will feature chefs from 31 spice route nations, State Minister for Tourism A C Moideen told reporters here.

"The culinary festival is a great opportunity to refortify our ancient links with the 31 countries along the historical spice route.It will provide a space for exchanging ideas and promoting understanding between different cultures and traditions and also help facilitate trade opportunities with these countries," he said.

The winning entrant and two runners-up will be felicitated during the culinary festival's valedictory session. All contestants will be issued certificates of participation by Kerala Tourism, he said. Held under the aegis of the Spice Route project, an initiative by Kerala Tourism in partnership with UNESCO, the culinary festival is a first-of-its-kind celebration of flavours and friendship that will see chefs from across the participant countries sample Kerala's cultural and gastronomic offerings besides participating in cooking demonstrations and culinary discussions.

"The festival will honour and rekindle the shared legacy of cosmopolitanism, commerce, connectivity and cultural exchange between the countries on the ancient and enduring sea link.

It will only augment Kerala's pull as a destination for cultural tourism," said state tourism director U V Jose. The minister also released the logo for the spice route culinary festival.

PTI