A Roaring Success

The 18th UpperCrust Food & Wine Show

The 18th UpperCrust Show goes down in history as the best one yet, proclaimed so, by the vast number of visitors and exhibitors alike. Memorable, since we took the challenge to beat the pandemic odds and emerge successful. Creatively, we also launched Home Chef Studio, celebrating cooks who rose to the occasion helping diners along during the gloomy times

Text: Lyle Michael, Photographs: Team UpperCrust

There’s another significant reason the Show will go down in history books. It was held in March, for the first time! On 4, 5 & 6, as opposed to the standard dates of the first weekend of December. The Ides of March were looming, but the spirit of Bombay’s food lovers proved a resilient match, and the Show was off to a hopeful start with a roaring outcome over the three days. Facing the throes of summer and the month of closing in a financial year, not to mention cancellation and rebooking woes as it was earlier scheduled for December, then January, the city’s consumers, entrepreneurs, chefs, students and the like thronged the World Trade Centre, from the Lawns to the Expo Centre, even more than pre-pandemic times! And to ensure everyone's safety and hygiene were maintained through the three days, Solvex standing sanitisers were placed all over the event venue.

Attribute the turnout to the frustration of being cooped in for two years, if you will, but visitors were treated to more than they would expect at India’s biggest food and wine affair. A surge in the presence of vegan food brands, the first-ever Home Chef Studio and several new brands and young entrepreneurs that brought innovation, health and flavour to the table.

The chief guests for the 18th UpperCrust Show were taken aback with the magnitude, and more than happy that it was a SoBo-based event, bringing in food lovers from across the city. Rahul Narwekar, Makarand Narwekar and Harshita Narwekar, South Bombay political figures, are also big-time food lovers who considered the opportunity to light the inaugural lamp, along with organiser, Farzana Contractor, nothing less than a privilege.

With five of the biggest names in the plant-based and mock meat food industry putting their best foot forward at the exhibition, aficionados were spoilt for choice. Not to mention the food samplings made available for all, the familiar and the uninitiated buyer. Imagine Meats, Beyond Meat, Shaka Harry, Blue Tribe and Urban Platter. In an effort to offer alternatives to animal-based meat products that are nutritious, tasteworthy and environment-friendly, mock meat brands are making quite a stir among those seeking a healthier lifestyle and to up their green quotient.

Then came the unprecedented Home Chef Studio, held on Dec 5, by UpperCrust & FinelyChopped. The event provided a space for the culinary talent at home to burst forth on a public platform with four competitions in different categories, judged by top professionals with a penchant for food. We have it all in delicious detail for you on pgs 70-79. Furthermore, the audience was given the all-round experience of what it takes to be a home chef with mentoring sessions by industry professionals. This studio is certainly here to stay!

The first and the last day were scheduled the same as always, with cookery demos by top chefs in their respective specialities, with no charge to the visitor, as always. You had Chef Gurmeet Bhamra of The Oberoi present European Cuisine, Chef Lin Lin Yang of Four Seasons with Asian cuisine, Chef Paul Kinny of The St. Regis demonstrate Mediterranean cuisine and Shatbhi Basu of STIR Academy of Bartending offer the best “sundowner” in a cocktail and mocktail class on Day 1. Day 3 had Chef Bhairav Singh of Zaffran demonstrate desi vegan khana while Chef Anil Rohira of the School for European Pastry presented chocolates and cakes, divine! Coffee fans in the house were in for a treat with a workshop by the young barista, Anish Kale, who conducted a coffee brewing workshop with Desita Coffee, with cold brews handed out for cool comfort.

With expert tips, readymade recipes and food samplings across cuisines, budding chefs, home cooks and good old food lovers would diligently attend every session and go home well-sated. But not before shopping till their pockets were light and bags full. Expectedly so, for the goodies at the Expo Centre were top of the range, from foodstuffs to kitchen equipment, wines and lots more. It’s a long walk down the aisles with well-established brands like Kikkoman, Gadre and Riso Rice Bran Oil, Society Tea and Rio fizzy wines, to newer entrants like FreshPik, Wrapple Street and Forbidden Grain, GetKitch.in and Vinland's Sirak wines. The entrepreneur junction brought forth fresh ideas like Kiddoze, Mevé Jars and Tum Yums.

All that walking around does wear you out, which is where the Food Court on the WTC Lawns is the best place to kick up your feet and relax with some music and a delectable array to tempt. Newcomers at the court included Yakana and The Brooklyn Creamery, The Nommers – a home cuisine collective to bring food aggregators together – while regulars went from Soam to Jafferbhai's, Rhythm wines, and else in between. But the star finale was the fabulous family band, Two Girlz & A Guitar that rocked the evening and had everyone on their feet.

Truly, the good times! Just all the right kind of ingredients that make the UpperCrust Show India’s biggest and finest food and wine event.