How do you—and can you—speak about new eating trends during a festivity which is all about traditions transmitted for centuries from generation to generation, from mother to daughter and which are so much associated with our identities? And yet, the current Covid-19 pandemic has changed and continues to change so much of our habits and what we were used to doing in the past.
Today, the main question which is in everyone’s mind is no more just how to make the best impression, which obviously remains the desired objective, but how to do it safely and hygienically to protect one’s loved ones.
With the festive season kicking off in earnest today, with the beginning of the Navratras, the culinary industry’s immediate focus is on delivering innovative, healthy and most importantly, hygienic food that meets the special requirements of this fasting period avoiding wheat, rice, lentils, meat, etc. Innovative sweet dishes, which use ingredients like sweet potato and other alternative flours in place of a grain, are the flavour of the season.
Many people, by default, jump on the gluten-free bandwagon during these fasting days. And thus, the focus of many F&B brands will be to produce more gluten-free products than they would at any other time of the year.
Fruits, particularly dry ones, are a perfect candidate to help everyone out under the current circumstances and their consumption drastically increases as it is highly encouraged for those who are fasting. Understandably pastries and other desserts which contain fruits are sold in higher volumes than usual and chocolates are obviously a welcome addition during this special period. Some innovative companies are offering a novel combination of nuts and dried fruits enrobed in chocolate, known by the name of “dragées” in France, as elegant and tasty alternative to simple dried fruits and pure chocolate.
An additional trend in the current festive season, more so than in previous years, is the focus on food that fortifies one’s health and contains immunity-boosting—at the least not diminishing it—ingredients such as citrus, turmeric, nonprocessed flours and sugars, containing plenty of healthy fats (such as clarified butter) and various seeds and nuts. No wonder that many restaurants and F&B companies are showcasing the special products and menus they have created in this category.
With fewer people eating out, brands that deliver premium dining experiences at home (including several courses or using high-end crockery) will be favoured by those who are entertaining guests at home.
For those who are cooking and baking at home, there is an unmistakable trend, for the same reasons described above, to move away or at least diminish oil-rich fried desserts and substitute them with alternatives. Increasingly, families are replacing jalebi, gulab jamun, ladoos and kaju katli with kheer (made of milk and rice) and dry fruits. In doing so, the traditions associated with Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Vishnu are honoured whilst preserving the health and wellbeing of all.
Diwali is the undisputed peak gifting season in India. The uncertainties related to the Covid-19 pandemic and the limited appetite for many of us to celebrate in public places will create a much greater need—compared to previous years—to send gifts instead of spending face-toface quality time with one’s family and friends. Thus, with most people being unable to physically meet their loved ones, the importance of the luxurious look and feel of the gift is much greater than ever. Those who are able will look to spend their money on premium gift hampers consisting of fresh, tasty, gourmet and hygienically prepared sweets and confections in attractive, (preferably) reusable boxes and containers.
Chocolates, dry fruits, a combination of the two and why not the very French speciality macarons which are a more a sophisticated combination of almonds and chocolates (also available in Vegan variety) and which all have a longer shelf life are a perfect answer to the requirements of this festive season.
The writer is executive chairman of L’Opéra.