Curating The Gourmet Fest 2024: A Journey of Creativity, Passion, and Innovation
Curating an event is like painting on a grand canvas—the strokes are varied, the colors vibrant, and the outcome reflects the vision, passion, and energy invested. As the Chief Curator of The Gourmet Fest (TGF) 2024, held at The Leela Ambience Hotel in Gurugram and Nevaeh, it wasn’t just another event for me—it was an immersive celebration of food, creativity, and collaboration. This event brought the best of the luxury catering world together under one roof, making it the ultimate showcase of style, taste, and innovation.
Opening address by Mareesha Parikh as Chief Curator TGF 2024 (CEO - Nautanki Company | Luxury Wedding Planner - Swaaha Weddings & Experiences)
TGF is a unique Intellectual Property (IP) event that celebrates the art of gourmet catering. Over the last five years, it has grown into a platform for top chefs, caterers, wedding planners, and suppliers to share insights, showcase their talent, and discuss the future of the industry. I had the honor of curating this incredible event alongside the brilliant team at Touchwood Entertainment, led by Vijay Arora. Having curated TGF for two consecutive years, the challenge to outdo the previous year’s success was my driving force.
Designing Experiences Beyond Discussions:
Fun fruit plating activities at The Gourmet Fest 2024
From the outset, my vision for TGF 2024 was to go beyond traditional discussions, turning each panel into an interactive and immersive experience. Food had to be the star of the show, and everything else was crafted to highlight that.
One of the standout features I introduced this year was real-time tastings during the panel discussions. While our esteemed speakers deliberated on topics ranging from cocktail trends to Indian desserts, we ensured the audience was served corresponding dishes and drinks. Picture a session on beverages where signature cocktails crafted by leading mixologists are passed around for the audience to taste in real-time! This wasn’t just about listening; it was about immersing oneself fully in the experience.
A Star-Studded Jury and Esteemed Panelists
Jury’s Live food tasting at The Gourmet Fest 2024
No event of this scale is complete without its esteemed jury and panelists. TGF 2024 was no exception. The jury included some of the biggest names in the culinary world:
Celebrity Chefs like Amrita Raichand, Hemant Oberoi, Jamal Shaikh, Vicky Ratnani, Rahul Akerkar, Saransh Golia, Manjit Gill, Rakesh Sethi, and the iconic Zorawar Kalra. Each member tasted over 32 dishes, meticulously assessing participants in categories such as Indian cultural street food, global desserts, and food fusion.
Live jury members (left to right) - Chef Vicky Ratnani, Chef Amrita Raichand, Neema Lath, Chef Hemant Oberoi, Poonam Joseph, Chef Rakesh Sethi, Chef Rahul Akerkar, Rakhi Kankaria, Hemant Kale.
On the other side, leading catering company owners—Sammir Gogia from Saltt Catering, Gulshan Chawla from The Juice Art, Anil Girdhar from Kitchen Art, Virendra Handa from CCI, and Pranav Thakkar from The Wedding Bartenders—lent their expertise to the conversations. The insight shared by these industry stalwarts created learning moments not just for the audience but for everyone involved.
Leading Wedding Planners and Artists
An insightful session with Hemant Kale, Anil Girdhar, Naveen Sachdeva, Nishant Agarwal
The TGF 2024 wasn’t only about food; it was also a meeting ground for the best in the wedding and event planning industry. Luminaries such as Chetan Vora from WeddingLine, Dr. Jaydeep Mehta from True Events, Rajiv Jain from Rashi Entertainment, Mahesh Shirodkar from Tamarind Global, Vicky Tulsiya from Mirage Events, and Hemant Kale from Swaaha Weddings & Experiences took center stage. They shared their knowledge on gourmet catering for large-scale weddings, using high-profile events like the Ambani weddings as case studies.
Vijay Arora & Mareesha Parikh
Tribute to late. Arun Samuel
This event also saw creative minds from various fields come together. Artists like Mika Singh, Jasbir Jassi, Sagar Bhatia, Bismil, and Lakhwinder Wadali graced the evening with their soulful performances, adding another layer of magic to the event. I wanted to ensure that TGF was not just about knowledge-sharing but also about creating an unforgettable experience for everyone present.
Power-packed performances by Mika Sigh & Jasbir Jassi
Lakhwinder Wadali
Showcasing Excellence at Nevaeh (Luxury Wedding Venue)
‘The Inventum Lounge’ at The Gourmet Fest 2024
One of the highlights of TGF 2024 was the spectacular showcase at Nevaeh, a luxury venue that hosted the evening’s events. Here, over 40 top catering companies exhibited their finest cuisines, along with beautiful setups and impeccable service. With over 1500 guests, including Delhi’s A-list HNIs and top wedding planners, it was a night to remember. From exotic chaats to indulgent desserts, every corner of the venue buzzed with activity and culinary excellence.
TGF Awards: A Celebration of Culinary Brilliance
The TGF Awards were another high point of the event, where we celebrated the best in gourmet catering across 20+ categories. With categories such as Excellence in Indian Cultural Street Food (Chaat), Excellence in Global Dessert, Innovation in Food Fusion, and the most coveted Catering Company of the Year 2024, the awards were a recognition of creativity, skill, and dedication.
The Inauguration Ceremony at The Leela Ambience
Our jury, which included celebrity chefs like Amrita Raichand, Hemant Oberoi, Vicky Ratnani, Jamal Shaikh, Manjit Gill, Rakesh Sethi, Zorawar Kalra and many more….meticulously tasted and rated each dish. The final results, tabulated by E&Y, ensured transparency and fairness in determining the winners. The evening’s grand finale, with awards presented and celebrations in full swing, was a true testament to the incredible talent present at TGF.
A Wholesome Experience of Food, Knowledge, and Entertainment
Breath-taking Ariel act at Navaeh
For me, curating TGF 2024 was an exhilarating journey. It was not just about food—it was about fostering community, inspiring growth, and celebrating excellence in luxury catering. I strongly believe that food and entertainment go hand in hand, and TGF proved just that. The panels, tastings, and performances all merged to create an experience that went beyond the ordinary.
Visionaries in the frame: Rakhi Kankaria, Chef Manjeet Gill, Chef Rakesh Sethi, Poonam Joseph, Mr. Vijay Arora, Chef Hemant Oberoi, Mr. Hemant Kale, Chef Amrita Raichand, Ms. Mareesha Parikh, Ms. Neema Lath
As I reflect on this journey, I am filled with pride and excitement for the future. At Nautanki Company, we continue to push boundaries in creating unforgettable event experiences, and TGF 2024 was another feather in our cap. I look forward to curating many more such events, shaping the future of the luxury events industry and continuing to celebrate the art of food, creativity, and community.
Mareesha Parikh
Curator of Special Events | CEO of Nautanki Company | Luxury Wedding Planner