Bhubaneswar: An Odia spread was presented to the world at the Indian Food Festival held at Exerzierhaus, 85049 Ingolstadt, Germany, on Saturday. The Shree Jagannatha Seva Germany, Munich, and the Odia European Society (OES) prepared 15 delicacies to offer a taste of Odisha's culinary heritage. The Annapurna Odia thali included plain rice, kanika, dalma, dahi baigan, khajuri-tomata khata, cheena khiri, and green salad. Kanika (sweet rice) was the standout dish.
"Our humble Odia stall was created to represent Odisha and Jagannath culture in Ingolstadt," said Priyadarshan Samal, a member of the organization. Chef Vikas Khanna, who has been promoting Odia food for some time, once remarked, "Kanika is more than a dish. It's nostalgia. It's a tradition. It's a bowl full of love and blessings. It takes me straight to the divine kitchens of Jagannath Temple."
At the festival, the Odia group also presented the famous dahibara aludum, which was recently featured by Chef Vikas Khanna at Bungalow, his New York-based restaurant. Other dishes included chennapoda, khaja, guguni chaat, chaanch, jhal mudhi, sweet paan, and paan shot. "From dahibara aloodum to chennapoda, every item carried emotion, devotion, and memories of home for so many people living far away from Odisha," said Tanmay Panda, another member.
The proceeds from the festival will be used for the Rath Yatra organized by Shree Jagannatha Seva Germany this year. "The Annapurna Odia thali received an overwhelming response, especially from German guests, who lovingly explored the authentic flavors of Odisha," said Debasis Sahoo. A team of Odias prepared all the delicacies, with cooking starting a day earlier and continuing late into the night and early Saturday morning.
