Foodie Talk with Mahek Khanna
Name – Mahek Khanna
Instagram handle - @aroundtheworldinaplate
What is your favourite food memory from
childhood?
Food memories start early. Eating nachos at
Shreeji restaurant (Oshiwara) EVERY single Sunday was a ritual we could never
skip. I used to love going there and the servers directly brought the plate to
my table without us even ordering it. Till date, they remember me by face and
place the order every time I go in.
What’s your favourite comfort food?
Maggi, not just quick to make or eat but
satiating too.
3 reasons why you consider yourself a Foodie?
- Being a Punjabi, food is genuinely all I think
about and care for. I would even dream about food.
- If something keeps me happy and chirpy, it’s
only food, food and food.
- Food is something I can never get bored of. It
keeps inspiring me with more ideas to be hungry.
Which are your three favourite cuisine? Why?
I love Asian, Indian, and Mediterranean/Lebanese
because of the flavours and variety they have in vegetarian food.
Do you have a favourite food ingredient?
YESSSSSSS, I have although some would detest it but I love it. It’s GARLIC.
Which food ingredient do you loathe/think is
overrated?
Cinnamon
What’s the strangest dish you’ve ever tried?
Lotus root nikkei Taco with avocado at Foo
What is your favourite fruit and vegetable? And
your favourite herb/spice?
Fruit - Muskmelon
Vegetable - Okra
Herb/spice - OreganoClick here for more Foodie Talk Interviews
If you had to eat one meal for the rest of your
life, what would it be?
If there is no akhri raasta, it’s obviously the Pasta.
Have you ever travelled anywhere just/mainly for
the food?
YES. I planned a trip to London just because the
food looked mesmerizing. And God, did I binge on it?
Do you indulge in food porn? Actively or
passively? What impresses you with food porn?
Being a relentless foodie, I do indulge in food
porn. Literally I have to stop the server from serving us before I have done my
routine clickety-click with the food pics.
Food porn should be created in such a creative manner that anyone seeing
the food pic should feel tempted.
What kind of oil do you use most of all?
We normally use the normal cooking oil, and yes it’s
Saffola.
Japanese/Italian, somehow the flavours don’t seem
to thrill me.
Any quirky food dishes combinations you have
invented or love feasting on?
My favourites are surely QUIRKY (with all capitals)
- Butter + chilli flakes + oregano sandwich in
white bread
- Cheese fries with tomatoes and spring onion
topping made at home.
- Desi wok poutine at Burger Brasserie
Keto diets – Not my thing, might start hating
cheese.
Intermittent fasting – Tough for a few, works
well mostly though.
Fusion food cuisine – Necessary evil? Got to
step up the game so modernisation is necessary.
Which superfoods have impressed you the most?
-Berries with ANYTHING, quinoa in almost any preparation,
Broccoli (Tandoori /Malai). Oof, my mouth is already watering.
What are your favourites?
Berries for sure. I'm a berry lover through and
through.
Indian street food – Samosa Chaat/Vada Pav
Indian dessert – Kalakand
Hidden gem restaurant of your city (and why) –
Queen Margherita's (Orlem), serve some amazing food and yummy pizzas
Over-rated Indian restaurant in your city (and
why) – Farzi Cafe, just good looking food.
The restaurant you keep going back to -
Courtyard, Veera Desai. This restaurant is the definition of old is gold.
How do you detox your body after an overdose of
eating out?
I skip a meal and opt for a fruit plate the next
day for lunch.
FRUITS, NUTS, Avocado
Who is your favourite celebrity chef?
Chef Ranveer Brar
Masterchef Australia, loads of learning from
this show.
What’s your favourite food destination?
Got to be Shanghai
