ABOUT ASH-THE PASSIONATE FOODIE
Ashish Chopra is presently the Executive Director of the Institute for Environmental Management and Social Development.He is also the former Advisor to the Governor of Mizoram. His directorship of the Institute seems to have taken a backseat though to pursue his passion for food and travel. As a result he is now dedicating his quality time as a CULINARY HISTORIAN/FOOD CRITIC/TRAVEL WRITER/PHOTOGRAPHER
A PhD in Conflict Managemnt, he has been working in the field of environment , social development, culture and cuisine especially in the North East India for over a decade now. His latest book being “ A travel guide to North East India“. He is also the author of NE Belly-A book on the cuisines of the eight North Eastern states. He calls North East India as his obsession which has taught and given him much.He is now documenting the traditional tribal foods of India and writing a cookbook–TRIBAL CUISINES OF INDIA and one on STREET FOODS OF INDIA
Apart from that he has interest in regional cuisine, folk music, tribal art, indegenous knowledge and film making. Amongst his forthcoming projects is a coffee table book on the NE. He is also a keen documentary filmmaker and has been working on documentraies on the Chins of Mizoram, the Nocte tribe of Arunachal, the Konyaks of Nagaland, and a television series on the migrant cuisines of India. He has published various papers on development, conflict management and culture.
He has anchored a talk show called-” To the Point” on one of the prominent satellite news channels.A foodie at heart and not by profession but by passion- He has been a food critic with various magazines and has also been a food consultant with ITC Welcom Heritage group of hotels having documented the Royal cuisines of the erstwhile Maharajas. Amongst his latest projects are, conceptualisation of the first cross Cultural Heritage Cuisine Restaurant in India for the Carlson’s Country Inns and Suites Group at Jaipur and a traditional Punjabi Heritage cuisine Resturant with Sufi as its theme at Ludhiana. Also coming up in Goa is the World’s first North East Indian Cuisine Resturant serving cuisines from the eight states of North East India based out of his book. He has been invited to co-author a book on the Royal cuisines of Bhagel with H.H Pushpraj Sinh-the erstwhile Maharaja of Rewa and subsequently GAJRAJ SINGH the Thakur of Diggi State in Rajasthan has also commissioned him to do a coffee table book on the erstwhile secret recipes and food traditions of the Diggi State.
He has also consulted for the television series by BBC channel Four.Gorden Ramseys Great Escapes on North east Indian Cuisine
He believes that food, music and culture transcends all boundaries of caste, conflict, creed and religion. To respect food, tradition and culture is the best way to respect humanity. This blog is a modest attempt to promote his passion for cuisines.
GOSH! HOW I HATE TO BLOW MY OWN TRUMPET!!!BUT TRUELY I DO LIVE TO EAT AMEN!
March 26, 2008 at 5:23 am
Hi Ashish,
Really very impressive and professional! It’s already so rich – I look forward to it as the collection grows. Enormous potential!!
All the best
Sheema
March 30, 2008 at 1:05 pm
hey…..
so finally a blog to let people get to know u more…… Congratulations…. and Good luck … may you succeed in promoting your passions for cuisines….. Ash-the-foodie.
Very nice..
May 3, 2008 at 2:28 pm
ASH IS THE MAN….A WALKING talking ,foodie encyclopedia!
Cheers Ash…all the best…keep it going bro!
Cheers
Sunil
May 15, 2008 at 10:59 pm
I am especially fond of Awadhi cuisine as well as the cuisines of Kerela and Mumbai street foods, and now you are giving me a glimpse into an area I have yet never set foot-Assam. The best way to uderstand a culture is truly via the cuisine. Thank you for the first step in a hopefully long one of Assamese cuisine. I am eager to learn!
May 25, 2008 at 3:05 pm
He is one of the most amazing people i’ve come across in the entire span of 32 years of my life. In the blazing hot summer afternoon , just by the look on my face he worked a magical herbal drink for me which sure did challange the ” Dilli ki Garmi”. His indepth knownedge on the North eastern part of the country is mind boggling & ofcourse talking about food, well…. i personally feel, if there is some one better that Ash, its Ashish Chopra himself.
June 5, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Finally made time to read…nay…celebrate your blog. As your Habibi says “Sooo lovely!” Ashish, you write as well as you talk, you talk as well as you cook, you cook as well as you paint, sketch, photograph….ufff! This is a delight and I will be back for more…
Cheers!!
June 6, 2008 at 10:17 pm
Enjoyed reading your wonderfull food experiances in the North East of India. I am Kenya born of Indian Parents and went to India for the first time in 2004 – second time tour of Rajastan and Punjab. Third time, would love to see North East. Any good advise from Ash would be useful. Did write to him but no response”!
Keep up the good work – one day I will love to get hold of your books.
Karam
September 8, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Dear Ash,
You recently wrote to me via the CS Website and now that I’m seeing your food blog, I am completely amazed and impressed. I need to check out your book ASAP though I wonder how hard it will be to really get authentic ingredients in NYC!! : )
Best,
Wylie
October 6, 2008 at 1:48 am
Hi,
Would love to read this one. Would look out for that in my fav bookstore rite away.
Cheers,
Northeasterner Team!
October 6, 2008 at 1:50 am
But we sure love the cover of the book
if a book is to be judged by the cover of the book.
April 21, 2009 at 5:23 am
Dear Ash. Love your site! I am coming to the NE in May to make a tv program for international broadcast on the region. I would like to talk to you about Assamese (and other) cuisine of the NE and how we might feature it in the show. Could we have a conversation by email external to the blog? I’d appreciate it. Please advise best method to contact you. Regards, Kerry
July 1, 2009 at 1:14 pm
Wow, I am amazed. Truly because I come from NE, (I was born in Arunachal Pradesh, lived in Assam, Meghalaya and been to Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram. Tripura has not happened yet. And my dad fondly calls me ‘apatani chhowali’!), and I am an Anthropologist and a foodie. Like your story, it was with my dad’s (an electrical engineer)postings in the NEFA region which brought me closer to NE; actually I was brought in this world in the NE. I would like to interact with you and buy your books. Looks like there’s lots to interact professionally. I am into health systems researches in TB and HIV.
July 6, 2009 at 1:26 pm
Hi Ash,
Really enjoyed reading some of your posts. Got this web address from our common friend Avik. Are you free to catch up for a chat this week ending July 12
thanks
Mayur
September 7, 2009 at 2:31 pm
We love your book.Very well written and documented
September 18, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Hey Ashish,
Greetings from Tel Aviv.Remember me your long lost friend of the kibutz.The lady who fell in love with your cooking and secretly probably with you-A public confession being made after a decade.I just stumbled upon your blog and love evry bit of it.You have not changed-As charming as ever it seems.Incidently you will be glad to know that with your motivation then I own a chain of resturants here by the name of Excelsior serving European cuisine.Sending you a detailed mail shortly with all my contacts.
Much love
Mary.