The Night of Ideas is a French initiative bringing together prominent thinkers across the globe to discuss major topical issues every year. With this year’s theme intriguingly titled “More?”, the Indian edition, A Night of Chefs & Ideas, will highlight the kaleidoscopic story of food in India – with French accents. Chefs, experts, policy makers, historians, economists, and practitioners will come together for a night of creative thinking.

The conversations – exciting, riveting, thought-provoking – will be moderated by award-winning journalist, editor, and curator, Shoma Chaudhury.

Join us at the Open-air Amphitheatre, Sunder Nursery, New Delhi.

On 1 March, 6 pm onwards.

For more debate. More diversity. More proximity. More solutions. More bridges. More stories.

And a delicious, specially curated, dinner by a French chef from the Indian countryside.

Menu:

6 pm – 6:30 pm: Welcome drinks and Night of Ideas Mela

6:30 pm – 6.35 pm: Welcome Address by French Ambassador H.E. Mr. Emmanuel Lenain

SESSION 1: Diversity | 6:35 pm – 7:10 pm

Eat, Pray, Love: My discovery of India

Diaries of 2 super chefs 

• Radhika Khandelwal I Chef owner, Fig & Maple, Ivy & Bean 
• Saransh Goila I Chef-owner, Golia Butter Chicken

SESSION 2: Security | 7:10 - 7:50 pm

The State, the Farmer, and the Plate

The holes in our food systems. And how to fix them  

• Ajay Jakhar I Farmer, Policy expert
• Mekhala Krishnamurthy I Farm markets expert, Ashoka University, CPR 
• Rajeswari Raina I Agriculture policy expert, Shiv Nadar University

SESSION 3: Culture | 7:50 pm – 8:15 pm 

Indian Roots 1: History, harmony and the politics of food

• Pushpesh  Pant I Food historian

DINNER | 8:15 – 9 pm

French Chef from an Indian Countryside 

SESSION 4: Sustainability | 9 pm - 9:30 pm

Food transformers: Meet the people changing their country’s guts. For good

• Corinne Morel-Darleux I Eco-socialist 
• Swati Renduchintala I Natural farming strategist

SESSION 5: Conscious Living | 9:30 pm - 10 pm

Indian Roots 2: The intelligent art of eating well -- for self & society

• Rujuta Diwekar I Nutritionist & fitness expert
• Prachi Prabhat Pandit I Nutritionist