On 22nd November, diplomacy took a delicious turn as the International Institute of Culinary Arts (IICA), New Delhi, transformed into a bustling kitchen of flavours, laughter, and shared memories. As part of the Prelude Series leading up to Diplomatic Nite 2025, Culinary Confluence: A Taste of India brought together diplomats from Kenya, Thailand, Lesotho, Moldova, Bangladesh, Ecuador, Palestine, Yemen, and Germany, each ready to roll up their sleeves and discover India not through documents or dossiers, but through the magic of its cuisine.
The air was filled with the aroma of slow-cooked spices as the chefs at IICA, true culinary maestros, guided the diplomats and their spouses through a specially curated menu. There was fragrant, regal Mutton Biryani that simmered with heritage; the fiery, flavour-packed Mirchi ka Salan that tested both curiosity and spice tolerance; and the cooling, creamy Burani Raita, the perfect antidote for the adventurous palate.
For a while, nationalities blended into one harmonious team. Kenya stirred, Thailand sautéed, Yemen seasoned, and Germany garnished, proof that diplomacy works even better when paired with good food. The kitchens echoed with laughter, playful banter about whose biryani looked more promising, and shared joy at mastering age-old Indian techniques. It was less of a workshop and more of a culinary carnival.
“It’s incredible how food can bring people together,” remarked Mr. Arjun Datta, Managing Director of IICA, as he watched the participants bonding over chopping boards and spice mixes. “This workshop wasn’t just about cooking Indian dishes; it was about experiencing India with all senses, its warmth, its flavours, its stories.”
Adding to the energy of the afternoon, H.E. Mr. Fernando Xavier Bucheli Vargas, Ambassador of Ecuador to India who enthusiastically participated in the session, shared, “Today, I didn’t just learn how to cook biryani, I learned how to enjoy India in the most beautiful, personal way. This experience connects culture and diplomacy in the most delicious fashion.”
Every participant left not only with a full heart and fuller stomach but also with a Certificate of Participation, a small gesture of appreciation for their spirit of learning and friendship.
Publisher Linda Hawke, who has been the force behind the entire Prelude Series, described the event perfectly: “Diplomacy flourishes when we sit together, laugh together, and taste together. Today was not just about recipes; it was about relationships.”
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