Food Fest: Typically Odia

An array of Odia delicacies can be relished at the ongoing Odia Food Festival at Pantha Nivas in both Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. Lip-smacking popular dishes made with the use of ‘Panch Phutana’ - a perfect mixture of cumin, mustard, fennel, fenugreek and kalonji - used in tempering vegetables and dals - are available for both lunch and dinner as part of the festival.For vegetarians there are Kheechdi, Puri, Dali, Besara and Kosala Saga Bhaja among other items. In the non-vegetarian section, there is Machha Besara (fresh water fried fish masala). In the dessert section, there is Bhaja Manda Pitha and Kheer.The entire thing, with all the add-ons, come for Rs 100 for vegetarian spread and Rs 120 for non-vegetarian spread.The food served is neither heavy nor full of spices and oil. Cooked lightly, every dish has  its own subtle taste, and there is an overwhelming flavour of onion-garlic-tomato that drowns the taste of every vegetable. Red chillis  are hardly used at all, though there are sharp green chillies in some of the dishes.“This mini food festival is being organised to mark the Utkal Divas celebration,” said Alok Mishra, Marketing Manager of OTDC. The food festival is on till April 30.