National Food Awards 2025: A Celebration of Legacy, Labour, and Local Wisdom in Indian Food

Discultured’s National Food Awards 2025 is set to take place this November in Delhi, bringing together the voices, stories, and talent shaping India’s food culture today.

Food in India has never been just about sustenance. It’s a reflection of who we are, where we come from, and how we live, with every meal carrying the weight of memory, geography, and tradition in a way that few other cultural markers do. Street food served hot at roadside stalls, thalis packed with local seasonal produce, intricately plated dishes at fine-dining restaurants reimagining familiar flavours, home kitchens keeping traditional recipes alive, and cafes experimenting with global influences come together to form a food culture that continues to evolve while staying firmly rooted in regional identity and generational knowledge.

When we hosted the first edition of the National Food Awards, our intention was to draw attention to the people who are making a real impact in this space, not just those with visibility, but also those whose work often goes unnoticed despite playing a crucial role in influencing how we think about food in India today. We celebrated chefs holding on to legacy recipes, restaurants offering thoughtful experiences, and food entrepreneurs bringing in new ways of thinking, and through all of it, what became clear was that Indian food culture is being carried forward by people who are invested in its legacy, its present realities, and the possibilities it holds for change.

This year, as we return with the 2025 edition, the intent remains the same, which is to celebrate the minds, hands, and ideas that continue to influence the way India thinks about food. What makes this platform unique is that it doesn’t only look at the obvious or the already celebrated. It goes deeper, recognising those who work behind the scenes, often without a spotlight, but whose impact is far-reaching.

As the food industry continues to go through its own changes, driven by the trends of sustainability, accessibility, digital influence, and a return to local wisdom, we believe it’s important to create space for dialogue, recognition, and representation. The National Food Awards is our small contribution to that larger conversation.

This November in Delhi, we look forward to meeting the people who are changing the food map of the country with their own unique contributions and to telling their stories the way they deserve to be told.

If you’re a chef, restaurant, food entrepreneur, or someone building meaningful work in the food space, this is your moment. Check out the categories and register now to be considered for the National Food Awards 2025.

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Register Here : National Food Awards