The Ambani-Merchant wedding on July 12 in Mumbai was a spectacle in more ways than one – from the guest list to the décor to the attires of the day and the magnificent display of jewellery. But the most important feature in all this was the food.
The food at the wedding was purely vegetarian owing to the auspiciousness of the occasion and day. It was curated by Peruvian Chef Virgilio Martinez. He, however, was not the only one, and among the other chefs was Goa’s Chef Avinash Martins of Cavatina.
Dishes like Glazed King Oyster Mushroom Xacuti, Tender Coconut Carpaccio, Asparagus and Pine Nut Caldin, Wok Tossed Edamame and Brussels Sprouts Kismur were among Chef Avinash’s vegetarian dishes served at the Ambani-Merchant wedding.
“I was overwhelmed by the wedding, the guests and everything around. It was completely surreal to see everyone at one place, at one time. It was like a dream and I had to be there to explain the food personally to the guests. I personally spoke to the Shahrukh Khan family, Bachchan family, Salman Khan, MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya among other stalwarts and celebrities. It was truly an overload of joy and excitement for me,” says Chef Avinash.
I personally spoke to the Shahrukh Khan family, Bachchan family, Salman Khan, MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya among other stalwarts and celebrities. It was truly an overload of joy and excitement for me.Chef Avinash Martins
With a team of around 50, all the plates were plated as the guests arrived. “We had to make bite-sized items, so we even made sannas for the guests to try. It was such an amazing experience to see that people loved our cuisine. We took all our local ingredients from Goa, like vinegar, raw mango, local rice, spices and even toddy from here,” he says.
From various cuisines featured across the world like Japanese, Chinese, Peruvian and Turkish among other Indian cuisines – it mattered that a chef from the smallest state in the country was featured too.
“My aim was to bring Goa to the limelight. Goan cuisine is not only recheado and cafreal, there is so much more to it, which needs to be focused on. I wanted to even feature breadfruit (nirponnos), but due to the lack of availability it was not possible,” says Chef Avinash who catered to around 700 guests at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC).
On comments from stars and celebrities about Goan food, Chef Avinash says, “They all loved the food. When I got speaking to them, one of them said, ‘Goan khanna aisa bhi hota hai’ and it really meant a lot to me, especially because I focus on bringing local to the table with innovations,” says chef Avinash, who reached Goa on 14 July with his team.