Surat, March 2025 – The month of March turned flavorful at Surat Marriott Athwalines as six talented home chefs from the Parsi community won hearts with their culinary expertise during a special 10-day Parsi Food Festival. The chefs – Beena Kathawala, Firozi Karanjia, Jennifer Bhagwagar, Kashmira Palia, Roshna Morena, and Tinaaz Bachana – served a vibrant slice of Parsi heritage through their authentic dishes.
The journey of this unique initiative began in September 2024, when Sunil Gangwal, Cluster Director of Food & Beverage at Marriott, chose to collaborate with home chefs instead of professional caterers. The success of that event led to an extended food festival from March 14 to 23, 2025, bringing back the same chefs for a more elaborate celebration.
Coinciding with the Parsi New Year, Navroz, on March 21, the festival became even more special. With the support of the chefs, a lavish spread of 55 to 60 dishes was prepared, including iconic Parsi delicacies such as chicken-mutton dhansak, patra ni macchi, sali gosht, chicken pulao, kheema pav, jardaloo gosht, fish curry, prawn pulao, Russian cutlets, gravy cutlets, fried fish, falooda, lagan custard, bhakra, mawa cake, and jelly.
The hotel lobby was beautifully adorned with traditional rangoli and chalk art, offering guests a glimpse into Parsi culture. Each visitor was welcomed with the customary greeting "Jamjoji Jamjoji," and their feedback was received with genuine warmth and enthusiasm.
Several prominent personalities from Surat graced the event, making it a celebration of both food and community. The festival once again reaffirmed the essence of Parsi philosophy—"Laugh, eat, drink, and be happy"—not just as a saying, but as a cherished way of life.
For more information, contact Dilnaz Besania, Parsi Food Festival Coordinator at Surat Marriott Athwalines, at 9925120069.
