Northeastizing the Belly

Mizoram and its food just got a little closer to Bangalore thanks to a feast organised by the Ants Cafe

If you think there is more to the North East than just insurgencies and militancy, then head to the Ants Cafe for a completely different experience.

Ants, a non profit initiative that runs a craft store and a cafe in Indiranagar, started in the year 2000 and aims to make Bangaloreans more aware of the North East and its culture and traditions.



Calling this initiative as 'northeastizing the mainstream', Ants tries to bring elements of the North East into Bangalore.
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Through initiatives like storytelling, craft, book readings and of course food, Ants aims to bring a slice of the North East to our city. And what better way to do this than to organise a gastronomic feast all the way from Mizoram.

After the resounding success of the Naga Food Festival a couple of months back, the Ants Cafe returns with tastes and flavours from Mizoram.

The grand feast will include 14 different dishes cooked by Lalrinpuii Khawlhring (aka Rini), a local from Mizoram but now settled in Bangalore for the last ten years.

The feast will begin with a traditional passion fruit drink and then will be followed up by goodies like chicken cooked with sticky rice, smoked pork flavoured with bamboo shoots, beef in a pumpkin gravy, pig's head cooked with sesame and fermented fat, fish cooked in soy bean, seasonal vegetables cooked in fermented soya beans and some special chutneys using a local Mizoram variety of mustard and Chingit (a local green found in the region) leaves.
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To keep up the authenticity factor, the ingredients are being brought down all the way from Mizoram. The meal will end with a traditional cup of black tea sweetened with jaggery and Betel leaves or Paan prepared in the traditional style. Mizo food, according to Rini is not very fiery and does not use any spices really.

The food is simple, mostly steamed, stewed and roasted; very little oil is used and is mostly spiced up with green or red chillies that are eaten raw along with the meal.

Sneak Peek:u00a0 At a tasting session we were lucky enough to dig into some of the dishes planned for the buffet. Without giving away too much, we would recommend the smoked pork flavoured with caramelised onions and the vegetable stew flavoured with pungent fermented soya beans.u00a0u00a0u00a0

At Ants Cafe, 2023/B 1st cross, 14 A main, HAL 2nd Stage, Indiranagar
On June 26, 7.00 to 9.30 pm
Call 4171 5639
Price Rs 350 per plate
Making reservations in advance is recommended