National, 26July 2024: The RPG Foundation gave seed money to The Heritage Project, an NGO, to create “Koli Fork-Lores,” a special cooking competition honoring the rich culinary customs of the Koli population in the city. This event, which was held on July 25 at Dadar’s IHM Catering College, is a component of the larger “Chefs of Koliwada” initiative, which strives to preserve and revitalize the Koli community’s traditional history.
Eleven women-led self-help organizations from Versova Koliwada and Worli came together for the competition. Three accomplished ladies make up each team. By cooking traditional Koli delicacies that are a reflection of their rich cultural past, these contestants demonstrated their culinary prowess.
The women prepared a variety of mouthwatering dishes, including Ghosala-val Bhaji, Samudri Methi Bhaji, Khajura Fish Fry, Koliwada Special Prawns Mango Gravy, and more. Out of all the eleven groups, Aai Jivadani emerged victorious in the tournament.
Prominent industry figures, such as Masque creator Aditi Duggar, Bombay Canteen co-founder Sameer Seth, and celebrity chef and author Kunal Vijaykar, comprised the judging panel. On the panel were Amol Balkawade, head faculty of IHM Mumbai, and a Koli from Alibaug with more than 15 years of expertise as a teacher. Marathi actress Akshaya Naik and Ms. Radha Goenka, Director of the RPG Foundation, were among the other judges.
We are happy to lend our support to this endeavor. Through ‘Koli Fork-Lores,’ we hope to conserve and promote the rich traditional history of the Koli people while showcasing the extraordinary culinary prowess of Koliwada women. “This event demonstrates our dedication to cultural preservation and community empowerment,” stated RPG Foundation Director Radha Goenka.
