About Me

Ashish Chopra, Culinary historian, author and television host was the founder Executive Director of the Institute for Environmental Management and Social Development, ( www.iemsd.superhit.in ) when he decided after retrospection and introspection to take permanent sabbatical to pursue his passion for food and travel. An expert in conflict management he is also the former Advisor to the Governor of Mizoram and Assam Rifles (The oldest paramilitary force in the World), He is now dedicating his quality time to pursue his passion as a CULINARY HISTORIAN / TRAVEL WRITER / PHOTOGRAPHER / AUTHOR AND TELEVISION HOST teaching culinary history and lecturing. He has recently established SACA (SCHOOL OF ANCIENT CULINARY ARTS) dedicated to safeguard, promote, and teach our ancient culinary practices.

He was the Senior Consulting Editor of the Food & Beverage Buzz magazine, India’s leading magazine dedicated to promoting and showcasing India’s rich culinary heritage .A recipient of the Coveted REX KAMVEER GLOBAL fellowship for 2013 and also been nominated for the KARAMVEER JYOTI PURASKAR for 2019.He also received the Culinary Historian award for the 2020 He organizes culinary tours and heritage food walks for food lovers and curates food festivals specializing in lost and heritage cuisines. He has partnered with The Radisson Blu , Park Plaza ,CITCO and Radisson brand of the Carlson’s Rezidor Group and organized heritage and ancient food festivals at their various properties pan India.

He has contributed to the EXOTICA magazine, INSIDE OUTSIDE, The PIONEER Newspaper, CONDE`NAST Traveler, Global food & Traveler magazine, Lonely Planet.. Does a weekly column with Dainik Bhaskar, He is also the Principal Advisor of the globally acclaimed WOODPECKER INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL since 2014 ..

http://www.woodpeckerfilmfestival.in  and culinary consultant for ITC Hotels for the year 2019-2020.He is also currently the Principal culinary Advisor for SignumHotels and Resorts (www.signumhotels.com) and on the board of governors.

He has worked in the field of Environment, social development, culture and cuisine especially in North East India for over two decades now. His latest books being “A Travel Guide to North East India“and TRIBAL Cuisines of India  … He is also the author of NE Belly-A book on the cuisines of the eight North Eastern states. He calls North East India his obsession, which has taught and given him much.

An interior designer by interest and painter by passion, Ashish has used tribal art to design his humble abode and other projects. It is his endeavor to promote the rich culture and tradition of tribal India.

Apart from that he has interest in regional cuisine, folk music, tribal art, indigenous knowledge and filmmaking. He is also a keen documentary filmmaker and has worked on documentaries on the Chins of Mizoram, the Nocte tribe of Arunachal, the Konyaks of Nagaland, amongst many others.

He has published various papers on development, conflict management and culture.

He has hosted a series of talk shows called–”To the Point” on one of the prominent satellite news channels.

A foodie at heart and not by profession but by passion- He is consulting ITC HOTELS currently and has also been a food consultant with ITC Welcome Heritage group of hotels having documented the Royal cuisines of the erstwhile Maharajas. He has been invited to co-author a book on the Royal cuisines of Bhagel with Pushpraj Sinh – the erstwhile Maharaja of Rewa and subsequently GAJRAJ SINGH the Thakur of Diggi State in Rajasthan has also commissioned him to do a coffee table book on the erstwhile secret recipes and food traditions of the  Diggi State.

He has consulted for the television series, Gordon Ramsey’s Great Escapes Currently consulting BBC for forthcoming India unplugged series to be aired this year end.

He in 2011 consulted for the show “Chef on the Road“, by Hurrah Productions for National Geographic Channel

He is the Culinary Advisor for the TRAVEL XP Channel and FOOD XP channels.

Was India consultant for the travel and lifestyle award winning series OORKURVI season 3, 2014 for a Singapore based popular TV channel called Vasantham

He has also hosted his own food and travel series for an International TRAVEL AND LIFESTYLE CHANNEL called BICKY’S GASTRONOMY.

It is his firm belief that food, music and culture transcend all boundaries of caste, conflict, creed and religion. To respect food, tradition and culture is the best way to respect and understand humanity.

MY JOURNEY …….

Some Clips