Forage & Feast: A Culinary experience through TDU’s Food Forest

You pause to pluck a leaf, a fruit or a flower guided by an expert forager who knows what the body and palate will appreciate. That is Forage & Feast, the experiential program by TDU for you ,where nature becomes your classroom, your kitchen, and your healer.

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With our daily lives dominated by supermarkets, packaged produce and buying through delivery Apps,, Forage & Feast invites us to reconnect with the roots of food, Literally. This isn’t just about eating differently, it’s about thinking differently or should I rather say recollecting what many brought up in small towns and villages have experienced on their walks with elders of the family through the backyard, winding paths, times when our lives were simpler, every home had its own mini-forest, sometimes tended, sometimes grown on its own. It is this recollecting and going back to the roots need that motivated me to attend the program.

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The day begins with a warm introduction to fellow foragers. From there, we meander through the serene food forest near a quaint temple, an edible wonderland waiting to be explored. On the trail, we get to identify edible plants growing all around us, some known, some unknown, understand their nutritional and medicinal value, and experience the thrill of harvesting your own ingredients.

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If you’ve ever dreamed of plucking veggies like a scene straight out of a countryside novel or television show, this is your moment. Pro tip: wear a summer dress and a hat to complete the vibe!

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The feast is as compelling as the forage. In the scientific kitchen, its cooking time with your mates, turning foraged edibles into a gourmet meal bursting with flavor and tradition. The cooking scene is like those big family events where everyone is talking, cutting, chopping, laughing and also cooking.

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Meal is around a big long table, served in Banana leaf enjoying the scenery ,getting ready to feast with some items we participants prepared and some already cooked by the team. From herbal drink to mandookaparni & amla chutneys, millet rottis with wild greens to pea flower-infused pulao, raita to creamy pumpkin kheer, every dish served on the banana leaf is pleasing to the body, mind and spirit.

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As we sip a digestive herbal tea, prepared by a participant, we reflect on the day’s encounters. Stories of herbs, healthy living, and sustainable choices unfold naturally. With a group photo and parting gifts of dried neem leaves (plus recipe ideas from their YouTube channel Ayurahaar), we wrap up a Saturday well spent.

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Forage & Feast is more than just a program. it’s a celebration of sustainable living, cultural memory, and community spirit. Perfect for families, wellness seekers, food lovers, and curious urban adventurers, this monthly event in Bangalore offers more than just a meal, it offers meaning.

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Want to experience Forage & Feast ? Check out this link to know more - https://www.tdu.edu.in/event/wild-edible-experience---forage-and-feast-3

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Author  – Dr Inde TG

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Photos – Ms Sugandhirani