National Thali Week launched in at Leicester’s Mohanthal Restaurant earlier today, with guests sampling a range of delicious foods and learning more about this popular South Asian dish.
The launch took place today (Tuesday, December 17), ahead of National Thali Week, which will take place for the first time between January 6 and 12 2025.
Picture credit: Pukaar News
Punjabi, Gujarati and Kathiawadi thalis were all on offer, with guests sampling a range of sweet, savoury and spicy foods.
The event was hosted by Pukaar Group, the Leicester based organisation behind National Samosa Week, the Leicestershire Curry Awards, and most recently, England Curry Capital. Leicester was crowned the winner earlier this year, prompting founder Romail Gulzar to highlight the city’s offering further with ‘National Thali Week.’
Speaking at today’s launch, Dimple Trivedi, owner of Mohanthal Restaurant said: “I’m really happy and looking forward to it. It is helping us to bring more recognition to the thali, which deserves to be celebrated. It’s a tradition where everyone can come together, eat together and share in a special celebration.
Picture credit: Pukaar News
“It brings all kinds of ages together and there is something for everyone to enjoy. There are a range of different flavours all on one plate – sweet, spicy, tangy – it all comes together and gives pleasure to your taste buds. It’s a really special thing – an ancient practice of serving all tastes together.”
Shaf Islam, owner of Leicester’s Chutney Ivy restaurant, praised National Thali Week as an initiative.
“I’m surprised something like that has not been celebrated before. What a great idea – another way to celebrate the great cuisine and all the variety of cuisine which comes from the Indian sub- continent,” he said. “Leicester – being the curry capital, is the perfect place to celebrate this.”
Warrant Officer, Balbir Singh Flora of the RAF also backs the initiative.
“National Thali Week is a brilliant little initiative because everyone’s struggling at the moment, so anything to get people eating out and supporting local businesses can only be a good thing,” he told the Leicester Times.
“It’s good for people to try different things. With a thali you get lots of different choices and you can form an opinion on what you like and what you’re going to have in the future.
Picture credit: Pukaar News
“So it’s a good way of exploring different flavours and expanding your palette. There’s a whole balance of flavours, textures and stuff.”
National Tali Week will take place between January 6 and 12 2025. Visit @NationalThaliWeek on Instagram for updates
