Mumbai, March 8. Celebrity chef Ranveer Brar, who recently concluded the 9th season of the cooking reality show ‘MasterChef India’, has stated that agriculture is the foundation of tradition and culture.
Ranveer spoke with IANS on the set of ‘MasterChef India’ while filming the finale with chef Vikas Khanna and Kunal Kapur. He said that culture is the result of years of evolution.
He told IANS, "So, what ultimately affects food? Agriculture. It comes down to what you cook depends on what you get. Then, different styles and cultures add layers to it. Sometimes, the culture of a religion adds a layer that says, 'we eat according to this religion.'"
He further added, "Sometimes, the culture of gender bias adds another layer. Sometimes, the culture of seasons adds another layer. Then, agriculture adds value to food and culture. But the foundation of everything is agriculture, which is undeniable."
Earlier, Ranveer had said that harvest festivals in India go far beyond symbolism, as they are deeply connected to effort, patience, and the realities of life on the farm. Coming from a farming family, Brar shared that his childhood was shaped by the rhythms of agriculture.
He previously told IANS, "I come from a farming family, so for me, harvest festivals were never symbolic; they were real. I grew up around farms, watching crops grow, and watching the mood of the house change depending on how the season went. Food was directly linked to effort, weather, and patience."
He said that this upbringing shapes how he cooks even today. Speaking about harvest delicacies that are close to his heart, Brar said that dishes made from freshly harvested grains and greens carry a different emotion altogether.
He said, "When you grow up in a farming family, harvest food feels earned. For me, dishes made from freshly harvested grains and greens always hit differently, especially winter food like saag, makki ki roti, and simple dals. These dishes were never about indulgence; they were about recovery, nourishment, and gratitude after months of labour." Recalling a childhood memory that continues to inspire him, Brar spoke about how harvest meals were often cooked collectively. "One memory that stays with me is how harvest meals were cooked collectively. After long days in the fields, food was prepared in large quantities, shared, and tasted by many hands. There was no rush, no plating, just relief and togetherness."
Growing up in such an environment taught him that food is inherently communal. Brar also believes that harvest cuisine is the most honest form of food storytelling, in India and across the world.