'MasterChef India 4' jets off to Dubai

Cooking-based reality TV show "MasterChef India 4" is heading to Dubai with the contestants in search of Middle Eastern flavours. Celebrity chef Vikas Khanna, a judge on the show, says they will explore the rich cuisine with a focus on local delicacies and its original flavour.

"We plan to introduce the flavours of Middle East and their local delicacies through the show. We have a conception that people in Dubai are hardcore meat eaters, but they have a very rich vegetarian cuisine too," Khanna told IANS before leaving for Dubai from here.

The show has come up with a unique format of presenting an array of innovative vegetarian dishes this season. Khanna adds that it is "fun to explore new things about a place and bring it onto the table".

"You will be surprised by the vegetarian cuisine we have shortlisted for the show," he added.

The celebrity chef, who has won millions of heart with his cooking skills and beaming smile, also pointed out that Dubai is an upcoming food destination.

"We plan to explore a major Indian destination from the food point of view. Dubai is like a melting pot like India right now. Dubai has become very international centric, while retaining the essence of Middle East. I have just opened a restaurant in Middle East and the diversity of food is very large," Khanna said.

The contestants travelling to Dubai are Bhakti Arora, Karishma Sakhrani, Vijay Sharma, Pratibha Kocher, Neha Shah, Nikita Gandhi, Meenu Dham and Ashish Singh.

The chef, who has even hosted a dinner at the White House, also feels that "Dubai will provide exposure to the contestants".

Meanwhile, shooting for the Dubai special week will start on Wednesday and will wrap up on March 8. The show's makers have shortlisted around 12 locations for the shoot, including Atlantis and Dubai Creek.

The current season has already showcased the flavours of Kerala and now they are headed to Dubai. Khanna feels that travelling with the Star Plus show is not only helping them bring out local flavours, but is even taking viewers on a food discovery journey.

"A lot of things like the mood, momentum and energy change with the background. We thought that the platform is so large that we can bring local cuisines into attention rather than focusing on the regular.

"I love how the canvas is changing this season. People think they are travelling with us and they know the contestants well," said Khanna, who is joined on the judges panel by culinary experts Sanjeev Kapoor and Ranveer Brar.