Chef on the Road | Jharkhand
Nine travellers came together for an immersive 4-day travel experience, savouring freshly-harvested Mahua flowers, trekking through lush landscapes, and sharing meals with local communities.
Chef On The Road
Over a decade of travelling through India’s kitchens, farms, forests, and food memories. Discover the journeys that have played an integral part in shaping ChefTZac and The Locavore—along with upcoming trips you can join!
Conceptualised by The Locavore’s founder, Chef Thomas Zacharias—or Chef TZac—Chef on the Road (COTR) is a deeply personal exploration of India’s regional cuisines and food traditions. Since its inception in 2013, the series has aimed to uncover the untold stories of indigenous food systems while spotlighting sustainability and community-driven practices. Each journey brings together passionate travellers, curious eaters, and local communities in a shared celebration of food and culture.
With each edition, COTR aims to bring thoughtful and immersive itineraries while offering participants the chance to understand the nuances of the diversity of Indian food more meaningfully. Whether it’s preparing a meal with foraged ingredients in Jharkhand, or sampling a traditional 35-dish breakfast in Jokai, these trips reflect ChefTZac’s belief in the transformative power of food.
Upcoming Trips
🗓 28th February – 1st March 2026
An immersive day-long experience through Two Brothers’ ancestral farm in Bhodani village will explore both traditional and modern farming practices employed in rural Maharashtra.
🗓 7th – 13th March 2026
This Chef on the Road trip with ChefTZac explores Idu Mishmi food traditions in Arunachal Pradesh’s Lower Dibang Valley, hosted with the Elopa–Etugu Community Eco-Cultural Preserve (EECEP)—a community-led journey rooted in forest food and conservation.
🗓 25th – 28 March 2026
Chef on the Road (COTR) returns to Jharkhand this March in collaboration with Wild Harvest and the Ekastha Foundation—a food-led journey through Ranchi, Jonha, and Hazaribagh, timed with the Mahua harvest.
About Chef On The Road
Chef on the Road (COTR) is Chef Thomas Zacharias’ deeply personal exploration of India’s regional cuisines and food traditions. Since its inception in 2013, the series has aimed to uncover the untold stories of indigenous food systems while spotlighting sustainability and community-driven practices. Each journey brings together passionate travellers, curious eaters, and local communities in a shared celebration of food and culture.
Each COTR journey is different by design. Some unfold deep in forests; others move through farms, markets, and kitchens closer to our cities. What remains constant is the intent: to travel with care, learn through participation, and see food as culture, ecology, labour, and memory—not just flavour.
Past Trips
Chef on the Road | Jokai
Our four-day trip to Jokai, a small town in Assam, included a traditional 35-dish breakfast, tours of Jokai’s oldest plantations, and many, many, cups of tea.
Questions? connect@thelocavore.in
Login with Google