Dark Kitchens To Food Capsules, Gary Mehigan’s Take On The Future Of Food
ABP India at 2047 Summit: Gary Mehigan, a well-known Australian chef and former MasterChef Australia judge, is a strong supporter of food culture and traditions. Speaking at ABP Network’s India@2047 Summit, he talked about the importance of home-cooked meals, the fading family kitchen, and the rise of food capsules and artificial diets. He also highlighted India’s special connection with food and the need to protect it.
The Vanishing Kitchen
Gary pointed out how the idea of the kitchen and the family table is changing, and how we are increasingly relying on modern convenience. The chef said, “We were facing some enormous challenges. And as a chef, as somebody who loves food, to respect our farmers and producers and artisans, we've got an enormous challenge.
He added,"The idea of dark kitchens replacing the home kitchen, and what we see now—young families, young children sitting in front of the television, or worse, sitting in front of their own devices, completely detached from each other and not bonding over a meal—breaks a cycle of humanity that's been in place for millennia. The effect that will have on people, on their mentality, and our environment, I think, is unfathomable. We need to make the decisions now.”
Children, Screens, and Food Culture
The famous chef talked about how mealtime has changed, with young kids needing screens to eat. He pointed out how this affects food and family connections. He said, “As a parent, I made a conscious decision, like my mother did, to make sure that we sat down at the table, that the television was off, that we ate home-cooked food. It's the most personal thing you can do for somebody, really is to cook for them.”
Talking about India’s connection with food, he highlighted the importance of home-cooked meals, supporting home cooks, and celebrating local suppliers. He reminded us to focus on what truly matters, even with commercial pressures.
Food Capsules and Artificial Diets
Gary talked about the future of food and how modern technology is changing it, including his thoughts on food capsules. When asked if he is scared of food capsules, he said, “Terrified of food capsules. I can walk into a pharmacist and multiply that high—every restaurant of vitamin food production and protein supplement in our region. We're talking about whether people are cooking at home and eating a balanced meal. And the answer is probably not.”
“And through convenience or commercial pressure, or possibly the idea that this is better for us than naturally grown, organic, delicious food of every variety, is a nonsense. I've been hearing this since I was a child. I remember watching a movie with Charlton Heston called Soylent Green—terrifying—and it was about a little green strip of food that is everything people ate. I couldn't think of a world more terrifying, more bland, more soulless than one without delicious and wonderful food. It's like life without art or life without music or life without love. I hope it never happens,” he added.
About ABP India At The 2047 Summit
As one of the world’s oldest civilizations, India stands at a transformative juncture, ready to shape the future of the global order. In this defining moment, ABP Network presents India@2047, a landmark thought leadership summit led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The summit envisions a bold path toward Viksit Bharat, a fully developed India by 2047, marking a century of independence.
India @ 2047 is designed as a dynamic platform where visionary ideas take shape, actionable strategies emerge, and the nation’s youth, the architects of tomorrow, are empowered. The summit serves as a crucible for charting India’s journey to becoming a global powerhouse by the time it celebrates 100 years of freedom.
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