New Delhi: The flavours of Cyprus found a graceful home in the heart of the capital as Cyprus On A Plate by Coração Do Vale opened at Roseate House, New Delhi, on Thursday evening. The week-long culinary celebration, being held in association with the Cyprus High Commission, brings together Mediterranean tradition, Cypriot storytelling, and the richness of Portugal’s premium extra virgin olive oil brand, Coração Do Vale.
Running from June 11 to 17, the festival is part of Coração Do Vale’s larger World On A Plate series, an initiative designed to celebrate global cuisines through curated gastronomic experiences. For its inaugural chapter at Roseate House, the spotlight falls on Cyprus — an island cuisine shaped by sunlit coastlines, village ovens, olive groves, herbs, grains, cheeses and centuries of cultural exchange.
The opening night drew food enthusiasts, diplomats and journalists, including H.E. Mr Evagoras Vryonides, High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus, and Raksha Kotian, Business Head, Leads Brand Connect – Coração Do Vale. Guests were treated to a specially curated menu by Chef Gagandeep and Chef Eleni Michael, Cypriot chef, culinary consultant and food anthropologist.
Chef Eleni Michael led guests through the evening with narratives woven around the dishes, turning the meal into more than a tasting experience. Each course unfolded like a chapter from Cyprus — earthy, aromatic, generous and deeply rooted in community.
The menu opened with a vibrant selection of cold and warm Cypriot mezze. Guests sampled vegan Tsakistes, crushed green olives with coriander, garlic and lemon; Tashi, a tahini and garlic dip; Melitzanosalata, a smoked aubergine dip; Village Salad; and Louvi Hummus, prepared with black-eyed beans. The warm mezze brought in some of Cyprus’s most loved staples, including seared Halloumi, Sheftalia, a traditional Cypriot pork sausage, and freshly made Cypriot Pita.
The meal continued with Patzarosalata, a colourful beetroot and potato salad served with coriander chutney. The pasta course featured Ravioles, handmade Cypriot pasta filled with halloumi cheese and spearmint — a dish that carried the quiet comfort of tradition.
For the main course, the chefs presented Tavas Lefkarítikos, a slow-braised lamb preparation with rice, potatoes, tomatoes, cinnamon and cumin. Alongside it came Gemista, roasted vegetables stuffed with rice, herbs and mint, topped with feta and served with herby potatoes. Throughout the menu, Coração Do Vale Extra Virgin Olive Oil played a central role, lending depth, silkiness and a distinctly Mediterranean finish to the dishes.
Dessert brought the evening to a delicate close with Anarokrema, a whipped ricotta cream layered with cinnamon, crisp filo pastry, honey and walnuts. It was followed by petit fours that included Soutzioukkos, walnuts preserved in grape must; Loukoumi, Cyprus Delight dusted with icing sugar; and Daktyla, crisp pastry fingers filled with almond and cinnamon and soaked in rosewater syrup. The dinner was paired with Cyprus Coffee and fresh mint tea.
Speaking on the occasion, Raksha Kotian, Business Head, https://www.leadsbrandconnect.com/ for Coração Do Vale, said the evening represented a cultural meeting point through food.
“We are extremely delighted to see Coração Do Vale enhancing the experience of Cyprus On A Plate. It was more than a dinner; it was a cultural bridge elevated by Coração Do Vale. Every dish reflected centuries of Cypriot culture. From the olive groves to the stone ovens of the villages, Cyprus On A Plate was an experience of Mediterranean culture in the heart of Delhi. Over the next seven days, we will see more dishes with Coração Do Vale and some of the best of Cypriot cuisine,” she said.
The celebration marks the first culinary event by Roseate House under Coração Do Vale’s World On A Plate series. Through specially designed menus by acclaimed chefs, the series aims to highlight the richness of international cuisines while underscoring the importance of premium ingredients. Coração Do Vale Extra Virgin Olive Oil is positioned as a central element in these culinary narratives, connecting geographies through flavour and craft.
Coração Do Vale, one of Portugal’s finest extra virgin olive oil brands, entered the Indian market through Leads Brand Connect, its exclusive India distribution and market development partner. The company has led the brand’s India journey from regulatory clearance and import structuring to luxury retail placement and consumer outreach.
