Skip to content
Culinary Xpress

Culinary Xpress

Exploring Indian Regional Cuisine

Culinary Xpress

  • Home
  • About
  • BOOK
  • Privacy Policy
  • Work With ME
Publications

The Orissan – A Journey Through Odisha’s Culinary Heritage

November 10, 2026

The Orissan – A Story of Food, Culture and Identity Odisha’s food is more than what is served on a plate. It carries the memory of generations, the wisdom of traditional kitchens, the rituals of temples and the richness of a living culinary heritage. The Orissan is a 376-page journey into this world of food,…

Read More
alkajena
odiacuisine, Publications Ayurvedic, Bitterfood, odiacuisine

Nimba Kadha Bhaja-Stir-fried Neem Bud with Eggplant

April 4, 2024

Nima Kadha Bhaja-where aromatic neem flower buds and tender eggplant cubes stir-fried to perfection,

Read More
alkajena
Dals Mung dal recipe, odiacuisine, odiafood, Sagaw Muga, Sajana Saga recipe

Sagaw Muga – Drumstick Leaves with Moong Dal

August 31, 2025

Sajana Saga Mugaw is a comforting Odia dish of moong dal cooked with drumstick leaves. Nutritious, earthy, and simple, it brings together the goodness of moringa with the warmth of everyday dal—a perfect example of how tradition and health meet on a plate.

Read More
alkajena
Curries, Publications

Nadia Bara Tarkari : Traditional Odia Coconut Curry

August 19, 2025

Learn how to make Nadia Bara Tarkari, a traditional Odia curry with crispy coconut fritters . Easy, authentic, and full of flavor!

Read More
alkajena
Dessert, odiacuisine Festival Recipe, Odia Sweet

ODISHA RASAGOLA

January 21, 2022

Rasagola known for its creamy and soft texture with the sweetness of sugar syrup is an authentic and traditional odia milk-based dessert recipe made with chenna . Chenna is prepared by curdling the milk and making balls out of it. These chenna balls are then cooked in sugar syrup until juicy and soft . You…

Read More
alkajena
  • « Previous Page

About Me

Profile Photo

Welcome to Culinary Xpress — a thoughtfully curated food space  by distinguished food writer, culinary researcher, food stylist, photographer, and author -Alka Jena, where heritage meets creativity, flavours tell stories, and every dish comes to life with authenticity and artistry.

 

Categories

YouTube

https://youtu.be/k_65Pn56Qxs

alkajena

Author @theorissan
Public Policy Professional |
Odisha cuisine Chronicler

WAYANAD DIARY 2026 Wayanad Was Never the Plan. And WAYANAD DIARY 2026
Wayanad Was Never the Plan. And Perhaps that was the Best Part.

Sometimes, a change of plans turns out to be exactly what you need. I had no elaborate itinerary for Wayanad, no ambition to cover every popular attraction, and certainly no intention of turning two days into a race against the clock. I wanted a little time away, some greenery, chasing a sunset, exploring the countryside, good food and the freedom to stop whenever something caught my eye.

one of the best ways to understand a place is to eat what the locals eat. So, while travelling through Wayanad, a stop at 1980’s A Nostalgic Restaurant was an opportunity to explore Kerala’s food culture.

I have a soft spot for these little things that complete a meal. There is pazham pori, the much-loved banana fritter with its crisp coating and soft, sweet centre; ela ada, made with rice flour, coconut and jaggery, wrapped in banana leaf and steamed; and kozhukattai, a rice-flour dumpling filled with sweet coconut and jaggery. A cup of chai alongside these familiar treats was  enough for me to linger a little longer.

I went looking for a break and found myself noticing things I might otherwise have driven past: a striking rock formation, an unexpected viewpoint, houses tucked behind greenery, clean roads and the food people choose to eat in their everyday lives.

I returned with photographs, a list of dishes I still want to try, and the quiet satisfaction of having let a place reveal itself at its own pace.
ଶିଉଳି ଫୁଲ, ସପ୍ତମୀ ସକାଳ ଆଉ ମାଆଙ୍କ ଆଗମନ… The sight ଶିଉଳି ଫୁଲ, ସପ୍ତମୀ ସକାଳ ଆଉ ମାଆଙ୍କ ଆଗମନ…

The sight of Seuli flowers scattered beneath the trees is a feeling in itself. It brings back childhood mornings, the excitement of Puja, the rustle of new clothes, the fragrance of incense, and the quiet anticipation of welcoming Maa Durga home.

On Maha Saptami, as the rituals begin and devotion fills the air, these humble flowers remind us that some of the most beautiful offerings are the simplest ones. 

From the grand Durga Puja celebrations of Cuttack, with its magnificent medhas and silver filigree backdrops, to the neighbourhood pujas and family traditions of Bhubaneswar and the smallest towns and villages, the spirit of Maa Durga brings Odisha together in a shared celebration of faith and belonging.

Here in Odisha, Maha Saptami is the beginning of rituals, the chandi patha, the preparations at home, the pandals coming alive, and the feeling that the Divine Mother is once again among us.
In an age of AI, originality matters more than eve In an age of AI, originality matters more than ever.

Lately, I have been scrolling through Instagram and noticing how so many photographs, particularly food photographs, are beginning to look alike. Perfect lighting, immaculate styling, impossible textures, flawless compositions. Beautiful, perhaps, but often strangely familiar.And I find myself wondering: where has the photographer’s own voice gone?

Food photography, for me, has never been just about making food look beautiful. It is about seeing a story in a dish, finding the right light, playing with shadows, choosing a prop that means something, and knowing when to leave an imperfection untouched. It is about the little details that make a photograph yours.
I have nothing against AI. It is a powerful tool, and like every new technology, it has its place in the creative world. It can help us experiment, explore possibilities and push boundaries. But a tool should expand our imagination, not replace the need to exercise it.
When we begin to rely on the same prompts, the same visual trends and the same ideas of perfection, we risk creating an endless stream of images that look beautiful but say very little that is new.

For those of us who photograph food, there is something irreplaceable about working with real ingredients, real light, a thoughtfully composed frame and the unpredictability of the moment. The shadows that fall differently each time. The texture that cannot be rehearsed. The instinct to move a bowl just an inch and suddenly see the picture come alive.These are not merely technical decisions. They are expressions of a creative mind.
As AI becomes more capable, I believe our individual vision will become even more valuable. We need not reject new tools, but we must continue to nurture the curiosity, craft and originality that make our work distinctly our own.
Because in the end, I don’t just want to see another beautiful photograph of food.
I want to see the person behind the photograph.
And I hope we never lose that.
Gamha Purnima While widely known as Rakhi or Raks Gamha Purnima

While widely known as Rakhi or Raksha Bandhan, in Odisha the day is celebrated as Gamha Purnima, marking the birth of Lord Balabhadra, elder brother of Lord Jagannath and revered as Haladhara, the lord of agriculture.

The festival honours the farming community through the worship of bullocks and agricultural implements. Cattle sheds are cleaned and decorated, bullocks bathed and adorned with turmeric, sandalwood and flowers, and offered traditional foods.

In rural Odisha, it is traditionally enlivened by Gamha Dian, a spirited village sport in which participants leapt from a raised platform to grab hanging fruits or prizes, a celebration of strength, play and community.

#odisha #tradition
Follow on Instagram

THE ORISSAN

The Orissan – Odisha's culinary heritage

A journey through Odisha's culinary heritage, traditions, kitchens and memories.

DISCOVER THE BOOK
© 2026 Culinary Xpress | Designed by: Theme Freesia | Powered by: WordPress