Dining Galleries – Darjeeling Express

Now boarding: the best kind of culinary odyssey. India is the inspiration, and only a feast will do. Join Asma Khan, Karena Armstrong, Adam D’Sylva and Emma McCaskill and for this generous homage.

Explore the subcontinent’s specialties across one unforgettable evening. Savour an array of dishes including prawn malaikari made using the freshest Spencer Gulf catch, with gulab jamun – traditional syrup-soaked doughnuts – for dessert.

Khan was born in Calcutta but later moved to the British city of Cambridge, pursuing legal studies and learning to cook in a quest to recreate the dishes she missed from home. A series of private supper clubs in her home were next, with Darjeeling Express, her London restaurant, launched in 2017.

Armstrong, meanwhile, has led McLaren Vale’s acclaimed Salopian Inn for the past decade and became a Tasting Australia festival director in 2021. She continues to champion regional producers and their craft.

D’Sylva has long been linked to exceptional Indian fare. For 14 years he led Melbourne’s Tonka. The chef, whose parents have Indian and Italian heritage, is widely recognised as one of Australia’s most innovative.

An Anglo-Indian grandmother inspired McCaskill from an early age, with this introduction to flavour and spice proving pivotal. The South Australian trained in top Sydney eateries and then seized international opportunities.

Be transported as the Dining Gallery honours Indian culture.