The ACE Projects
Exploring Food, One Story at a Time
Some ingredients are so deeply woven into everyday life that we stop noticing them. The ACE Projects invite us to look again—not simply at food itself, but at the history, culture, ecology and human knowledge that surround it.
Every ingredient carries a remarkable story.
A grain of rice reflects thousands of years of cultivation.
A banana plant provides food, fibre, medicine and shelter.
A coconut sustains entire coastal communities.
A mango evokes memories, landscapes and seasons.
A jackfruit speaks of abundance, resilience and ingenious preservation.
Even a single dish such as biryani tells the story of trade, migration, geography and cultural exchange.
At ACE, these are not simply ingredients or recipes.
They are starting points for exploration.
Our Current Projects
The ACE Projects are ongoing journeys into the cultural, historical and botanical diversity of food.
Rather than beginning with conclusions, each project begins with curiosity.
Some may eventually become books.
Others may evolve into documentary films, educational resources, exhibitions or digital archives.
Many will continue to grow for years.
Their purpose is not simply to document information, but to deepen our understanding of how food connects people, places and traditions.
The Biryani Project
Exploring one of India's most celebrated dishes through its regional diversity, techniques, ingredients and remarkable cultural history.
The Jackfruit Project
Celebrating an ingredient whose story spans sustainability, abundance, preservation and culinary creativity.
The Banana Project
Discovering the extraordinary versatility of a plant that nourishes communities through its fruit, flower, leaves, stem and fibre.
The Mango Project
Following the seasonal journey of India's most iconic fruit through orchards, traditions, regional varieties and culinary heritage.
The Coconut Project
Understanding the tree that has shaped the food, livelihoods and landscapes of tropical coastlines for centuries.
The Rice Project
Exploring one of humanity's oldest cultivated grains, its astonishing diversity and the people working to preserve traditional varieties.
The ACE Projects are not intended to be definitive works.
They are living explorations.
Each conversation, workshop, farm visit, photograph and shared meal adds another layer to an evolving archive of culinary knowledge.
We hope these projects encourage others to observe more carefully, ask better questions and discover the remarkable stories hidden within everyday food.