“Playing with your food” gets a whole new and far more creative meaning with culinary artist, food stylist and YouTuber Vidisha Kandoi‘s innovative food experience workshops.
With a love for cooking that blossomed naturally as a child, the Chennai-based food creator and curator has gone on to carve out a unique niche for herself in culinary arts with her Food Canvas Art workshops.
A seamlessly immersive experience which brings food and art in fresh ways, Vidisha has created a space that’s about indulging in both cooking and painting with both creativity and mindfulness.
Having conducted a number of food art workshops to warm, enthusiastic reception, Vidisha who has built her presence through her Instagram page VV The Foodies, continues to showcase the diverse ways in which food can be experienced as an art form.
In conversation with Lyrical Muse, Vidisha dives into the intricacies of her food canvas painting workshops, the challenges of getting new concepts such as food art in front of the right audiences and the expansive workshop ideas she’d love to try in the future.
Read our Q&A with Vidisha below!
1) For those who don’t know, what does food canvas painting involve?
Food Canvas Painting is basically where food and art come together. Instead of using traditional paints, we use different food elements to create artwork and patterns. The idea is not to teach people how to cook or paint professionally, but to help them explore their creativity in a fun and unique way. Most people have never seen food being used like this before, which is what makes the experience so exciting.
2) Where did you get the inspiration for the idea? How have you developed the idea to make it uniquely yours?
I’ve always been passionate about food, and over the years I also got into content creation and food styling. I was constantly experimenting with how food could be presented in creative ways, and that’s when the idea struck me—why not turn food itself into a form of art?
What started as a simple experiment slowly evolved into a workshop experience. I’ve added elements of storytelling, creativity, mindfulness, and premium event experiences to make it much more than just an activity. Today, Canvas Food Art is really about bringing people together and helping them look at food from a completely different perspective.
“For me, when someone leaves saying, “I didn’t know food could be experienced like this,” that’s probably the best feedback I can get.”
3) What can someone expect to experience when they attend one of your workshops?
The first thing people usually say is, “I’ve never done anything like this before!”
The workshops are very hands-on, interactive, and beginner-friendly. You don’t need any artistic skills at all. We guide participants through the entire process, and by the end everyone has created something they’re proud of.
More than the artwork itself, people enjoy the experience—the conversations, the creativity, the chance to switch off from their daily routine, and just have fun for a few hours.
4) You mentioned being interested in cooking since a young age as well as dabbling later in content creation. How have these passions/skills helped you shape what you are currently working on?
A lot, actually. Cooking taught me to experiment and think creatively, while content creation taught me how to tell stories and create engaging experiences.
Both these worlds come together in what I’m doing today. My food background helps me understand ingredients and presentation, while content creation helps me package the experience in a way that people connect with. I think Canvas Food Art exists because of that combination.
5) What else are you keen to experiment with in terms of food-centric workshops?
I have way too many ideas! I’d love to explore more immersive experiences where food is used as a tool for creativity, team building, and even mindfulness. I’m also interested in creating larger collaborative food art installations and unique corporate experiences. For me, the goal is to keep pushing the boundaries of how people interact with food beyond just eating it.
6) In your personal experience, what’s the most challenging part of conducting these sort of niche workshops? And what’s been the most rewarding part of it?
The most challenging part is that it’s such a new concept. People immediately understand a cooking class or an art class, but when you say “food canvas painting,” they’re curious but also a little confused. So a lot of effort goes into explaining the concept and helping people experience it for themselves.
The most rewarding part is seeing people’s reactions during the workshop. Many participants come in saying they’re not creative at all, and then an hour later they’re completely immersed in the process. Watching that confidence and excitement build is incredibly satisfying.
7) What’s been the most memorable feedback you’ve received?
One participant told me that it was the first time in months they had completely forgotten about their phone, work, and daily stress and were just focused on creating something.
That really stayed with me because that’s exactly what I hope people take away from the workshop. Of course, the artwork is important, but the bigger goal is to give people a memorable experience where they can slow down, be creative, and enjoy the moment.
For me, when someone leaves saying, “I didn’t know food could be experienced like this,” that’s probably the best feedback I can get.
Are you thinking of giving Vidisha’s upcoming food art workshops a try? Visit Lyrical Muse for more coverage on unique events and community experiences.
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