India came to the Soča Valley for one evening. Not only through spices, aromas and flavours, but through the warmth, colours and special energy that Chef Himanshu Saini and his team from Dubai’s Trèsind Studio brought with them.

On 13 October, Hiša Franko hosted the final four-hands dinner of this year’s Forces of nature series, organised in collaboration with the Slovenian Tourist Board. This time, two seemingly very different culinary worlds came together in the same kitchen. Our chef Ana Roš, whose cuisine is deeply rooted in the wilderness, seasonality and distinctive character of the Soča Valley, and Chef Himanshu Saini, who explores the incredible diversity of his homeland’s flavours through a contemporary interpretation of Indian gastronomy. The evening was warm, vibrant, a little spicy and, at the same time, surprisingly gentle. Chef Himanshu’s cuisine brought the flavours of India to Hiša Franko, with all their complexity, richness of spices and unexpected combinations. Alongside them were the bold, sometimes daring, yet always thoughtful flavours of Chef Ana Roš. Two very different culinary expressions that complemented each other unexpectedly, yet completely naturally. Not because they were alike, but because behind them stand two strong personalities who understand and respect each other’s creativity. Once again, it was about much more than bringing two different cuisines together. It was about people, attention to the smallest details and the gentle energy that accompanied the entire evening.

With this dinner, we brought this year’s Forces of Nature series to a close. Three encounters, three distinct culinary stories and countless moments that reminded us why collaborations like these matter. It is not only about what is created on the plate, but about the connections that are built, the friendships that remain and the ideas that travel far beyond a single evening.

This year’s chapter of Forces of Nature has come to an end. But the friendships and stories that grew from it continue.