Over the last three months, Hyderabad’s social scene has seen a rise in arts and crafts workshops, especially in cafes. These venues are popular because their ambiance fosters a relaxed and informal environment for participants to learn and enjoy. Workshops on pottery, cake decorating, resin art, candle making, baking, and other crafts have become increasingly popular across all age groups, providing a refreshing break from daily routines.
Recently, the House of Gourmet organized a bento cake and pottery workshop. Saikiran, the curator from House of Gourmet, shared that the idea came from a visit to Mumbai, where he observed local artists teaming up with cafes to hold similar workshops. He thought this could be implemented in Hyderabad to provide job opportunities for unemployed artists and offer therapeutic exercises like clay pottery for surgeons to prevent hand tremors. Saikiran noted that the cafe’s ambiance and the artists’ involvement have led to successful sessions and a loyal customer base, including many doctors.
The cafe’s first bento cake workshop was led by head chef Shalini. She mentioned that they hadn’t had enough time to conduct workshops since opening, but now plan to offer sessions on sourdough, pizza, and more, not just cakes. Shalini was pleased with the response, observing that people who want to learn basic techniques usually attend. She expressed her love for teaching and the joy she feels when first-timers learn and have fun.
On the same day, the cafe also held a pottery workshop in collaboration with artists from The Pottery Circle. Nazish Mirza, the founder of The Pottery Circle, observed that while workshops at her studio did not attract as much interest, the response at cafes has been significantly better. She explained that people are drawn to the enjoyable atmosphere and the availability of food at cafes, as they are looking for a good experience along with learning something new. Mirza mentioned that House of Gourmet has received an outstanding response, making it an excellent partner for these events.
Attendees of both workshops provided positive feedback about their experiences. They valued the chance to interact with new people and enhance their social networks. Other cafes and restaurants, such as F House, Xena Brewery, Makau, and Sobremesa, also host and support similar arts and crafts workshops.
Source – The New Indian Express
