OMO Launches the Ferment Lab and OMO For Later - Deepening its Exploration of Time, Seasonality and Preservation

A new chapter in OMO's exploration of fermentation, bringing its philosophy of preservation, seasonality and craft from the kitchen to everyday life.

Gurgaon, August 2026: OMO, the contemporary produce-forward restaurant at DLF Galleria, Gurgaon, introduces The Live Alchemy and OMO For Later, two new initiatives that build on a philosophy that has quietly shaped the restaurant since its inception. Rooted in the belief that time is as important an ingredient as anything that arrives in the kitchen, the Ferment Lab brings together OMO's ongoing exploration of fermentation, while OMO For Later extends that work beyond the restaurant through a thoughtfully curated collection of ferments, preserves, beverages and pantry staples. Together, they reflect OMO's commitment to seasonality, preservation and ingredient-led cooking.

Since opening its doors, OMO has championed an ingredient-led approach to cooking under the leadership of Chef Chetna Chopra, Culinary Director, OMO. Her travels across India and interactions with growers, artisans and local communities have shaped a culinary philosophy rooted in seasonality, preservation and a deep respect for provenance. These influences continue to define OMO's cuisine, where vegetables take centre stage and techniques such as fermentation, preservation and live-fire cooking are used to unlock flavour, minimise waste and celebrate India's diverse food traditions.

For Chef Chetna Chopra, the Ferment Lab is less a new chapter and more a continuation of a lifelong curiosity. "I've always been interested in what happens when ingredients are given time. Some of the most exciting flavours emerge when you're willing to wait. Growing up, fermentation was everywhere around us, in pickles, batters, preserves and drinks that quietly carried seasons forward and ensured nothing went to waste. At OMO, fermentation has never existed as a separate idea. It has always been part of how we cook, how we preserve, how we build flavour and how we connect with ingredients. The Ferment Lab is simply a way of sharing that journey more openly. It is also an opportunity to learn from and celebrate the incredible fermentation traditions that already exist across India."

For OMO, fermentation is not an additional layer but a philosophy embedded at the heart of the kitchen. The Ferment Lab functions as the R&D ground for the entire kitchen ecosystem, a space where every element of the menu from condiments to centrepiece dishes, is shaped by ongoing experimentation with time, flavour and preservation. 

The Lab also carries a strong zero-waste ethos, built around upcycling ingredients that would otherwise be discarded from the kitchen. Banana peels are transformed into a Mexican-inspired Tepache, while the stems of oyster mushrooms are fermented to lend umami depth to OMO's in-house hot sauce turning kitchen trim into some of the restaurant's most distinctive flavours.

The Ferment Lab brings this philosophy to life through ongoing research, experimentation and collaboration including field trips across India to learn directly from local fermentation traditions, most recently an R&D trip to Darjeeling, which brought back the millet-based fermented drink Tongba.Its work is reflected across the OMO menu through house-brewed kombuchas, rice ferments, fruit wines, ginger beers, preserves and condiments developed in-house. Seasonal creations such as Sticky White Rice Ferment, Black Sticky Rice Ferment, Wild Ginger Beer, Bael Kanji, Jamun Wine and Tongba sit alongside dishes including the Black Rice Kimchi Fried Rice, Avocado Dosa with fermented tomato sesame chutney, Watermelon Aguachile, Tender Coconut Ceviche, Naga Chilli Cauliflower and Mango Caldin Curry.Through the Live Alchemy Bar, guests can further explore these techniques through tastings, workshops, collaborations and conversations centred around fermentation, seasonality and indigenous food traditions.

Launched alongside the Ferment Lab, OMO For Later is OMO's first retail offering, bringing the restaurant's ingredient-led philosophy into homes through a curated collection of ferments, preserves, condiments and beverages. The first collection includes seasonal kombuchas such as Mango & Turmeric, Pineapple & Mint, Pomegranate & Rose, Orange & Gondhoraj Lime and Kashmiri Plum Umeboshi, alongside chutneys, relishes, flavoured butters, fermented crackers, homemade turmeric sourdough bread, Mango Shorshe (a Bengal-inspired spicy, sweet and salty raw mango relish) and OMO's signature Naga Chilli Hot Sauce. Designed as an extension of the OMO kitchen, OMO For Later allows guests to continue their relationship with OMO beyond the dining table, bringing its flavours, pantry staples and preservation practices into everyday life.