An independent writer with over 8 years of experience. I write about the intersection of food, travel and culture, and cities and their foodscapes.
How Soya Nuggets Became a Household Ingredient in India
Vegetarians find it too meaty and meat-eaters find it too bland — yet a strange twist of history made this plant-based protein a feature of Indian cuisine.
Popti, the winter campfire dish of the Konkan region
A lesser known one-pot meal from the Western Ghats celebrates the winter harvest of the region.
From Himachali dhaam to Malabari duck mappas, these Delhi homechefs are whipping up a storm
Delhi is known to be a melting pot of cuisines from different states and regions in India; no other Metro can match up to the North Eastern fare available here and my recent exploration has led me to discover a sizable number of restaurants serving food from Kerala. While these food experiences were earlier limited to dining out, there has been a surge of home chefs and delivery kitchens serving food from their respective homelands. A lot of it can be credited to the pandemic and subsequent l...
Street food around the country celebrates winter bounty
'Khoya', dry fruits and tender 'jowar' brighten up food stalls in the streets of Gujarat, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh
Fighting the Sniffles? Try These Traditional Indian Remedies for the Common Cold
These soothing recipes come from hearths and homes across India.
The Story of Sattu and How So-Called Peasant Foods Become Mainstreamed
As an undergrad, I had to travel from my hometown in eastern Uttar Pradesh (UP) to my hostel in Rajasthan, a trip that required me to take an overnight train journey followed by a few hours ride in a state transport bus. My mother would pack two meals for me, one for the night in the train and one for the morning after. The second meal often consisted of parathas with a filling of sattu—flour made with roasted Bengal gram.
Cultural Cuisine: Seasonal Eating in India
In a country as expansive as India, nearly every season imaginable exists. There are the snow-clad peaks of the Himalayas, the rainforests of Kerala, the massive deserts of Rajasthan, and an expansive ocean coastline.
The best way to understand the food is by looking at the varied climates.
Tehri, A Dish that Crosses Borders & Connects Communities
Shirin Mehrotra finds that the beloved UP Tehri appears in many forms, with avatars that stretch across the Deccan plateau, to the mountains of Kashmir, and cross the border to Pakistan, each with its own fascinating origin story.
What Is Thali? An Inside Look at This Indian Dietary Tradition
When traveling in most regions of India, you’ll find local restaurants serving thali — a platter offering the choicest dishes specific to that region. But thali is much more than just a part of the country’s dining out culture. While not representative of how all people eat in India, it’s an integral part of festivals, celebrations, and everyday eating.
Jakhiya: The Mainstay of a Garhwali Spice-box
As with the culture of any place or community, Garhwali heritage is best perceived through its food, and jakhiya, a spice indigenous to the region, is one of its most delicious defining features.
Relishing Varanasi’s Hindi Heritage
Far removed from the chaos of Dashashwamedh Ghat, a bungalow in the ancient city upholds the city’s literary past.
When In Scandinavia Don’t Miss This Architectural Gem
Hopping over to Sweden from Denmark for a day trip is a breeze thanks to the Øresund Bridge, a unique feat of civil engineering that connects the two once-warring countries.
Designed to be: vata, pitta, kapha friendly
Amrita Rana’s Ayurvedic pop-ups promise a spread geared for your body type.
Gadbad, gassi and ghee roast
An ongoing pop-up brings the true taste of Mangalorean food to Mumbai
Kutch’s Best-Kept Secret
Experience the expanse of the white desert in Rann of Ekal, away from the hordes of tourists flooding Dhordo.