I've just discovered you here Perzen. What an awesome Substack. You offer so much. I checked out your Dolly Mumma website too - looks like a great product.
Yes, you must open your own restaurant! May your dreams come true. 😊
I feel so lucky I live so close to London (and used to live in) with the ability to eat more regional dishes past what local curry houses offer -- also here in England trying other cuisines that get wrapped up into 'Indian' food. My favourite place to order from is not actually Indian even though it does all the things you'd expect from an 'Indian' menu (which are good examples of) -- they're Nepalese and you're doing it wrong if you don't order a few of the dishes from the bottom of the menu designed not for British customers, but for the local Nepalese population.
Also on butter chicken: it's how I, and I think many people who were getting to grips with cooking food from India (and again neighbouring countries) learnt. I learned to cook in the French / Italian tradition so I'm used to things going in the pot in a different order, a different set of techniques. Rarely should my onions be browned. Butter chicken / chicken tikka masala is a great place to start at home as it's not too complex even when done properly (comparative to other dishes I now make) and everyone knows what it should taste like as a starting point.
Such a great read and I share your frustrations Perzen, although I do see change happening in some of the more developed markets for Indian cuisine outside of the nation. Hang in there, and thank you for featuring me
What a beautifully written piece, Perzen! I have never been to India but this post makes me want to go and try all the regional cuisines!
I think you could have easily written this article about the state of Indian food in the United States (where I live). I'm lucky my mom hails from the Northern state of Punjab and she taught me how to cook food from that region. Otherwise my idea of Indian food would also be from the identical menus at all Indian restaurants around me.
I've just discovered you here Perzen. What an awesome Substack. You offer so much. I checked out your Dolly Mumma website too - looks like a great product.
Yes, you must open your own restaurant! May your dreams come true. 😊
You really need to check out Tandoori Heritage next time you're in Wellington. Dhansak is on their menu.
I feel so lucky I live so close to London (and used to live in) with the ability to eat more regional dishes past what local curry houses offer -- also here in England trying other cuisines that get wrapped up into 'Indian' food. My favourite place to order from is not actually Indian even though it does all the things you'd expect from an 'Indian' menu (which are good examples of) -- they're Nepalese and you're doing it wrong if you don't order a few of the dishes from the bottom of the menu designed not for British customers, but for the local Nepalese population.
Also on butter chicken: it's how I, and I think many people who were getting to grips with cooking food from India (and again neighbouring countries) learnt. I learned to cook in the French / Italian tradition so I'm used to things going in the pot in a different order, a different set of techniques. Rarely should my onions be browned. Butter chicken / chicken tikka masala is a great place to start at home as it's not too complex even when done properly (comparative to other dishes I now make) and everyone knows what it should taste like as a starting point.
Such a great read and I share your frustrations Perzen, although I do see change happening in some of the more developed markets for Indian cuisine outside of the nation. Hang in there, and thank you for featuring me
What a beautifully written piece, Perzen! I have never been to India but this post makes me want to go and try all the regional cuisines!
I think you could have easily written this article about the state of Indian food in the United States (where I live). I'm lucky my mom hails from the Northern state of Punjab and she taught me how to cook food from that region. Otherwise my idea of Indian food would also be from the identical menus at all Indian restaurants around me.