Happy Diwali! Raj Rawal on how to celebrate with Indian food

Dear Food

Happy Diwali! Diwali is the five day Festival of Lights celebrated by Hindus. Like most holidays, there are some celebration rituals that center around food. So naturally, I grabbed one of my good friends, who is both Indian AND a major foodie, for this special episode. Raj Rawal, a Content Lead for a major food publisher, joins us this week to walk us through the dishes we should be ordering when we go to Indian restaurants.

What’s in this episode:

• The best place to get Indian food in the world (hint, it’s not India)
• What Diwali is, and how it is celebrated
• What foods are central to Diwali
• The street foods of Mumbai that you should order whenever you see them on the menu
• Raj’s advice on Indian Food buffets? Do it.
• Little India in California is located in Cerritos/Artesia
• If you’re in California, hit Pioneer Blvd for the best Indian food
• If you’re in New Jersey, visit the famous Oak Tree Road
• Most Americans are actually eating Punjabi food
• Pro-tip: Trader Joe’s Tikka Masala is approved by the Indian community
• Thums Up is the Indian version of Coca Cola, note the spelling
• When eating Indian food, your naan (bread) is basically your utensil
• Alert: do not eat with your left hand! Raj explains why. It’s gross, but an important rule to know about when traveling abroad.
• Garam Masala is the spice you should have in your cabinet if you want to cook Indian food
• Why the cow is sacred in the Hindu religion
• The famous Indian beers you to try, and no, it’s not an IPA

Links from the show:

• Raj on Instagram: @Asaprajy
• Raj on Twitter @Asaprajy
• Dear Food on Instagram @DearFoodPodcast
• Dear Food on YouTube

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