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

Be on the Show

Tell us your food stories!  The first time you remember tasting food, your dream dinner, or just a food that you can’t stop thinking about. Call in to leave us a voicemail at 626-709-6551 or send your messages to dearfoodpodcast@gmail.com 

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