Demystifying Indian Cooking in the Western World
Presented by
Ranjini Rao
Foodie, kitchen poet and social media branding professional

Podcast courtesy of WBEZ’s Chicago Amplified

Right from the chicken curry served out of a food truck in a bustling New York city street, to the jhalmuri served at Eat.St in King’s Cross in London, Indian food today has become more mainstream and less exotic than it used to be.  Everyone seems to like a taste of something Indian, a deep-fried samosa or a scoop of biryani, but they’re often a little intimidated by what they believe it entails – long hours of slaving in front of the stove and a gazillion spices to pepper everything with.

While volumes of text have been devoted to busting those myths, with every second Indian cookbook beginning with the word curry, or Tandoori and going on to show you a world beyond those on the Indian culinary map .. there aren’t too many endeavors focused on making Indian cooking simpler, using ingredients sourced right out of a regular grocery store in the West.  Ranjini Rao & her partner, Ruchira Ramanujam, recently wrote and published an eBook, Mango Masala: 60 Indian Recipes From Your Local Supermarket, which demonstrates what a cinch Indian cooking really is in any kitchen, right from breakfast to snacks, and full-fledged lunches to dinner spreads.

Ranjini Rao is a Marketing & Social Media Co-ordinator at an online publishing company here in Chicago.  She runs a food blog, Tadka Pasta, along with her partner Ruchira, and will highlight the practicalities of whipping up Indian food in the Western world .. and talk a little bit about her own journey as a writer, foodie, multicultural & culinary enthusiast .. and how she ended up crafting a cookbook with her best friend. She will also give a brief insight into the world of digital publishing.

Saturday, January 19, 2013 at 10:00 am
Kendall College, School of Culinary Arts
900 N. North Branch Street, Chicago
(West of Halsted Street, North of Chicago Avenue)
Free Parking
Cost: $3, Free to Kendall students and faculty with ID.

This program is hosted by the Chicago Foodways Roundtable. To reserve, please call (847) 432-8255(847) 432-8255 or, then leave your name, telephone number and how many people in your party or e-mail: ChicagoFoodwaysRoundtable@gmail.com