CSM
A ‘miracle tree’ that could feed sub-Saharan Africa
As a child growing up in India, I greeted the appearance of one particular vegetable on my plate with exaggerated distaste: tender seedpods from the moringa tree, locally known as “drumsticks.” Imagine my surprise when I heard a health worker from sub-Saharan Africa describe this...
Read MoreThe charms of Indian beach food
Urban beaches the world over have their own peculiar charms. There is foot volleyball in Brazil's Copacabana and surfing at Sydney's Bondi beach, but beaches in Indian cities have one big draw – food. In my hometown of Chennai, fishermen set off in rudimentary catamarans...
Read MoreYogurts of the world
Walking down the dairy section of the supermarket, a yogurt aficionado finds plenty to choose from. Among the multitude of flavored yogurts with varying percentages of fat, some have toppings, others have preserves at the bottom, still others can be sipped from a plastic bottle....
Read MoreDosa Delights
Last year, rice crepes from South India – yes, the humble dosa – got the nod from the foodies of New York when Thiru Kumar, the "Dosa Man," was voted the purveyor of the best street food in their city. Soon after the Vendy Awards,...
Read MorePongal: A relevant dish and festival
Around mid-January, people in South India celebrate Pongal, the harvest festival. Unlike Halloween or Christmas, Hindu holidays don't fall on the same date each year. My mother consults an almanac to keep track of festivities. Since I can't read that flimsy paperback, she just tells...
Read MoreIt’s Delicious No Matter What You Call It
Recently, I caught a rerun of the famous Soup Nazi episode from the popular sitcom "Seinfeld." When the characters discussed mulligatawny, a soup from India, I felt happy, the way you generally do when you hear about a good guy from your hometown making a...
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