Latest news with #IndianFood
SBS Australia
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- SBS Australia
The South Asian food feeding VIVID's fire
A lot of people don't understand Indian food. They get a bit confused. The menus are large, and for me, it was all about, how do I make my food more understandable for a larger audience, not just Indians. Kabir Singh from Pocket Rocketz on making authentic Indian food accessible
Times of Oman
03-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Times of Oman
"Trip of a lifetime, meeting PM Modi was very special": US Second Lady Usha Vance recalls India visit
Washington, DC: US Second Lady Usha Vance has recalled her visit to India and her children's experience in India and called the meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi "very special." She said that her children put PM Modi in the grandfather category, and they love him and were hugging him when they visited his residence during their visit to India. In a conversation at the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum in Washington, DC, on Monday (local time), Vance called the visit to India a "trip of lifetime for them" and added that it was her children's first visit to India. She also spoke about visiting places in North India, including Taj Mahal and enjoying Indian food. Asked about her India visit, she said, "It really was the trip of a lifetime for us. My children had never been to India, what with the pandemic and, JD's entry into politics and all that. And so they'd grown up just knowing so much about this country, the stories. food, the relationships with grandparents and friends, but they had never actually seen it. So it was just sort of mind-blowing from their perspective. And then for me and JD, I think it just could not have been any more special. We had the opportunity to see some of the greatest sites in North India. We're looking forward to our next trip and trying to get to the parts of the country where my family is from as well. And it just was sort of one hit after another, right. The most incredible food, the peacocks that we got to see, everywhere we went, getting to see the Taj Mahal in the morning and appreciate it as the sun was just sort of coming up and the cool skies and blue skies over in the background." Vance recalled how her kids had met PM Modi in Paris, and he had given her five-year-old son a birthday present that day. She said PM Modi was very kind and generous to the kids, and the talks between PM Modi and US Vice President JD Vance were "productive." She also spoke about seeing a puppet show in India, which included bits from Ramayana. Usha Vance said, "Meeting the Prime Minister, that was really very special. We'd actually had a chance to meet him before. And it's funny, my kids saw him. They were sort of sleep deprived in Paris and they saw an Indian man with a white beard and white hair, and they just put him in the grandfather category immediately. They are very into him. They just love him. And he really cemented his status by giving our five-year-old a birthday present that day. So, when we were able to visit his home, they just sort of ran up. They were hugging him. He was just incredibly kind and generous to them." "I think it was very productive conversation for JD and the Prime Minister, of course. But also, think it was a real opportunity for us to kind of cement that personal relationship that they have, which I think is only to the good. And as you mentioned, there was a puppet show. That was a particular highlight with sort of puppeteering from all over the country, including from Andhra Pradesh, where my family is from. There were bits from the Ramayana. There were sort of comedic bits with animals, and it was a huge hit. My kids have been trying to recreate a home of construction paper, which is going about as well as you can imagine," she added. Talking about her children's individual experiences, Usha Vance shared that her eldest son, Ewan, was particularly captivated by the temple sculptures, while her middle child, Vivek, was thrilled to see elephants, camels, and peacocks. Her daughter's favorite moment was a ride in an auto-rickshaw. Talking about her children's experience in India, Vance said, "I think JD has probably told the story at some point, but when we were at the Prime Minister's residence, our son was just so taken by everything and then taken by the entire cart of mangoes that was available for him to eat, that he announced to the Prime Minister that he thought he could maybe live there and started making his our children, they talk about it all the time actually. They've been all over the place and they've had wonderful opportunities to see the world, but this was really special to them. Ewan, our oldest, was really taken by the sculptures in the temple that he visited. He just thought it was incredible craftsmanship and of course showed things that he was very familiar with from stories and from talking with me." "And then, Vivek, our middle child, was very excited to meet elephants and peacocks and a camel and just any animal that he could kind of get his hands on. And then our daughter thinks she's sort of along for the ride. She really enjoyed her time in an auto rickshaw. That was maybe the highlight for her. The Secret Service was very generous and allowed us to kind of drive in an enclosed area for a few minutes. So we had lot of fun with that," she added. JD Vance and his family were on a four-day official visit to India in April. During the visit, PM Modi Modi hosted Vice President Vance and his family at his Lok Kalyan Marg residence in New Delhi. During the visit, the children had several playful moments with the Prime Minister. From exploring the lawns to seeing the bird feeder inquisitively, the children indulged in an immersive experience at the Prime Minister's residence. While inside, PM Modi shared several lively moments with Ewan, Vivek, and little Mirabel. PM Modi presented the three children with peacock feathers. Mirabel Vance was seen enjoying a heartwarming moment with her father, holding the feather.
Khaleej Times
29-05-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
This restaurant brings authentic Calcutta biryani to Dubai
The traditionally protein-and-rice dish was reportedly brought to India by the Mughals. Later, when the last king of Awadh, Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, was exiled to Kolkata, he brought with him Awadhi delicacies, including the flavour-packed biryani to the city. When times were tough and mutton scarce, he introduced a potato into the mix. The result, a nostalgia-inducing new meal. However, this version was kept for the elite up until Abdul Rahim, who had deserted the British Army, found himself looking for a way to earn money in 1929. When he got a whiff of the potato-ensemble, he knew he had a winner. And so, Aminia was born. 'We were the first to commercially sell this biryani,' explains Kabir Azhar, a great-great grandson of the founder. And it's these same subtle flavours that the chain – now known across India for its kathi rolls as much as for its biryani – has brought to Dubai. The two branches of Aminia in Dubai (in Karama and Dubai Production City) serve up legacy on the walls – which are decorated with old menus and paintings of scenes from the Indian city on the banks of the River Hooghly; photographs of famous patrons such as the cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar; and little-known facts such the nugget that Kolkata's New Market branch still uses coal fire stoves. 'We have our own spice mix for the biryani,' says Kabir, adding that the recipe hasn't been changed in decades. It is, he confesses, different from its Awadhi cousin, 'it's lighter, with lesser spice'. 'The food was adapted for the taste buds of the region; they prefer the sweeter notes. And when the restaurant officially opened a brick-and-motor store in 1947, we had a lot of Britishers coming in there. So, we also have some dishes that cater to their preferences such as the Aminia special curry. It's a very light stew with an egg, some veggies, tomato, onion, potato, and meat. They would eat this with chapatis (or flat bread) for breakfast,' he adds. While the chain has been gaining popularity across India, the family also hungered for an international station. 'My father used to travel a lot to Dubai. It was his dream to have an international outlet. And Dubai is actually the easiest and best place to open a restaurant: there's a lot of Indians, which means people already familiar with the brand; there is ease of doing business there; and the flavour profiles are not too alien for the Arab crowd.' In the UAE, Kabir and his brother, Asher Ather, have revamped the menu a bit. It's not just rich in heirloom recipes but also in new offerings such as the dum biryani and chicken tikka butter masala. 'We also added a big kebab menu because we know that kebabs and grills are really popular in this part of the world,' adds Kabir. Now that the brand has landed in the region, the brothers are keen to expand. 'Dubai is kind of a gateway to the entire Middle East. So, yeah, that's the long-term plan. But for now, we are learning what people want here and getting the flavours right.' Want to taste a recipe that's been around for generations? Or just craving that spiced up potato, rice and meat combo? Head to Aminia for that original flavour.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Denver food truck owner ready to see more industry growth following new law
DENVER (KDVR) — Indian food with a modern twist: That is how Chef Charles Mani, the mind behind Mile High Tikka Express, describes what he brings to the streets of Denver. 'My philosophy for cooking is I brought the fine dining, street food into fine dining. That is how I had my sit-down restaurant, now I try to bring that same fine dining into the streets,' Mani said. DU's College of Law threatens legal action if CPW permits elephants at Renaissance Festival Feeding people on the go is his passion, a service now easier to provide after Governor Jared Polis signed 'The Food Truck Operations Bill' into law, which streamlines the licensing process. It cuts out extra paperwork for things like fire safety — requiring food truck operators to have just one license across all areas of operation. Mani says it's interacting with the customers and making food how they want, which got his food truck up and running a year and a half ago. 'Over here, you come out and you meet a different kind of people and you get a different kind of opinion and our job is to provide exactly what people want to eat,' Mani said. Mani says he hopes this will lead to more growth in the industry. 'In a very short period of time, I created a lot of friends. People recognize each other by name and we support each other,' Mani said. Sign up for the FOX31 Denver Guide weekly newsletter for events and activities The bill went through several rounds of readings and amendments before finally passing earlier this month and getting the governor's signature. Polis weighed in on the bill signing, saying: 'I'm excited that we are making it easier for food trucks to serve up delicious food in different cities and towns across the state. By getting rid of unnecessary regulations, Colorado's talented chefs can bring more delicious food to your community.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
