Chicago Foodways: How to order in an Indian Restaurant, 9/18

Chicago Foodways Roundtable

How to Order in an Indian Restaurant . . .
and Self Publish!

Talk by
Colleen Taylor Sen

Saturday, September 18, 2009
Talk: 10:00 am to Noon
Kendall College
Classroom 630/632
900 North Branch Street, Chicago
(West of Halsted Street, North of Chicago Avenue)
Free Parking

Cost: $3 per person, free to Kendall students and faculty with ID.


The Indian Subcontinent has one of the world’s richest, most diverse culinary traditions, but ordering a meal can be a challenge. Diners who can comfortably navigate a Chinese or Thai menu may find themselves at sea when faced with an Indian menu. Some people are afraid the food will be mouth-searingly hot; others are unfamiliar with the names of the dishes. Restaurant owners complain that most of their customers limit themselves to three dishes: tandoori chicken, chicken tikka masala, and sag or palak paneer.
In her new book Pakoras, Paneer, Pappadums: A Guide to Indian Restaurant Menus, local Indian food expert Colleen Taylor Sen demystifies South Asian ingredients and traditional and regional dishes in order to enhance readers’ enjoyment of one of the great world cuisines.
In her presentation, she’ll discuss --
• Components of an authentic Indian meal
• The eight categories of Indian and Pakistani restaurants—and their specialties
• The story behind tandoori chicken and other popular dishes
• How to order within different culinary traditions and balance the myriad tastes and flavors
• The perfect couples: how wine and other beverages pair with Indian dishes
• How Indian food can make you healthier.

As an experiment, Colleen decided to self-publish and self-market her book, using Create Space. In the second half of her presentation, she’ll share her experiences and walk you through the process.

CHC Member Colleen Taylor Sen is a Chicago-based writer and journalist specializing in the cuisine of the Indian Subcontinent. She is the author of Food Culture in India and Curry: A Global History, and has written for Food Arts, Travel and Leisure, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun Times, Toronto Globe and Mail, and other publications. She has travelled extensively on the Subcontinent.

If you have any questions, then please either PM Cathy2 or e-mail chicago.foodways.roundtable@gmail.com. Please include your name, telephone number and the number of people in your party.

Hi,

Nice article on In Print: Colleen Taylor Sen's Guide to Indian Restaurant Menus by Mike Sula.

Regards,

Hi,

I was pleased to learn at the picnic that G Wiv ordered Colleen's book on how to order in an Indian restaurant.

If you want to learn more and ask questions, then mark this on your calendar for Saturday morning.

Regards,

Hi,

I'm boiling potatoes for bhel puri.

Drop in, if you want.

Regards,