How do you explain to a Brit what food in India is like

matt67 · Apr 20th, 2007, 19:42

A problem i face is explaining to a Brit who has not visited india what Indian cuisine islike. The British love Indian food, but in most cases, their exposure to indian food is in restaurants that are predominantly owned by Bangladeshis with cuisine that is a hash of available ingredients. How do the British members of Indiamike explain to their friends back home what constitutes indian food and how it differs from what is available in the UK.

navinkurian2002 · Apr 20th, 2007, 21:10

Most brits know way more about india spices and curries than indias and have a lot of curry and tandoori with their meals. But not sure about the brit you are referring to

ba9rn · Apr 20th, 2007, 21:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt67

How do the British members of Indiamike explain to their friends back home what constitutes indian food and how it differs from what is available in the UK.

What do you say?

kullukid · Apr 20th, 2007, 21:36

I think what Matts saying is that even though there are thousands of Indian restaurants & takeaways all over the U.K. & chicken Masala is now the official most popular national dish here there is still a vast difference between this & traditional Indian food served in India. I understand what he his saying & i think he is alluding to the fact that it is difficult to describe what Indian food is like compared to what we get in the U.K. We say we are going for an "Indian" but 95% of restaurants & takeaways are run by Pakistanis or Bangladeshis. People are always saying to me what's "Real Indian" food like & the best i can come up with is "Different". However luckily for me i live in Leeds & work in Bradford which both have large Asian communities/populations so i have managed to find a few authentic places over the years of eating "Currys" KK

raaz · Apr 20th, 2007, 22:05

"How do you explain to a Brit what food in India is like"
Well i dont , i have tried but always failed so i dont try it anymore , its almost impossible.
hey kullukid ..i use to work in leeds n live in bradford for a while ......a bit strange to hv to met on indiamike not on way!

Merchant · Apr 20th, 2007, 22:17

I once went with an upper-crusty British couple to high tea at the Imperial Hotel in New Delhi. They got all excited because proper cake was served: "It's just so hard to get good cake these days." I didn't quite see the appeal of a slice of white, tasteless bread, with almost no sweetness. It looked like a dead hand.

Nick-H · Apr 21st, 2007, 00:53

Oh how I'd love a good piece of cake, and some non-sweet bread

!

Sorry to be pedantic here, but we'd have to ask what area of India was being asked about!

icetea · Apr 21st, 2007, 01:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merchant

I once went with an upper-crusty British couple to high tea at the Imperial Hotel in New Delhi. They got all excited because proper cake was served: "It's just so hard to get good cake these days." I didn't quite see the appeal of a slice of white, tasteless bread, with almost no sweetness. It looked like a dead hand.

This sounds like a good way of explaining what Indian food is like! (it does the above to you

)

My ill-intentioned description of (south) Indian food to people back home sounds like this: "a humongous heap of rice (preferably over-boiled), accompanied by a mish-mash of vegetables in a perpetual reddish-brown gravy, with enough spices to half-burn your taste-buds and to succesfully hide any trace of the taste of the vegetables". (I guess they won't be visiting India any soon..)

Now where's that tastless piece of cake...

Nick-H · Apr 21st, 2007, 01:40

MEALS READY

eh? Pretty good description, Icetea!

On a bad day I'd sum up Tamil food as bland but blistering

Noodle · Apr 21st, 2007, 01:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by icetea

"a humongous heap of rice (preferably over-boiled), accompanied by a mish-mash of vegetables in a perpetual reddish-brown gravy, with enough spices to half-burn your taste-buds and to succesfully hide any trace of the taste of the vegetables".

That's exactly how my English friend here describes the food here in Pune! And I agree.

But there are really good things here ... mmmm ... for example we had doghla today (sp?), man, that was so nice! Spicy yet fresh and fruity and filling as well.

And the dhals are so nutty

robotvoice · Apr 21st, 2007, 02:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt67

How do the British members of Indiamike explain to their friends back home what constitutes indian food and how it differs from what is available in the UK.

take them on a trip to india

stellap · Apr 21st, 2007, 05:28

On our trip to Rajasthan, we were surprised how mild food was compared to in restaurants here. So I describe it as mild with lots of cheese - which tends to cause confusion amongst South Walian Carnivores!

noflylist · Apr 21st, 2007, 08:01

Feed them Daal and Roti (just that), whole chilly pepper and salt for flavor

goangoangone · Apr 21st, 2007, 09:16

Cook something at home. I doubt you can replicate the restaurants in England.

matt67 · Apr 21st, 2007, 15:23

the Brit i am talking about is the average footie pundit who visits spains costas for summer sun and whilst there seeks out the local fish/pie and chip shop. But this same person loves his chicken tikka masala from the high street with nan bread rice and papoddom and big helpings of beer to go with it.

Nick H was spot on when he mentioned which part of india are we talking about. How can you explain that the food differs in eac state. How do you explain what a masala dhosa tastes like...fatboyron you wanna have a go at that?

Apr 20th, 2007, 19:42	#1
matt67 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Bath Posts: 164	How do you explain to a Brit what food in India is like A problem i face is explaining to a Brit who has not visited india what Indian cuisine islike. The British love Indian food, but in most cases, their exposure to indian food is in restaurants that are predominantly owned by Bangladeshis with cuisine that is a hash of available ingredients. How do the British members of Indiamike explain to their friends back home what constitutes indian food and how it differs from what is available in the UK.

Apr 20th, 2007, 21:10	#2
navinkurian2002 Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mumbai,India Posts: 791	Most brits know way more about india spices and curries than indias and have a lot of curry and tandoori with their meals. But not sure about the brit you are referring to __________________ It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare dream of meeting your heart's longing.

Apr 21st, 2007, 00:53	#7
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,763	Oh how I'd love a good piece of cake, and some non-sweet bread ! Sorry to be pedantic here, but we'd have to ask what area of India was being asked about! __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Apr 21st, 2007, 09:16	#14
goangoangone What happened? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Goa Posts: 1,543	Cook something at home. I doubt you can replicate the restaurants in England. __________________ GoanGoan......here

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Apr 20th, 2007, 21:36	#4
kullukid Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: u.k. Posts: 997	I think what Matts saying is that even though there are thousands of Indian restaurants & takeaways all over the U.K. & chicken Masala is now the official most popular national dish here there is still a vast difference between this & traditional Indian food served in India. I understand what he his saying & i think he is alluding to the fact that it is difficult to describe what Indian food is like compared to what we get in the U.K. We say we are going for an "Indian" but 95% of restaurants & takeaways are run by Pakistanis or Bangladeshis. People are always saying to me what's "Real Indian" food like & the best i can come up with is "Different". However luckily for me i live in Leeds & work in Bradford which both have large Asian communities/populations so i have managed to find a few authentic places over the years of eating "Currys" KK

Apr 20th, 2007, 22:05	#5
raaz Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: uk Posts: 45	"How do you explain to a Brit what food in India is like" Well i dont , i have tried but always failed so i dont try it anymore , its almost impossible. hey kullukid ..i use to work in leeds n live in bradford for a while ......a bit strange to hv to met on indiamike not on way!

Apr 20th, 2007, 22:17	#6
Merchant Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: New York Posts: 2,096	I once went with an upper-crusty British couple to high tea at the Imperial Hotel in New Delhi. They got all excited because proper cake was served: "It's just so hard to get good cake these days." I didn't quite see the appeal of a slice of white, tasteless bread, with almost no sweetness. It looked like a dead hand.

Apr 21st, 2007, 01:40	#9
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,763	MEALS READY eh? Pretty good description, Icetea! On a bad day I'd sum up Tamil food as bland but blistering

Apr 21st, 2007, 05:28	#12
stellap Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: UK Posts: 122	On our trip to Rajasthan, we were surprised how mild food was compared to in restaurants here. So I describe it as mild with lots of cheese - which tends to cause confusion amongst South Walian Carnivores!

Apr 21st, 2007, 08:01	#13
noflylist Account Closed on User's Request Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Houston Posts: 840	Feed them Daal and Roti (just that), whole chilly pepper and salt for flavor

Apr 21st, 2007, 15:23	#15
matt67 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Bath Posts: 164	the Brit i am talking about is the average footie pundit who visits spains costas for summer sun and whilst there seeks out the local fish/pie and chip shop. But this same person loves his chicken tikka masala from the high street with nan bread rice and papoddom and big helpings of beer to go with it. Nick H was spot on when he mentioned which part of india are we talking about. How can you explain that the food differs in eac state. How do you explain what a masala dhosa tastes like...fatboyron you wanna have a go at that?

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