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Namaste, Indian Food!

© Tara Gillet-Liloia

There is no reason to be afraid of foods with names like: barfy, shahi paneer, or murgh makti. The first one is a sweet dessert, the second is cheese cubes in a creamy tomato sauce, and the third is chicken in a savory sauce. Many non-western cultures like those from Asia and India have a strong emphasis on vegetarian cooking. You are more likely to find appetizing meat-free meals at an Indian restaurant than at a traditional American steak house. However, if you have never set foot in an Indian restaurant, the experience can be a little intimidating. The smells, sounds, and tastes are sure to be unlike anything you have ever experienced. With a little background information and preparation, your dinner will be much more enjoyable and may even inspire a second visit!

If a meal as simple as a hamburger can be prepared and served in a variety of different ways, image how many possibilities there are for a dish with several different vegetables and just as many spices. Each Indian restaurant offers their own interpretation of a particular recipe. Therefore, the following are not complete ingredient lists, but rather a general overview of dining at an Indian restaurant. If you would like complete recipes for thousands of vegetarian Indian dishes, take a look at these indispensable sites.

• http://www.indiaworld.co.in/open/rec/rec...
• http://www.indianrecipes.com/
• http://www.indiatastes.com/

Many Indian restaurateurs attempt to evoke the spirit of India by adorning their establishment with items from India. This includes shrines, pictures, music and even antique hookah pipes. Take this opportunity to learn a bit about the culture of India. If it is not busy in the restaurant, you might want to ask an employee about the meaning of an object or picture. Crispy bread and chutney are usually brought to the table free of charge. One common Indian chutney is made from chopped onions and chili powder. Be adventurous and give these chunky sauces a try.

To assist you with the actual ordering, some restaurants have been kind enough to print descriptions of each menu item beneath the Indian name of the dish. In addition, the following list is a quick language course in Hindi, which is the primary language of India. The list includes a few key words which are helpful to know when eating at an unfamiliar Indian restaurant. These words can signal you to stay clear of a meal or to dive right in.

Note that some of the spellings may be slightly different from what you see on a restaurant menu. This is because the menu has been translated into phonetic Hindi so that patrons don't have to read Hindi script (which looks similar to Arabic) to order a meal.

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