Taste is Memory

There’s a reason every bite of your mom’s dal tastes like a memory. It’s not just the turmeric or the tadka—it’s the storytelling, the smell of home in a faraway kitchen, the way you instinctively know when the rasam is “right.”

Food & Culture is our space to celebrate the rituals that feed us. From grandmother’s recipes to community potlucks, this section explores food as history, identity, rebellion, comfort, and joy.

We’ll dish out stories about pantry staples that traveled with us, festive menus that evolved in new countries, fusion that happened unintentionally, and kitchen hacks from people who now juggle a dozen cuisines in one fridge.

And of course, there will be kadak chai or some frothy filter coffee... Lots of it!