Eating America with India – Details, episodes & analysis

India interviews Wilson Tang, owner of Chinatown's oldest dim sum restaurant, Nom Wah Tea Parlor. Jennifer 8. Lee, the acclaimed writer and filmmaker speaks to the unique history of Chinese-Americans and their infamous cuisine. This episode explores dim sum culture and origins on the Silk Road, Wilson’s family’s immigration story from Guangzhou and how he is reinventing the traditional meal. Jacqueline Wang, Head of Commutations at Welcome to Chinatown tells us about the grassroots initiative and how it’s managed to raise $2 million for Chinatown businesses since the start of the pandemic.

To visit Nom Wah’s website click here and to order the cookbook click here. You can follow Wilson on instagram @dimsumnyc

To learn more about Jennifer 8. Lee and her films and books click here.

To donate and purchase merch from Welcome to Chinatown click here. You can follow them on Instagram @welcome.to.chinatown

Listen, see photos, and read recipes and transcripts at eatingamericawithindia.com and follow us on Instagram and Twitter. Subscribe to the Eating America with India newsletter. Support the show via PayPal.

Created and produced by India Witkin @spicymasalamama

Original composition and sound mixing by Kilcool @kilcoolbeats

Cover art by Suzanne Borderies @art_bysuz and graphics by @graceashworth.design

Consulting produced by Dylan Gans

Support the show

Hi everyone, 

I don't want you to think I forgot about you all. Life happens and we have to roll with the punches. This is a reminder to prioritize your mental health, your families and your precious grannies.

I wanted to share some of things I've been going through in 2021. We all experience the loss of a grandparent but this loss was hard... and very messy when you're trying to get to the other side of the world during a global pandemic. 

I will be back with more episodes starting mid-May. Follow the series on Instagram @eatingamericawithindia and India @spicymasalamama. 

Sending love to you all, 

India

India interviews James Beard award-winning food writer and cookbook author, Reem Kassis and Kal Ismail, owner of iconic Palestinian restaurant, Al Bawadi Grill. On this episode India explores the cuisine from Palestine, specifically from West and East Jerusalem in Chicago, Illinois. India meets the co-owners of the iconic restaurant Al Bawadi Grill in Bridgeview, IL also known as Little Palestinian which is located 15 miles southwest from central Chicago. Kal Ismail, the owner serves India an assortment of their favorites, each dish holding deep meaning to Palestine's history and identity. Reem Kassis, the writer of the newly released cookbook, The Arabesque Table,  chats with India about Palestinian dishes, cuisine and her take on the rise and popularity of "Israeli food." The episodes discusses the Arab-Israeli conflict through the lens of food, arguably the best way to approach a very controversial and complicated issue.
 
Listen, see photos, and read recipes and transcripts at eatingamericawithindia.com and follow us on Instagram and Twitter. Subscribe to the Eating America with India newsletter.
Follow Al Bawadi Grill on Instagram and check out their website.

Follow Reem Kassis on Instagram and pre-order her book, The Arabesque Table here. It will become available in the US starting April 1st and will be available in the rest of the world starting March 1st. Order her first award winning book, The Palestinian Table.

Learn  more about Queer Food Foundation here and donate to their Queer Food Fund here.
Enter EatingAmerica at checkout on GoodUncle.

Created and produced by India Witkin @spicymasalamama

Original composition and sound mixing by Kilcool @kilcoolbeats

Cover art by Suzanne Borderies @art_bysuz

Consulting edited and written by Susannah Gruder @suegru

Consulting produced by Dylan Gans

Support the show 

India interviews Van Tan, owner of iconic Khmer restaurant, Phnom Penh Noodle Shack, and Allen Prom, owner of Cambodian hot sauce company, Yeak inc. To some it might come as a surprise that Long Beach is home to the largest Cambodian diaspora in the world. India visits Phnom Penh Noodle Shack, the legendary and beloved restaurant started by Van Tan's aunt and uncle in 1985. India speaks with Van over a bowl of nom banh chok and other tasty dishes as they discuss their noodles, what it was like growing up first-generation in a restaurant, as well as what their family members endured during the Khmer Rouge from 1975-1979. Cambodia's flavors are a medley of Indian, Chinese, French, Thai and Portuguese. India speaks to Allen Prom, former chef and owner of Cambodian hot sauce company Yeak Inc. He explains the communist history, the origin story of some iconic dishes, as well as the harsh famine his parents endured. The conversations often deviate to those about trauma, but with the pain and hardship endured there is a strength, beauty and resilience. 

Listen, see photos, and read recipes and transcripts at eatingamericawithindia.com and follow us on Instagram and Twitter

Follow Phnom Penh Noodle Shack @phnompenhnoodleshack and order on their website

Follow Allen Prom on Instagram @fatasianfoodie and his hot sauce company @yeakinc. Order a bottle here.

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Created and produced by India Witkin @spicymasalamama

Original composition and mixing by Kilcool @kilcoolbeats

Cover art by Suzanne Borderies @art_bysuz

Consulting edited and written by Susannah Gruder @suegru 

Consulting produced by Dylan Gans

Support the show 

India interviews chef Rashida Holmes of Bridgetown Roti, who has made a major splash in the Los Angeles food scene during the pandemic. Ramin Ganeshram, an acclaimed Trinidadian chef, food writer and cookbook author speaks on the history of Bajan cuisine. There is void of Caribbean food on the West Coast and Bridgetown Roti is here to change that. India travels to Los Angeles to meet Rashida Holmes, the second-generation Bajan from NYC who left the restaurant industry to start a pop-up concept food business serving food from Barbados. Given the island’s position as a historic international port, Bajan cuisine has become a medley of flavors from around the world. Holmes shares her earliest food memories, what inspires her cooking and how she turned Bridgetown Roti into a success during such a difficult time for restaurants and businesses. India also speaks to Ramin Ganeshram, a Trinidadian journalist, author and chef, who explains the rich and often surprising history of Bajan food.

Listen, see photos, and read recipes and transcripts at eatingamericawithindia.com and follow us on Instagram and Twitter

Follow Bridgetown Roti @bridgetownroti and order on their website or on Post Mates for weekend pick-ups and deliveries in the Arts District. 

Follow Ramin on Instagram @nibblescribblesnyc and check out her cookbooks and novels on Amazon   

Created and produced by India Witkin @spicymasalamama

Cover art by Suzanne Borderies @art_bysuz

Original song by Kilcool @kilcoolbeats

Consulting produced by Dylan Gans

Consulting edited and written by Susanna Gruder @suegru 

India interviews Brazilian restaurant/catering company owners, Renni Flores of Sabor de Bahia (Los Angeles), Chris de Sauza of Brasilia Grill (Newark, NJ); She gets insight and expertise from Scott Barton of NYU and Tom Le Mesurier of EatRio. On this episode India explores Brazil and highlights the diversity and melting pot of cultures and cuisines. She travels to Los Angeles to meet chef Renni Flores of Sabor de Bahia to learn about and taste the Afro-Brazilian food from Salvador de Bahia, a rare find outside of Brazil. A singer turned chef who has put Bahian food on the map in California. Then India meets up with Chris de Sauza who runs the family-run restaurant, Brasilia Grill in Newark to try traditional Brazilian BBQ, churrascaria. Chris speaks about growing up in Ironbound, a neighborhood in Newark that is arguably the oldest and strongest Brazilian community in America. Tom Le Mesurier, a food and travel writer based in Rio who runs EatRio.com helps explain the history and roots of Brazilian cuisine. Scott Barton, a chef, food scholar and NYU professor explains Afro-Brazilian culture, cuisine and history. 

Listen, see photos, and read recipes and transcripts at eatingamericawithindia.com and follow us on Instagram and Twitter

Follow Renni Flores at @sabordebahia

Follow Chris de Sauza at @brasiliagrill 

Follow Tom Le Mesurier at @eatrio

Created and produced by India Witkin

This episode was co-produced with MixedMag @mixedmag

Cover art by Suzanne Borderies @art_bysuz

Original song by Kilcool @kilcoolbeats

India, who is half-Indian, interviews Indian restaurant and food owners Kulwinder Singh of Punjabi Deli (East Village, NYC), Dr. Uma of Temple Canteen (Queens), Jasmine Sheeth of Tasting India (Chicago) and food writer, Meghna Rao. The episode talks about the Indian-immigrant experience, building a restaurant from the ground up, and the beautiful dishes and ingredients we know and love today. 

India meets up with Dr. Uma who runs the Hindu Temple of North America in Flushing, Queens, which serves deliciously authentic South Indian food. She talks to writer and Juggernaut former managing editor, Meghna Rao who recounts her grandfathers experiences starting the first vegetarian and dosa restaurant in Manhattan in the 1970's and how it became a sensation. Kulwinder Singh, owner of East Village staple, Punjabi Deli, talks about creating his deli for his most loyal customers, taxi drivers. Lastly we hear from Jasmine Sheth, founder of Tasting India in Chicago, who serves a thali meal-delivery service in which she profiles a different regional Indian cuisine each week.

Don't forget to vote on November 3rd!

Listen, see photos, and read recipes and transcripts at eatingamericawithindia.com and follow us on Instagram and Twitter
Follow India Witkin at @spicymasalamama
Follow @Megn_a on Twitter 
Follow @punjabidelinyc
Follow Jasmine Sheth @the_amusebouche and @tasting_india

Created and produced by India Witkin
This episode was co-produced with MixedMag @mixedmag
Cover art by Suzanne Borderies @art_bysuz
Original song by Kilcool @kilcoolbeats

Explore the ethnic diasporas across the United States through the conduit of food. On this series you'll hear from chefs and restaurant owners as we discuss immigration, race, gentrification and the history of their cuisine. 72,000 restaurants have closed in the midst of the pandemic, only adding more urgency in supporting these small businesses who add to the richness of American multiculturalism. Hosted by India Witkin.