Essence of India

Season
New York City chef Samira Nanda explores her Indian roots and the nation's culinary secrets, practiced by restaurants and street vendors and on display in bustling spice markets.

Premiere

July 21, 2023

Available on

Global Trekker
Food
Destination
Documentary
Adventure
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Who is Samira: A chef and journalist who has lived and worked in Hong Kong, the Middle East and India, Chef-at-Large for New York's Core Club, Samira is also invited to do high-profile cooking demos for Indian food alongside the chefs at the Gramercy Tavern and Town Restaurant.

Essence of India:
Samira Nanda, a New York City chef, mother of three and journalist leaves busy Manhattan to go back to her roots in India to discover the authentic origins of Indian cuisine.. She travels through Delhi in her 'Essence of India' auto rickshaw,  gaining access to some of the most exclusive authentic Indian restaurant kitchens, convincing chefs to part with their secrets, cooking with street cart vendors, wandering into ancient Indian spice markets, and giving viewers a peek into the rich culinary, cultural, and artistic heritage of India. She goes on an exciting curry trail, demystifying some of India's most popular curries, cooks with street cart vendors on the busy streets of India, explores the origin of vegetarian food and Indian desserts, and gets a crash course on tandoori cuisine. The six episodes are shot in ancient Indian spice markets and Michelin-rated Indian restaurants, as well as famous street carts.  Vibrant, visual, and informative, watch Samira as she enthusiastically goes through six fast-paced, recipe-filled, intoxicating episodes that shake up the traditional concept of the cooking show. It's a travelling food show with humour and attitude!

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