The flavors of India

I’ve come upon Raj Tents at virtually every trade show I’ve attended. I just love their tents – they feel luxurious, exotic and decadent. Looking at the pictures I can actually imagine smelling the incense, hearing the Sitar and touching the velvet and silk pillows.

If you’re planning an Indian-themed event, there are literally thousands of resources available to you…

Decor
Tribal Monsoon – a stunning resource for decor and design – from bed linens to pashmina shawls to handcrafted decor elements.
Marketplace – a company that empowers Indian women by featuring their hand-crafted designs for sale.
Saffron Marigold – a resource for luxury, handcrafted Indian linens.
And, take a look at these beautiful vintage sari umbrellas from Jayson Home & Garden

Food
Indian has to be, by far, my favorite type of food. I don’t think I’ve tried anything I don’t like (except some of the desserts which are too sweet, even for me!). The following are popular Indian dishes. Not always authentic, but certainly popular and delicious.

Naan – a flatbread that is a wonderful accompaniment to many Indian dishes…especially those with sauces. There’s nothing better to sop up a delicious gravy than a piece of naan.
Butter Chicken – I’ve heard many different things about the history of Butter Chicken. Some say it was created by two English men, others say it was an adaptation of an Indian dish prompted by an English man and others say it is a favorite historical dish from India. Whatever the history, Butter Chicken is undeniably delicious.
Tandoori Chicken – This is another dish with an interesting past. Tandoori is a chicken dish that originated in India, but was created by Englishmen. It gets its intense red color from the spices used like chili powder.
Channa Masala – My all time favorite dish, Chana Masala is a rich and flavorful chickpea dish with a thick gravy base.
Rogan Josh – This is a lamb curry dish that just happens to be low in fat and very tasty.

Music
Every Sunday, in Toronto, our television stations are filled with Bollywood films featuring wonderful music. From Hindi, Punjabi, Pakistani, Ghazals, Pop, Filmi, and Bhangra songs, the music is diverse as the culture. For relaxation, think of the music you hear when you visit the spa or your yoga studio. For something more upbeat sounds of Bollywood.

Or go Indian Fusion with artists like Thievery Corporation and Ganesh.

Blogs
There are many delightful blogs dedicated to all things Indian. Check out:
An Indian Summer
Rang Decor