Ravinder Bhogal, a renowned journalist, chef, and restaurateur, teams up with Kavita Puri, an award-winning broadcaster and author, to explore the intricate ties between food, culture, and identity. They discuss how food transcends mere nourishment, igniting nostalgia and sparking disagreements. Topics include the authenticity of recipes in multicultural societies, the impact of cultural appropriation, and the loss of traditional cuisines in conflict zones like Palestine. Their personal stories highlight food's role as a unifying force and a source of connection.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Dal Makhani: A Mouthful of Memory
Ravinder Bhogal describes Dal Makhani as "a mouthful of memory and mourning for the homeland."
This dish evokes a sense of home for her, connecting her to her family's Punjabi heritage.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Guava Cure
When Bhogal was seven and homesick in London, she craved guavas from Kenya.
Her father found some, and upon eating one, she felt instantly better.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Mango Memory
Kavita Puri recalls her father bringing a crate of mangoes from India after a flight.
This seemingly odd act highlights the importance of food as a connection to home for immigrants.
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Comfort and Joy by Ravinder Bhogal reclaims vegan and vegetarian cooking as a source of indulgence and pleasure, offering a wide range of creative and approachable recipes that blend global flavors. The book includes dishes like okra fries with curry leaf mayonnaise and mango gold coin curry, showcasing the richness and variety of plant-based cuisine.
Nigella Lawson's How to Eat
Nigella Lawson's How to Eat
Nigella Lawson
Partition Voices
Kavita Puri
Partition Voices: Untold British Stories by Kavita Puri is a non-fiction book that captures the experiences of South Asians who lived through the partition of India in 1947 and later settled in Britain. The book includes interviews with individuals from diverse backgrounds, offering a nuanced perspective on the trauma and legacy of partition. It explores how these events continue to shape the identities and family dynamics of those affected, providing a powerful insight into a pivotal moment in history.
Food has always been more than just fuel. Beyond mere nourishment, food carries deep meaning in our lives. It evokes feelings of comfort and joy and it can ignite disagreement and discord. It serves as a powerful link to culture and identity, creating a sense of belonging and community.
In August 2023 we were joined by restaurateur and author Ravinder Bhogal and award-winning writer and broadcaster Kavita Puri, as they discussed the politics of food in our increasingly globalised world. Exploring the arguments around culinary authenticity, they asked how genuine food needs to be in a multicultural society. Can recipes be subject to cultural appropriation? And what happens when a people lose their cuisine, as has happened to some Palestinian people who have been living on UN food aid for so long they have lost touch with their traditional cuisine?
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