Food Journalists Priya Krishna and Anisha Oommen on Restaurant Reviews and the Future of Food Writing

Food Journalists Priya Krishna and Anisha Oommen on Restaurant Reviews and the Future of Food Writing

Behind The By-lines: Priya Krishna (The New York Times), Anisha Rachel Oommen (Goya Journal), and Smitha Menon pull back the curtain on what it means to write about food today. Amuse-Bouche: Food as a lens into caste, class, politics, and identity;  and why the table is still one of the last places we can have hard conversations. Main Course: The blurred lines of PR and journalism, maintaining professional boundaries as a food writer, and what “good taste” means when dining out becomes social currency.  Quick Bites: From Indian English prose to plastic tablecloths and dosa definitions, how language and aesthetics shape whose food stories get told. In the Margins: On AI, the future of media, and why being a food journalist is less about hype and more about holding power to account, one story at a time. This episode is fact checked, double spiced, and just the right amount of sweet, which means the Bombay Bhel Chikki [https://bombaysweetshop.com/products/chikki-bar?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=big_food_energy] by Bombay Sweet Shop was the only sensible pairing, really. – – – Host: Smitha Menon [https://www.instagram.com/smitha.men/?hl=en] We’re on YouTube, Spotify, and wherever food memories live. Drop in to say hello at smitha@smithamenon.co [smitha@smithamenon.co] or contact@maed.in [contact@maed.in] This is a Maed in India [https://www.maedinindia.in/] production. Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas [https://www.instagram.com/maemariyam/?hl=en] Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome [http://www.instagram.com/sfanthome] Producer: Meghna Gulati [https://www.instagram.com/amadnessepidemic/]  Co-Producer: Rachna Sukuru [https://www.instagram.com/rachnasukuru/]  Animation: Alika Gupta [https://www.instagram.com/capefoxalix/] Video Editor: Kaval Chaudhary [https://www.instagram.com/_tasveerz_/?hl=en] Video Guidance: Jishnu Guha [https://www.instagram.com/short___round/] Sound Mixing Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni [https://www.instagram.com/kartik.kulkarni/?hl=en] On-Location Sound Engineer: Nihar Temkar [https://www.instagram.com/nihar_temkar/]Production Assistant: Natasha Vakil [https://www.instagram.com/thesocialnatwork/?hl=en] Artwork: Jishnu Bandyopadhyay [https://www.instagram.com/jishyouwish/?hl=en]

Akhil Iyer of Benne and Kavan Kuttappa of Naru Noodle Bar on Hyper-focused Restaurants

Rasam for Two: Akhil Iyer of Benne in Bombay and Kavan Kuttappa of Naru Noodle Bar on going hyper-local with dosa and ramen. Bangalore Special: Growing up in Bangalore, experiencing local and global cuisine, and tying that childhood nostalgia into their respective microdiners. Main Course: Building an entire business around a single dish, and the role of social media in creating hype Broths & Chutneys: Rethinking what “authenticity” really means, and how dosa and ramen are finding  new homes in urban India y today. No By Two: Striking a balance between authenticity and adapting to consumer needs, and plans of expansion. Today’s episode is crunchy, chaotic, and slightly addictive. So obviously, I had to pair it with Choco Butterscotch Barks [https://bombaysweetshop.com/products/chocolate-butterscotch-bark?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=big_food_energy] by Bombay Sweet Shop. – – – Host: Smitha Menon [https://www.instagram.com/smitha.men/?hl=en] We’re on YouTube, Spotify, and wherever food memories live. Drop in to say hello at smitha@smithamenon.co [smitha@smithamenon.co] or contact@maed.in [contact@maed.in] This is a Maed in India [https://www.maedinindia.in/] production. Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas [https://www.instagram.com/maemariyam/?hl=en] Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome [http://www.instagram.com/sfanthome] Producer: Meghna Gulati [https://www.instagram.com/amadnessepidemic/]  Co-Producer: Rachna Sukuru [https://www.instagram.com/rachnasukuru/]  Animation: Alika Gupta [https://www.instagram.com/capefoxalix/] Video Editor: Kaval Chaudhary [https://www.instagram.com/_tasveerz_/?hl=en] Video Guidance: Jishnu Guha [https://www.instagram.com/short___round/] Sound Mixing Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni [https://www.instagram.com/kartik.kulkarni/?hl=en] On-Location Sound Engineer: Nihar Temkar [https://www.instagram.com/nihar_temkar/]Production Assistant: Natasha Vakil [https://www.instagram.com/thesocialnatwork/?hl=en] Artwork: Jishnu Bandyopadhyay [https://www.instagram.com/jishyouwish/?hl=en]

Saransh Goila on Scaling Butter Chicken While Balancing Profitability & Creativity

Chef’s Table: Saransh Goila of the famed Goila Butter Chicken is on a mission to bring a fresh take on the classic dish and entrepreneurship. Appetiser: From pop-ups to over a 100 kitchens, how Saransh’s ambitions turned the classic butter chicken into a global culinary experience.   Main Course: Crafting experiences for consumers, building structures for acquisition, and navigating the hard truths of profitability vs. creativity Combos: How to keep creativity alive when running a business and navigating being a chef and creator in an era of  “chefluencers”.  Delishaaas: Finding meaning beyond likes and metrics, the power of mentorship, and why telling India’s food story will always be worth it. This one’s a deep dive into creator ambitions, delivery numbers, desi cravings, and digital-first food. I mean, what else but Chocolate Butter Cookies [https://bombaysweetshop.com/products/chocolate-butter-cookies?utm_source=podcast+&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=big_food_energy] by Bombay Sweet Shop for that kind of comfort math? – – – Host: Smitha Menon [https://www.instagram.com/smitha.men/?hl=en] We’re on YouTube, Spotify, and wherever food memories live. Drop in to say hello at smitha@smithamenon.co [smitha@smithamenon.co] or contact@maed.in [contact@maed.in] This is a Maed in India [https://www.maedinindia.in/] production. Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas [https://www.instagram.com/maemariyam/?hl=en] Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome [http://www.instagram.com/sfanthome] Producer: Meghna Gulati [https://www.instagram.com/amadnessepidemic/]  Co-Producer: Rachna Sukuru [https://www.instagram.com/rachnasukuru/]  Animation: Alika Gupta [https://www.instagram.com/capefoxalix/] Video Editor: Kaval Chaudhary [https://www.instagram.com/_tasveerz_/?hl=en] Video Guidance: Jishnu Guha [https://www.instagram.com/short___round/] Sound Mixing Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni [https://www.instagram.com/kartik.kulkarni/?hl=en] On-Location Sound Engineer: Nihar Temkar [https://www.instagram.com/nihar_temkar/] Production Assistant: Natasha Vakil [https://www.instagram.com/thesocialnatwork/?hl=en] Artwork: Jishnu Bandyopadhyay [https://www.instagram.com/jishyouwish/?hl=en]

Vinesh Johny on Finding Bangalore’s Sweet Spot

On the Brew Board: Vinesh Johny of Lavonne Academy of Baking Science and Pastry Arts, Kopitiam Lah, and LICK Local Roast: How a college kid’s idea turned into Lavonne Academy, arguably India’s best pastry school Soups and Short Eats: The creative process, the evolution of India’s pastry scene, and the tightrope walk of scaling up without selling out House Special: Holistic hospitality: – from Lavonne’s classroom, Kopitiam Lah’s coffee culture, to the ice cream fueled frenzy of LICK Chef’s Blend: The wild side of dessert innovation, the Indian ingredients he’s most excited about, and why VC money can’t buy soul. From The Counter: From finding Bangalore’s sweet spot for global flavours to the power of patience and practice Pastry: Leadership, team spirit, parenthood, and chocolate flutes. This episode is about breaking moulds and finding flavour in unlikely places, so what better pairing than Chilli Cheese Bhujia [https://bombaysweetshop.com/products/chilli-cheese-bhujia-mini-90g?_pos=1&_psq=chilli+cheese&_ss=e&_v=1.0] by Bombay Sweet Shop – fiery, cheesy, and impossible to put down. – – – Host: Smitha Menon [https://www.instagram.com/smitha.men/?hl=en] We’re on YouTube, Spotify, and wherever food memories live. Drop in to say hello at smitha@smithamenon.co [smitha@smithamenon.co] or contact@maed.in [contact@maed.in] This is a Maed in India [https://www.maedinindia.in/] production.

How Ritu Dalmia Built Her Empire Without Following Any Rules

On the Kitchen Counter: Ritu Dalmia of DIVA, Cittamani, and more The Mise en Place: From a childhood fear of Indian cuisine to reimagining it with her signature global flair. Full Course: How a single idea turned into a restaurant empire – built on impulse, experimentation, and the power of passion. Cultural Garnish: Blending Italian simplicity with Indian complexity, and finding unexpected overlaps in two rich food traditions. Inside the Kitchen: Leadership lessons, mentorship mindsets, and creating safe spaces for teams to thrive. Catering Spread: Why catering isn’t just about feeding people – it’s about telling a story and making every bite memorable. Finishing Touches: Advocating for LGBTQ rights, learning to balance ambition and self-care, and the future of dining done her way My chat with Ritu was a little messy, a little salty, and filled with lots of stories. Obviously, I had to go with something classic but punchy, like the Roasted Makhana & Peanut Chikki [https://bombaysweetshop.com/products/roasted-makhana-peanut-chikki?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=big_food_energy] by Bombay Sweet Shop. – – – Host: Smitha Menon [https://www.instagram.com/smitha.men/?hl=en] We’re on YouTube, Spotify, and wherever food memories live. Drop in to say hello at smitha@smithamenon.co [smitha@smithamenon.co] or contact@maed.in [contact@maed.in] This is a Maed in India [https://www.maedinindia.in/] production. Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas [https://www.instagram.com/maemariyam/?hl=en] Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome [http://www.instagram.com/sfanthome] Producer: Meghna Gulati [https://www.instagram.com/amadnessepidemic/]  Animation: Alika Gupta [https://www.instagram.com/capefoxalix/] Video Editor: Kaval Chaudhary [https://www.instagram.com/_tasveerz_/?hl=en] Video Guidance: Jishnu Guha [https://www.instagram.com/short___round/] Sound Mixing Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni [https://www.instagram.com/kartik.kulkarni/?hl=en] On-Location Sound Engineer: Nihar Temkar [https://www.instagram.com/nihar_temkar/]Production Assistant: Natasha Vakil [https://www.instagram.com/thesocialnatwork/?hl=en] and Rachna Sukuru [https://www.instagram.com/rachnasukuru/] Artwork: Jishnu Bandyopadhyay [https://www.instagram.com/jishyouwish/?hl=en]