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Smithsonian | Virtual Cooking Demo for Diwali, “The Festival of Lights”
November 3, 2021 @ 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Illuminate your living room with fragrant smells, warm lights, and laughter in this special one-night event honoring Diwali hosted by the National Museum of Asian Art and the DC Mayor’s Office on Asian & Pacific Island Affairs.
In this virtual cooking demo, renowned Indian American chef and cookbook author Vikram Sunderam, executive chef of Rasika and Bindaas in Washington, DC, will share some of his favorite Diwali cultural and culinary traditions, featuring both sweet and savory holiday dishes. Chef Vikram will introduce you to unique Indian recipes and kitchen tips to create the Diwali holiday spirit at home. Following the demonstration, Dr. Aparna Ramaswamy, dharmic spiritual advisor (interim) at Georgetown University, will also offer personal reflections on the meaning of Diwali. Celebrated in India and around the world, Diwali is a five-day holiday whose name is derived from the word Deepavali, meaning “row of lamps.” Diwali, the Festival of Lights, marks the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.
Vikram Sunderam is the executive chef of the Washington, DC, restaurants Rasika, Rasika West End, and Bindaas. He joined Washington restaurateur Ashok Bajaj in December 2005 to open Rasika. The name of the restaurant is derived from the Sanskrit term meaning “flavors,” and it features authentic Indian fare with a modern flair. Sunderam’s culinary artistry earned him the title “Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic” by the James Beard Foundation in 2014, among many other awards. He also oversees Bindaas, a casual restaurant showcasing Indian street food, and is the author of the cookbook Rasika: Flavors of India. A native of Bombay, India, Sunderam began his career with the Taj Mahal Hotel Group and served as executive chef at Bombay Brasserie in London.
Register and join the session here:
https://smithsonian.zoom.us/…/WN_9SR74ZrHTsWYrq30-r1DKA
https://smithsonian.zoom.us/…/WN_9SR74ZrHTsWYrq30-r1DKA
Image: courtesy of Rasika
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