I have always viewed food as a way to connect with people, places and memories. There’s a story behind every person, every object, every place and every dish. Food accompanies cultural significance, while also showcasing someone’s love and dedication.
I was inspired by the concept of Langar in Sikhi, which signifies the importance of community kitchens and the intent to view everyone as equal. Oftentimes, we get caught up in getting ahead with life and value people differently based on their socio-economic status. Langar aims to unite people by encouraging them to eat food together on the floor, signifying no one person is above the other. Additionally, I always feel cured by someone’s affection through food. Whenever I am sick, my mom rushes to make me kadha. Even if it’s bitter, and difficult to drink, I will close my nose and gulp it down because I feel my mom’s love reflected in it. Food to me is more than just a dish or an ingredient; it is how a person prepares it, and how another perceives it.
In the following photographs, I wanted to focus on different cultural dishes from Meat Me BBQ, a Korean restaurant located in Flushing, NY and Raja Sweets & Fast Food, a vegetarian Indian restaurant situated in Jackson Heights, NY. The featured dishes include 삼겹살 (grilled pork belly), 제육볶음 (spicy stir fried pork), ਪਕੋੜਾ (fried vegetables in flour) and ਪਰਾਥਾਂ (bread from wheat flour).