Nandita Godbole

As UC Berkeley prepares for its annual commencement celebrations, families and friends will gather to honor their graduates’ achievements. What better way to continue the celebration than with a memorable meal? Just steps from campus, Berkeley’s vibrant dining scene offers a mix of historic landmarks and global flavors, each reflecting the city’s deep ties to diverse cultures, communities, and its spirit of innovation.

PROFILE:

"From the coastal kitchens of Vasai to diaspora homes in Atlanta, women like Regina Pereira and Nandita Godbole are preserving age-old Indian spice traditions through handwritten recipes, heritage cookbooks, and nuanced adaptations for modern palates....

For them, spice blends are not just ingredients. They are memory, ritual, healing, and home. Whether in a quiet Mumbai suburb or across the seas in Atlanta, these matriarchs, daughters, and documentarians are honoring age-old practices while adapting them — lovingly — for the now."

Indian pizza is where butter chicken cozies up to mozzarella, tikka masala is the DJ, and your taste buds dance the bhangra. It's where East meets West in the most Bollywood way possible. This deep cut cultural classic is a beloved tradition among cross continental Indians. Name an L.A. neighborhood, and there will be a desi pizzeria within a short drive.

Personal Essay:
Leisure: For the Love of Theater
The sudden appearance in Atlanta of a beloved character and actor from my childhood in Mumbai led to a wonderful evening out and a precious ride down memory lane.

Interviewed for article by Lauren Hughes: Cocktails are somewhat of an art form, from carefully crafting the right ingredients to using elaborate presentation techniques.

Good cocktails can elevate a dinner party, or make an event feel really special. Making them at home can be challenging, but the right tools and a little expert advice can really help.

The southeast is well-known for its love affair with all things pie, and greater Atlanta’s pie scene takes center stage with a citywide celebration of global flavors.
The story of pies in the South dates back to the late 1700s when German, Irish, and Scottish immigrants arrived, drawn by the booming cotton and farming industries. They brought their rich culinary traditions with them, introducing fried pies and savory meat-filled pastries to a landscape already abundant with preparations like ...

What Is Umami? 12 Foods with Umami You’ll Want to Try.

Before I plunged into writing cookbooks, I used to host secret suppers – dinner parties of a dozen strangers, for one evening a month, for an authentic, multicourse Indian meal.
One of the great joys for me, as the mastermind behind our shenanigans, was creating a menu that allowed the layers of flavor to develop over the course of the meal: from mild to moderate to spicy, from lightly sweet to decadent, creating a tiered ‘progressive’ dinner. We took a journey without ever leaving the venue....

Consulted and quoted heavily in article on how to shop at an international market.

Consulted & quoted heavily in article on Masala Chai in an article syndicated from Consumer Reports.

Quote in an article for Consumer Reports about Masala Chai. Includes my notes on the historical context of chai in India, birth of Masala Chai, and a recipe to make the perfect cup.

Atlanta is a melting pot (of soup) where diverse communities share flavors from around the world, and that goes for steaming bowls of brothy goodness. From European classics, bold Asian broths, and comforting Latin creations, each slurp is sure to warm you up. Explore these must-try soup spots with global flavors nestled throughout the city.
Don’t see a favorite soup or stew listed? Send Eater Atlanta the details via the tipline.
Here’s Where to Order a Gooey Grilled Cheese Sandwich in Atlant...

Khabar Magazine December Cover Story > Mouthwatering Movies
Food and films: when two wonderful indulgences come together in a single package, it’s double the fun. Here’s a list of ten must-watch movies for this holiday season that make for gourmet cinema.
....
So, grab your chai and samosas and settle in with your favorite blankies to immerse yourself in these ten appetizing food films.

When bartender Izler Thomas approaches making cocktails, he likes giving the drinks a sense of place. He first started using city landmarks as inspiration for drinks as a young bartender in Mumbai, then used this approach at the restaurant Rooh in New Delhi. Now, Thomas is the 25-year-old head mixologist at the modern Indian restaurant Tiya in San Francisco, and he’s using the city’s neighborhoods as inspiration for his cocktails. “First, we need to go there to understand that culture,”

A certain politician recently declared that the White House would smell like curry if their opponent won the election — like it was a bad thing. I thought that after Bridgerton, we were done with the curry jokes. Because curry can’t be reduced to a cartoon stereotype. It isn’t just one specific dish. It’s a culinary titan. Worldwide, the word ‘curry’ is a kaleidoscope, evoking the identities and cultures of people with their own versions of the dish. In L.A., Indian, Chinese, Thai, Burmese, and Japanese arrivals brought their own recipes with them, infusing the city ....