Indian food is lauded for its curries, mouth-burning spices and complex flavor pairings. With its use of cardamom, cayenne, tamarind and other pungent ingredients, the resulting taste combinations are unlike anything found elsewhere around the world.

While some spices such as garlic, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and black pepper are generally familiar in the West, the delicately balanced blends of regional spices are what give Indian food its distinct depth of flavor.

Yes, we've come a long way since 1921 when the first Indian restaurant opened in New York on 42^nd Street, the Taj Mahal Restaurant serving 'Hindu' and Persian food. Since then 1000s of Indian restaurants have opened and many have closed and the question still remains, what is 'real' Indian food?