How Indian Food Is Shaping Southern Culture | Spice Road

Pani puri, pakoras, and… pageants? Actor Rupak Ginn (Royal Pains) travels to Taaza, an Indian restaurant tucked away in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Southern Virginia. There he discovers how his African American wife Nancy Redd’s heritage intersects with his own, and how people and cultures strive to stay alive.
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Independent Lens is America’s home for independent documentary film. Each week the award-winning series delivers engaging documentaries crafted by the industry’s boldest filmmakers. Independent Lens films have won 19 Emmy Awards, 16 Peabody Awards, five duPont-Columbia University Awards, and have received 10 Academy Award nominations. Independent Lens won the 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2022 International Documentary Association (IDA) Award for Best Continuing Series.
#Documentary #PBSShortDocs #IndianFood #SouthAsianCuisine #PBSFood #Dhaba
Featuring
Taaza
Peter Radjou
Sara Radjou
Nancy Redd
Amanda Redd
Host / Producer
Rupak Ginn
Director / Producer
Sami Khan
Producer
Vicky Lee
Executive Producers
Sally Jo Fifer
Lois Vossen
Executive in Charge of Production
Royd Chung
Senior Manager, Short-Form Content
Pamela Torno
Supervising Producer
Susan Cohen
Consulting Producer
Clare Chambers
Editor
Jaron Henrie-McCrea
Director of Photography
Matthew Garland
Original Music
Alam Khan
Camera Operator
Nicholas Galante
Assistant Camera
Brandon Regina
Sound
Michael Gassert
Colorist
Jeffrey Sousa
Online Editor / Assistant Editor
Joshua Wilmott
Production Manager
Ryan Miller
Archival Producer
Adrián Gutiérrez
Archival Researcher
Manuel Martínez
Editorial Consultant
Hena Ashraf
Archival Footage and Images
Billy Blume / Dreamstime
Dale Edleman / Dreamstime
Viktorfischer / Dreamstime
Jörg Beuge / Dreamstime
iStock.com / Golfcuk
Hindustan Times / Hindustan Times via Getty Images
The Catholic Virginian
iStock.com / Amit Bokde
iStock.com / Vijay Singh
satveer / POND5
iStock.com / MeloyanMedia
iStock.com / Ilja Enger-Tsizikov
iStock.com / gorodenkoff
iStock.com / MediaNation
Cacahuate, Ravikiran Rao, Nichalp / Wikimedia Commons
World Food Championships
mphillips007 / POND5
Roanoke Catholic School
Tommy Firebaugh
Independent Lens Short-Form Funding Provided By:
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting
Acton Family Giving
Ford Foundation
John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
Wyncote Foundation
National Endowment for the Arts
SPICE ROAD is a co-production of MIRAFILMS, LLC and ITVS, with funding provided by the CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING (CPB)
This program was produced by MiraFilms, LLC which is solely responsible for its content.
© 2023 MIRAFILMS LLC. All Rights Reserved.

[@rupakginn4048]

Had a blast exploring my connection to Indian, Black, and Southern culture - all through the lens of yummy food!

[@Damera00]

From Roanoke and enjoy PBS. 😊

[@michellewitt2071]

Great video!

[@ceooflonelinessinc.267]

Wherever I go indian people are extremly hard working, respectful and kind. God bless them. And their food is absolutely delicious. Their methods have inspired me for cooking in a lot of ways.

[@MsJustme1001]

It is such a blessing to see the loving and warm relationship between you and your mother in love.

[@jaharify]

Loved this episode! Great theme - two world class cultures coming together. The food is incredibly tempting.

[@CBD7069..]

My heart is full after watching this, very touching episode!

[@rupakginn4048]

I’m so glad to hear that! Thank you!

[@arvindhmani06]

Such a beautiful episode, Rupak! I was moved by the things your MIL said, about learning so much about a new culture. It's always a treasure to spend time with the elders in your family and I love that you showed your story during this series. I also absolutely loved that both you and Nancy ate your food with your hands! The right way to eat Indian food - and not just the finger food! Can't wait for the next one! - and absolutely do Texas soon!! 😀

[@rupakginn4048]

Thank you so much! I'll have to let my MIL know her words moved you - she is an incredible person. And Texas is definitely on the wish list for future episodes!

[@TheMughes]

This is wonderful and everyone in this is so beautiful! I don't have access to PBS, so it's amazing to be able to watch this.

[@sayimjustadreamer]

I'm addicted to this show. How many more episodes?

[@SamiKhan-bw4ej]

Two more coming at you in the next few weeks to hit your addiction!

[@rupakginn4048]

So pleased to hear you like it! Two more eps coming on July 20 and then Aug 3!

[@artistlovepeace]

Oh man Indian food is so wonderful. Gobi Manchurian. Yummy.

[@HerAeolianHarp]

Wonderful story, lovely family, and delectable-looking food!

[@rachelcreagan4647]

Another mouth watering episode! I loved the family stories as well. Well done!

[@rupakginn4048]

Thank you 🙏🏾 I find food is always more fun with family!

[@nicki_006]

4 mins. This already my fav video ❤

[@soniap.8113]

What a beautiful story. Beautiful family. Food looks bomb too!

[@rupakginn4048]

Thank you! The food was indeed bomb. :)

[@oliviamarcum3569]

It was a very great documentary and great food. Me personally being around the Indian community myself and being surrounded by the food my only suggestion would be can we please only focus on the great taste of India and stop making racial slurs. The main reason being is that there is too much of a divide as it is already in our nation and honestly, not all white people are privileged……. Thanks…

[@annasahlstrom6109]

I love this whole series! All the food looks delicious!

[@globalcitizenn]

Love to see couples be able to have intelligent conversations.. both couples are warm, joyful and lovely

[@ialrakis5173]

Loved the lady from the restaurant. so open, so joyful

[@skittles1624]

As a mexican woman, learning more about my husbands food and culture this episode was particularly cool! I cant wait to pass down an interesting mixture of recipes, from Pozole to Dosas to my children. Swasti!

[@u8myshorts]

You are an amazing human being !!

[@user-yg1zp8uk4d]

See why kids look cute🎉🎉

[@jadakiss228]

Heart warming 💜💜 and mouth watering 😋😋

[@rupakginn4048]

Thank you! Hope you were able to grab some Indian food after watching. :)

[@Reddylion]

Yummy....

[@user-yg1zp8uk4d]

Southern belle she is 😂😂😂

[@masstwitter4748]

Did I miss the southern fried chicken tikka masala - seems like an interesting combination

[@whaddoiknow6519]

Pani puri is an awful term for gol-gappa. It would be like saying tomato onion water for gazpacho or avocado puree for guacamole. The gol captures its roundness, and gappa tells you how you are supposed to have it in a single gulp. The hard and plosive g's evoke the way in which the gol-gappa explodes in your mouth with the burst of spice and flavor. The other term (I can't even say it) is flavorless, tasteless, odorless.

[@zorabright7646]

brown Indian people acting all white.

[@cornishpasty4344]

Do we consider Virginia, the south? I don't and I live here.

[@sayimjustadreamer]

Virginia was capital of the Confederacy. It’s definitely the South!

[@georgiasmith7615]

Depends on what part of Virginia. Northern Virginia around DC is Mid Atlantic. But I would say Roanoke is definitely part of the South.

[@georgiasmith7615]

@@sayimjustadreamerRichmond was the capitol of the Confederacy, but where I live in Alexandria there were Union forts so depends on what part of Virginia.

[@AshleyVayal]

Ummm absolutely it is the South. NoVa doesn’t count, culturally speaking.

[@milhouse14]

Indian Food has never really taken off in North America or Europe regardless of how much it is promoted. Westerners don’t like that stuff.

[@JanetBrown-px2jn]

That is not true,there are Indian restaurants in all the big cities,and more opening everyday.After English food,Indian is the most popular in the UK.Westerners most certainly like Indian food. Have you tried it?

[@vedicchant9981]

who cares anyway ?

[@AshleyVayal]

Wrong

[@rochelle2555]

It's popular in DFW Texas.

[@SurajGupta_3D]

Dude England, France is filled with Indian street food and 5 star restaurants, I mean chicken Tikka masala is officially the national dish of English instead of Fish and Chips....I smell something....is that average western wisdom?

[@Fister-kw5un]

Is the south deeply racist OR is Indian food shaping the south? You can’t have it both ways.

[@seethoj12]

literally read a book

[@amritapuntambekar386]

Beautifully shot. Wonderful narration, Rupak!!!❤️😊

[@nantahalacryptid8279]

Golly, it’s almost like it’s a nuanced region with a variety of cultural experiences both negative and positive😮

[@sushanthdk]

Confused whether this is a food program or a Christianity promotion program