An Unsung Regional Indian Cuisine Everyone Should Try | Spice Road

The ancestors are calling as actor Rupak Ginn (Royal Pains) heads to New Jersey to dine with actor/writer Sheetal Sheth (The World Unseen) at Mejwaani, a Maharashtrian restaurant, in honor of his mother's heritage. He then travels to his hometown of New York for a mom-cooked meal-and to ask his parents some pressing questions.
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#PBSShortDocs #IndianFood #SouthAsianCuisine #PBSFood #Maharashtra
Featuring
Mejwaani
Nishith Sheth
Supriya N. Sheth
Mejwaani artwork by Medha Atre-Kulkarni
Sheetal Sheth
Jahar Bhattacharya
Sunita Bhattacharya
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
Carl Sylvester
Periscope Film
BlackBoxGuild / POND5
subrato / POND5
Aerogram / POND5
Giles_ / POND5
GreenTravelStory / POND5
Kanha Krishna
Suresh Takkella
Barefoot Books
Special Thanks
Yew Lee
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]

So fun diving into my mother’s native cuisine - both at a fantastic restaurant and at home! Glad to feature the iconic mishti (sweet) of my dad’s people too. 😋

[@RheaC-mz7qv]

So very tender watching you share the kitchen with your Mom + the memories at the table with your parents. Thank you!

[@VARMOT123]

Telugu cuisine along with deccani cuisine is far superior. Why do you put aloo potatoes in everything ?

[@rohitingle9477]

Fyi Pakora is not marathi word for fritters it's bhajji

[@SamiKhan-bw4ej]

Mejwaani has quickly become one of my favorite Indian restaurants in the United States. Especially proud of this episode. Supriya, Nish, Sheetal, and Rupak's parents were so generous and vulnerable. And Rupak, our camera team, editor, and crew absolutely killed it. We couldn't capture it on camera but Mejwaani's Pomfret is spectacular and took me back to nights spent in Juhu Beach in Mumbai. Everyone needs to go to Mejwaani to try it for themselves!

[@sayimjustadreamer]

Your mother is a beautiful woman with a beautiful soul. Thank you for sharing her with us.

[@rupakginn4048]

Thank you! I feel so fortunate to have been raised by her - trying my best to follow her example.

[@TheNinnyfee]

I would love a cookbook from your mom, she has such wonderful energy and expertise. ❤❤❤ We really have to bow to so many of our mothers who made us survive, fed us, and were just taken for granted and complained to by the rest of the family. 😢 While communities wouldn't have survived without them. They deserve so much praise and love for what they did. ❤❤❤

[@ameynathe4322]

I am Maharashtrian from Pune, it felt soo good to see this :)

[@cooklikeanaunty]

This is my favorite episode of the series! Thanks for talking about the diversity of Indian food! It's especially interesting hearing from Rupak's parents from the opposite coasts of India.

[@striker44]

Camera angles, the stories, the people, the narrative, the food all coming together.

[@royallytamara]

I truly enjoy this series! Being a Southeastasian, it's amazing to know about other cuisine that is tad bit different with my culture.

[@AnandDharan-tf1jo]

I love this series! Also love seeing the influences of different regions of India on one another. I’m US-born of Tamil origin, but some of my family lives in Bangalore, so I developed a taste as a kid for puran poli, which we called Obbattu. And of course “modak” is related to Kozhukkattai, which I strongly associate with Vinayaka Chaturthi and Sankata Hara Chaturthi.

[@catanduva33]

What an utterly fantastic host, and great storytelling.

[@Ligaya1980]

What a lovely series 💚🌟

[@rupakginn4048]

Thank you!! Much appreciated!

[@rachelcreagan4647]

Might be my favorite episode yet!!

[@TPark-rf3lt]

OMG SHEETAL!!! 😍😍😍 Shes one of my favorite actors!!!! awesome episode!

[@shwetajadhav1850]

Jai Maharashtra!

[@samrose7847]

What a beautiful and educational episode! Hope I can visit this restaurant and try one day!

[@rupakginn4048]

Thank you! I really hope you get to dine at Mejwaani someday.

[@DeepSaha-z6j]

Mayer haater raana = priceless ❤

[@cocopen3415]

Awesome representation. Thank you

[@cinevasi]

Reminds me of the Martin Scorsese documentary Italianamerican

[@parker4406]

Lovely food and great company! Few questions as a maharashtrian I am curious whether you have tried learning Marathi as your mother tongue versus the common speak in the US? Did you face any challenges as a billingual?

[@rupakginn4048]

Hi! I so want to learn Marathi - such a beautiful language with rich traditions. I do speak Bangla and Hindi, and so far no challenges on that front - only the joy of connection. 😊

[@briansmith8629]

New to this channel and I absolutely love this dude!!!!

[@amoghavarshanripatunga]

8:25 Honestly though, why was this part needed? What did it contribute to a video about Indian/Maharashtrian food? Does the PBS show videos of oppression of women and terrorists training when making a video about Middle Eastern cuisine? 🤔 I'm really curious

[@RTAV108]

It was totally uncalled for, and the politician they showed in bad light is actually the second most loved leader in India who is UP chief minister. Though I loved the episode and wanted to hit Like button, especially being a Puneite, this piece killed my appetite to watch further. Playing minority victim card wins browny points abroad too I guess, but the minority he referred to in that misleading piece is the one that oppressed us for last 10 centuries even before the British.

[@whaddoiknow6519]

The Modak and the sweet parantha-like thing seem OK enough. But Maharashtra has also given the world pav bhaji, which has to be one of the world's greatest inventions. Just the pav alone -- how do get it to taste like puffed cardboard?

[@lucycooper9149]

I wonder if I can find this food in the UK? Must be something on the curry mile...

[@kaaa-xyz]

Beautiful post!

[@TheLadyE83]

As someone born and raised in Edison I am curious when the town was “down on its luck”? That is 100% a false narrative. Also, showing images of police insinuates that Edison previously had an issue with crime. I understand you want to celebrate the contributions of Southeast Asians to Edison Township and that is wonderful but I wouldn’t start with false information to build a more exciting story.

[@offencebestdefence500]

Don't worry they are giving everyone doses of Indian politics seen with the eyes of propogandist of the west... This show is crawling towards a LIBERAL FOOD SHOW with the twist or TADKA of PROPOGANDA

[@gingertoast6216]

👍👍👍

[@incubusk8r]

Don't mix food and politics, if you do please present it the right context. Narrative: "Minority (read: Muslim) neighbourhoods targeted for demolition". Like one day a man woke up and thought of demolishing MUSLIM houses. Reality: Riots happennd, a minister chooses to punish rioters (who burn down public property, burn shops and loot them which the govt has to compensate). He checks all the 'illegal' constructed houses only of the rioters, that were looked over since several years, and then destroyed illegal constructions. WHICH INCLUDED HINDU HOUSES AND SHOP. Is it right to demolish homes of rioters? NO, because a family can't be punished for the the act of one or two persons. Is it right to demolish illegal constructions, that have been sent many notices in the past several years? So what have we learnt AS COMPARED TO WHAT WAS SAID.: 1: BOTH HINDU AND MUSLIMS HOUSES HAVE BEEN BULLDOSED (NOT JUST "MINORITIES") 2: THE HOUSES THAT WERE DEMOLISHED WERE ILLEGAL CONSTRUCTIONS, THERE WERE WARNED BY THE JUDICIARY THROUGH LEGAL NOTICES. 3: THE DRASTIC ACTION HAS MADE THE STATE FAR SAFER FOR PEOPLE THAT IT EVER WAS. NOT SAYING ITS 100% SAFE BUT FAR SAFER THAT BEFORE BECAUSE NOW THERE IS A COST TO VIOLENCE. You might agree or disagree with the actions, but now you have the whole picture to make your own judgement.

[@offencebestdefence500]

Thank you for addressing this ...just When everything was flowing beautifully they had to throw trash in the river...( Propoganda) Just like they don't know Bharats food ...they don't know it's politics.. Perhaps this is the only way THE BROWNS will be relevant in Hollywood...by succumbing to Propoganda n toeing their line.. Y really Y Y???? PLEASE JUST TALK ABOUT FOOOOOOD

[@orionpacks]

we both know that’s not ture, whole world knows what u cow worshipers are

[@ex.hindu.now.atheist]

@incubusk8r 'soft-version' saffron sanghtard spotted.

[@incubusk8r]

@@ex.hindu.now.atheist WHATEVER I HAVE SAID IS IT FACTUAL OR NOT? Does facts coming from sanghi becomes a lie. LOL

[@ex.hindu.now.atheist]

@@incubusk8r "WHATEVER I HAVE SAID IS IT FACTUAL OR [...] from sanghi becomes a lie. LOL" ==================================== IF AT ALL facts come from sanghtards, those facts are twisted and distorted INTENTIONALLY in order to suit the sanghtards' convenience-that is why the claims of sanghtards of all colours need to be taken with LOADS of salt.

[@madanbakhshi4863]

You are wrong about the bull dozers . Please research more before you make wrong comments about a matter which is u know. To you

[@angelalebeaux4134]

Homie out here talking with his mouth full, spitting food all over people 😔

[@VARMOT123]

Telugu cuisine combined with deccani cuisine towers over every other indian cuisine and has a unesco gastronomy tag . Bengali cuisine and marathi literally put aloo/potatoes in everything

[@pussyeater69]

Word!

[@Kingdia97]

Naa my guy mallu cuisine on top.

[@RG-un2vl]

Indian states were formed post independence…they did not exist under British rule nor were they brought together by them.Also very disconcerting to see culinary programs casually mixed with half baked politics.But then again it’s PBS

[@Fister-kw5un]

No diversity at that restaurant. I like restaurants that hire everyone.

[@anonymouslyopinionated656]

I like restaurants that deliver the best food experience.

[@offencebestdefence500]

​@@anonymouslyopinionated656how come no AFFIRMATIVE ACTION in food business...as if quality needs to be maintained only this this business but not elsewhere

[@philoctetes_wordsworth]

This was really nice. A lovely love letter to your parents, and amazing looking food! I believe that Indian cuisines are my favorite. Honestly, I still dream dishes served at a birthday feast for Lord Krishna, 30 years ago. Thank you for this.👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🥰❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥🇺🇸🌸

[@rupakginn4048]

So glad you enjoyed it! Yeah, it was special to get to do it with my folks. Hope you get a chance to check out Mejwaani sometime if you ever make it out to NJ!

[@sushanthdk]

Your narrative on the bulldozer smacks of lack of knowledge on the subject.

[@bitch_latte]

Mejwaani forever!