| food is well known in Western countries for its | | | | can be found in restaurants and home kitchens in |
| great use of spices and its delicious sauces. Curry | | | | India, though they are also reflective of Indian |
| and lentil based dishes are a couple of the popular | | | | food that is served across the world. One of the |
| menu items on Indian restaurants that exist in the | | | | main distinctions is the use of vegetables. In India |
| United States, and it is also a standard association | | | | this can be extremely regionally based as they |
| to this genre of food. However, once the same | | | | use a lot of vegetables in their cooking and they |
| curry consumer visits India and experiences some | | | | typically use what grows near them. This would |
| of the great cuisine offered in the country's | | | | be affected by restaurants that are based in |
| restaurants they are often surprised by what | | | | other countries. |
| they find. | | | | Another common aspect of Indian food that is |
| One of the interesting aspects of Indian food is | | | | typically unique to it is the extent of |
| that it is extremely relevant to the culture. Much | | | | vegetarianism that is found throughout the |
| of the country's cultural evolution and | | | | country. And while many restaurants in the |
| development is reflected in its cuisine. This makes | | | | western part of the world that serve Indian food |
| dining in the country much more of a cultural | | | | also have a large selection of vegetarian items, |
| experience than a simple hunger fulfillment | | | | most of these establishments also have a large |
| opportunity. And this is also one of the reasons | | | | selection of meat based dishes. There is generally |
| why many world travelers express the opinion | | | | a much larger representation of meat based |
| that they gain a perspective on local culture by | | | | dishes served in restaurants in western countries |
| sampling the food that are based there. Many | | | | than what is found in restaurants in India. This is |
| people insist on eating only at locally owned | | | | another, and frequently more pronounced |
| restaurants and diners when they travel and using | | | | variation in Indian food found in the country and |
| India as the perfect example, it truly can be a | | | | around the world. Some of the staple Indian food |
| great way to become familiar with a particular | | | | ingredients are rice, vegetables and spices. |
| culture. | | | | Legumes are also a standard element and one of |
| Some of the standard aspects of Indian cuisine | | | | the most important. |