Khana Khazana Indian cuisine served to 400 at Michigan Tech

By Michele Bourdieu

Sahil Thakkar, right, and Komal Tayal, Khana Khazana chefs, serve their Indian specialties to Michigan Tech alumnus and visitor Chuck Brumleve during the Khana Khazana lunchtime meal today, Dec. 3, in the Michigan Tech Memorial Union Food Court. In the background is another student chef, Rochelle Prescott. Click on photos for larger versions. (Photos by Keweenaw Now)*

HOUGHTON -- Today's Khana Khazana (Hindi for Food Treasure) lunch, featuring Indian cuisine prepared by Indian students Sahil Thakkar and Komal Tayal, was a great success.

"We served about 400 people," Thakkar said.

Today's menu included a hot and spicy vegetarian dish, Pav Bhaji, by Sahil Thakkar; Phada Lapsi, a delicious sweet dish made with cracked wheat, by Sahil Thakkar; a spiced Chai Tea, by Sahil Thakkar; and Chicken Tandoori, a classic Indian chicken dish, by Komal Tayal.

Indian chefs Sahil Thakkar and Komal Tayal, serving, foreground, are assisted by student chefs, back row from left, Rochelle Prescott, USA; Chun Zheng, China; Nassim Sabanfar, Iran; Rui Pan, China; and Sara Fernandez, Spain.

Thakkar, a Michigan Tech student in electrical engineering technology, is the co-founder, along with Safayat Alam of Bangladesh, of the Khana Khazana program of international cuisine served on Fridays at lunchtime in the Memorial Union Food Court on the Michigan Tech University campus. The program began in the spring semester of 2010.

The weekly series of international lunches kicked off this semester on Sept. 17 with Pakistani cuisine. Half the proceeds of that meal went to benefit flood victims in Pakistan. Last spring two Haitian benefit lunches cooked by international students raised $1,024 for Haitian earthquake victims' relief. One half of the lunch proceeds were donated to the Bush-Clinton Relief Fund.

Khana Khazana is a collaboration of Michigan Tech International Students and Michigan Tech Dining Services. The lunches are very reasonably priced and open to the public.

* Editor's Note: Setting it straight: We regret the error in stating this was the last Khana Khazana lunch of the semester. Another Khana Khazana lunch -- with Indian and Thai cuisine -- will be served on Friday, Dec. 10. These international lunches will resume in the Spring semester in January, 2011.