Hyderabad, July 3 -- To define the culinary scene of Hyderabad through its biryani handi or seasonal haleem is to tell only half the story.

Yes, these dishes are iconic. But the rhythm of the city is more measured in the gentle, daily clink of a porcelain saucer against a cup of Irani chai at 6 pm. And in that landscape, you cannot talk about tea without talking about the baked goods.

Specifically, the iconic, crumbly, sweet and salty Osmania biscuit or a savoury egg puff with a laminated thousand-layer crust that shatters perfectly upon the first bite. They are the ultimate cultural anchors that have defined generations of teatime gossip.

But what do you do when life, career or family takes you thousands of miles away to a country whe...