US, Nov. 2 -- My friends and relatives in India often ask me about the key differences I see between American and Indian cultures. My short answer: American culture is bold but bland, while Indian culture is subtle and spicy.

The words "bland" and "spicy" apply literally to food. My first American meal consisted of salad, pork chop, and baked potato. I enjoyed it, but these food items did not even involve any cooking. Salad was a bunch of lettuce leaves with some "dressing"; meat and potatoes were baked in an oven, seasoned with salt, pepper and butter.

Even with all the recent craze about "Vegan" diets, Americans prefer eating vegetables boiled, roasted, grilled, sauteed, if not raw; healthy for sure, but I miss my mother's cooking o...