Our trip to Taj Mahal imports gave me a glimpse of everyday Indian culture. I had no expectations going in because I had no idea about what we were walking into. We stepped into the building and were greeted by huge bags of rice, and other dried foods. We dispersed and kept moving into the different aisles. There was everything from a wall of jarred pickled foods, to hot sauces, jewelry, statues both big and small, and essentially anything you might need. I had no prior exposure to Indian cuisine or culture whatsoever, and Taj Mahal imports gave me a great idea of both. As our awe of the array of goods wore off, I finally noticed the smell originating from the chaat café. I couldn’t really describe what the smell was exactly, I just knew there was a plethora of spices being used by the two women preparing the food. We all made our way to the café and looked at the menu above. Not knowing what was in each dish, I ordered the Samosa chaat because a few people before had done the same. I ordered the woman taking orders asked me, “mild, medium, or hot?” I hesitated, because I had heard that Indian dishes tended to be on the spicier side of the spectrum. But, as a fan of spicy food I decided to go with hot. She looked back at me, with a seemingly surprised look on her face. I thought I was in for an unbearably spicy dish that I would not be able to finish, and I was nervous. The chaat was served to me and I waited a while to taste it, not wanting to embarrass myself in front of the chef. But, the dish was more than manageable, and was extremely flavorful for an entirely vegetarian dish. I’m sure the server took it easy on me and easily could have ruined my taste buds, and possibly my day if she had served a completely authentically spicy Indian dish. I was by no means underhwhelmed by the Samosa chaat, however. I was pleasantly surprised by the portion for the price we paid, and by the flavor the food had. The combination of hot and cold and crunchy and soft was a completely new experience to me. I had considered myself an adventurous eater previously, and I would absolutely recommend chaat to people of all tastes to try a dish from a chaat café. There are plenty of different foods to try and I’m certain there is something for everyone on the menu. I now believe you cannot call yourself an experienced or adventurous eater if you have not had authentic chaat food. The spices and mixtures of textures and temperatures were unlike anything I have had the pleasure of consuming. I am now open to eating at more Indian cuisine establishments, and I am eager to try more dishes on the menu next time I find myself in a café or restaurant.