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Ask Rahul! Plates & Places
Ask Rahul! Plates & Places is a food and hospitality storytelling podcast where chef and food‑business leader Rahul Shrivastava explores how different kinds of stays create memorable eating experiences. From hotels and restaurants to villas, forts, homestays and hostels, each episode focuses on one place, one plate, and the story behind it.
You’ll hear how menus are designed, buffets are planned, and local dishes are turned into signature experiences—plus simple ideas you can use to improve your own property, brand or travels. Whether you’re a hospitality professional, a culinary student, a stay owner, or a curious traveller who loves food, Plates & Places gives you warm stories, practical insights and a fresh way to look at the tables you sit at.
Ask Rahul! Plates & Places
#7 - Tandoor Magic: Fire Without Fear
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Before we light up today’s fire, let’s acknowledge three books that keep the tandoor’s story alive outside the oven.
Ranjit Rai’s Tandoor: The Great Indian Barbecue — the technical bible of heat, meat, and method.
Anshuman Sharma’s Tandoor: A Journey Through Time — the cultural bridge linking ancient flames to modern kitchens.
And K. T. Achaya’s Indian Food: A Historical Companion — the wide‑angle lens that reminds us every flame carries history.
Welcome to Episode 7 of Season 1 of the Culinary Challenge Show.
I’m Rahul Shrivastava — a chef who’s spent half his career chasing flames and the other half learning not to flinch from them.
Each burn mark tells a story: part curiosity, part courage, and a little bit of obsession with perfect char.
Every Indian kitchen dreams of fire.
The hiss of naan against clay, the roar of coals, the perfume of charred meat — the tandoor isn’t just cooking; it’s theatre.
Miss the timing or the heat, and your naan goes limp instead of blistered. Nail it, and you capture centuries of smoky history in a single bite.
Today, this episode will show you how to recreate that clay‑oven drama in a modern kitchen — no mud cylinder required, just science, rhythm, and nerve.
Food Issues Solved!