I wasn’t sure I could survive the 15 hour flight from Newark to Delhi, India – in coach, no less!! But I did and I’m so glad I took advantage of this trip to explore and appreciate the food and culture of the Indian people. I was immediately struck by how warm and friendly everyone was and was equally struck at the visible poverty that was prevalent throughout the city. It brought to mind the movie, Slumdog Millionaire. Despite that, there was also beauty everywhere, both in it’s people and it’s culture. Everywhere I went, the children, women and men dressed in their every day saris and tunics dotted the city with vivid and vibrant colors. It was more like watching a fashion show spread out over the entire city.
Delhi is divided by the North and South, the North being Old Delhi and the South being New Delhi, the capital of India. We stayed at the Picadilly Hotel in New Delhi. The 5 star hotel stood in contrast to the homeless in the street right in front of the hotel. This was something that was very difficult for me to handle. It was especially hard when children were involved. But I adjusted as best I could knowing that I was in another country and I did not have the control to change much in a short visit so I held on to my heart and took in the sites and foods of the city.
Culturally, Delhi is made up of a blend of traditional and cosmopolitan styles. Throughout the city you will find many museums, historic forts, libraries, gardens, monuments, places of worship and auditoriums. There is an annual film festival in Delhi and numerous fairs and festivals occur throughout the year, especially from various religious groups. Most of the citizens of Delhi are Hindu. Second to Hindu is Adherents of Islam followed by Sikhs, Jains, Christians and Buddhists. One of the most impressive religious edifices I visited was Akshardham Temple, the largest Hindu temple in the world. Another attraction that is a must to see was the Mughal Gardens.
Indian food was never a favorite of mine nor a go-to must in the states until my visit to India. Here I learned and tasted the array of delectable spices, food that is a blend of different cuisines. From the tantalizing street foods to the smorgasbord of restaurants, you can’t deny the rich spice-spiked food of India. I had my fill of curries, kabobs, stews, tandoori-grilled chicken, rices and the sweet fruit-enhanced desserts. I couldn’t get enough of the naan served warm and buttery. Two of my favorite restaurant foods were murg makhani (butter chicken) and lal shorve vala murgh (chicken in a spicy red sauce).  Butter chicken is braised chicken in a velvety tomato sauce made with butter and heavy cream and is seasoned well with garam masala. The chicken in spicy red sauce was probably my all time favorite as I enjoy spicy heat in my food. This is like a stew with potatoes, seasoned with tomato, tumeric, cumin, garlic and ginger.
There was also an abundance of street foods throughout Delhi. The one that captivated me the most was Chaat. 
It is simply a potato stuffed treat served with a selection of different delicious sauces and toppings. There are many different types of chaat, but they all contain potato, the main ingredient. Potato is a common ingredient in many of the street foods.
As in most cities around the world, food markets are a big attraction and Delhi was no exception. My visit to the INA Market (Indian National Airways) was the highlight of my visit. It is the food bazaar of Delhi. You can stroll through dozens of vendors selling everything from gifts to food to clothing to liquor.
On the food side, you can relish on selections from vegetables, seafood, meat, fresh fruits, spices, wine and liquor, to name a few. Besides their local foods, vendors import other staples like pasta from Europe, noodles from Korea, South-East Asia, and Japan, and dates, dried fruits and nuts from Middle East Asia. 
Seafood is also sold in the market. Along with fresh vegetables and fruits, you can buy fresh meat. In addition to food products, there is a huge range of grocery items and decorative items sold at the market as well as chocolates and perfumes. Reportedly, the INA Market is the only market place in Delhi where you can purchase fresh vegetables and fresh seafood.
It’s also impressive that at this market you can find shopkeepers speaking in French, German and Japanese, along with English and Hindi. I love exploring markets in different cities. There is always something you have never seen, foods you have never tasted and new ideas and experiences to be had. My only lament when visiting markets is that I can’t take any of the foods back home with me. If you’re ever in Delhi, and especially if you are a foodie, don’t miss INA Market.