Hi! I am Vidya, a journalist with an avid interest in food and its intersections with identity, community, culture and migration.
As a roving writer of sorts, I have reported from India, Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates and the Philippines. I have also edited magazines and digital media publications telling nuanced stories about food, cities and culture at large.
I enjoy the challenge of telling stories with depth, and bring an experienced eye to editing. Having lived in several places, I also have a seasoned hold on international dining trends. Apart from food, I have written about travel, migration, fashion, books and more.
I am open to article commissions, editing work, creative collaborations and book projects.
Published in:
My Services
Food & Culture Journalism
My work spans reportage, restaurant reviews, travel essays and longform cultural writing. As an experienced editor and copy editor, I also help chisel stories into their most compelling form.
Editorial Consultancy
With two decades of experience in building editorial products and leading cross-cultural teams across South Asia, the UAE and the US, I offer consultancy to international media startups and book projects.
Creative Collaborations
I collaborate with restaurants, brands, and cultural organizations on projects that explore food, travel, and identity. This ranges from menu development and storytelling for hospitality ventures to cultural insight and strategy for brands exploring South Asian markets.
RASA
In 2022, I launched RASA (‘quintessence’ in Sanskrit), the first print magazine dedicated exclusively to South Asian foodways to be published in the United States. The debut issue featured stories from India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal, brought to life by writers, photographers and illustrators from around the world. RASA was a visionary product that celebrated the complexity and diversity of South Asian food.
FOOD & MIGRATION
Since 2011, I have built a body of work exploring the intersection of food and migration. From colonial foodways and the journeys of today’s street food vendors to the stories of refugees finding a foothold through food, my writing and podcast appearances approach this critical issue with empathy and dignity.
ACADEMIC RESEARCH
I have written and presented academic papers at conferences around the world, including the City Food workshop at New York University and the Oxford Food Symposium, conducted at St Catherine’s College in Oxford, UK.
Portfolio
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![https://roadsandkingdoms.com/2014/history-baked-in-banana-leaf/]()
History Baked In Banana Leaf
Roads & Kingdoms
Dec 16, 2014 -
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Ni Hao, Colombo
Roads & Kingdoms
June 18, 2015 -
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Buildings Rise And Fall, But Breakfast Is Forever
Roads & Kingdoms
November 24, 2015 -
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Cookbook Tells The Story Of Sri Lanka’s Civil War Through Food
NPR’s The Salt
October 9, 2016 -
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Sri Lanka’s ‘Kithul’ Palm Syrup: An Ancient Sweetener In Need Of Saving
NPR’s The Salt
January 26, 2017 -
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The Man Behind India’s Favourite Snack Foods
Saveur
October 27, 2017 -
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A Region-by-Region Guide To Indian Condiments
Saveur
July 20, 2018
*Photo by chiranjeeb mitra on Unsplash -
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What a meeting with Anthony Bourdain taught an Indian food writer in Sri Lanka
Scroll.in
June 11, 2018 -
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Your Guide to Sri Lankan Cuisine
CNN’s Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown
October 25, 2017 -
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Muscle Memories from Mumbai
Goya Journal
June 25, 2017 -
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I’ll Have What She’s Having
Paper Planes
September 15, 2018 -
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The Ammachi Canteens of Sri Lanka: A Unique Model of Socio-Economic Development
Goya Journal
January 2, 2020 -
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Food Can Help You Feel Rooted, Wherever You Go
Conde Nast Traveller India
Feb 11, 2020 -
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On Knafeh And A Vision Of The World Without Borders
Literary Hub
January 6, 2020 -
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Asafoetida’s Lingering Legacy Goes Beyond Aroma
Whetstone Media
August 19, 2022 -
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Through Chai, Searching For A Truer Version of Dubai
Vittles
Feb 01, 2021 -
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Chennai’s Been Cooking, While You Weren’t Looking
Conde Nast Traveller India
March 3, 2025 -
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The Perfect Day In Colombo
CNN’s Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown
October 26, 2017 -
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Halfway Home
adda, Commonwealth Foundation magazine
January 19, 2017 -
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How The Musical Choon Paan Vans of Sri Lanka Became An Unlikely Symbol of Hope
Conde Nast Traveller US
August 23, 2023 -
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Podcast: Migrant Cuisine In The Expat City
Instant Coffee Podcast, LSE Middle East Centre
2021 -
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Podcast: Sri Lanka Protests Over Food Shortages
Whetstone Audio Dispatch, Whetstone Media
May 12, 2022 -
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Podcast: How Indian Food Became Frustratingly Hip
Bad Table Manners, Whetstone Media
February 24, 2022 -
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Taxonomy of the South Asian Toastie
Vittles
Oct 21, 2024
