Welcome. I am so glad you’re here!!

My name is Not Just Paastha, and food has always been more than sustenance to me. It has been a lens through which I have explored my identity, culture, place in the world, and the world itself. From growing up rolling rotis with my mother and celebrating diwalis gathered around the table, to witnessing how political and economic forces determine who gets to eat well (locally and globally), to seeing the way food intersects with performance, community, and the body, I have found food to be a foundational component to our lives and livelihood.

Not Just Paastha (NJP) started in fall 2021 as a way for me to explore food in New York City, but over time has become something much more than that. Here, you’ll find my favorite meals and restaurant experiences (along with the people I share them with), personal stories, recipes, and reflections on access and relationships with food. You'll also find the food and culture-centered experiences I have been lucky enough to create for peers and the communities around me (most recently, a dumpling crawl in lower Manhattan) as a way to explore the expansive themes food opens up.

So stay awhile, grab a snack, and follow along on Instagram @notjustpaastha. And as always, feel free to reach out with questions, thoughts, recommendations, or just to say hi. 🙂