Do you like Indian food?

[eppur_se_muova]

12. Ras malai is my favorite dessert. Kheer I make myself.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Indian_sweets_and_desserts

I've eaten in Indian restaurants in many US cities, and there is significant variation -- not just reflecting different Indian cuisines, but variations in what's popular locally and (often a limiting factor) what ingredients are available locally, or affordable if imported. Of course you get the best variety and (usually) best restaurants in large cities, especially port cities, but you can be surprised at just how good the Indian restaurants are in some small towns. And of course, good chefs are where you find them -- even in small towns in Georgia and West Virginia.

I eat vegetarian whenever I'm in an Indian restaurant, because there's no better place for it. Malai kofta is my favorite dish. Of course most Americans look for the meat dishes first, and you have to explain to them why a restaurant run by Hindus doesn't feature big fat steaks ... ... then they fill up on tandoori chicken and don't try any of the other delicious dishes because, well, there's no meat in them. So it's tandoori chicken and a (very Western-style) salad for them, plus maybe sour and dessert.

American restaurants generally don't serve good seafood unless they're REALLY close to the coast -- something about the economics of our supply chains must be different. Or maybe it's just lack of established tradition. Favoring vegetarian dishes myself, I don't really miss it -- though if someone serves me a good shrimp or fish dish I don't turn it down.