Food+Drink

Food of India

filling Eau Claire’s Indian food void from a spot in Oakwood Mall

Laura Lash |

As the chill sets in prematurely around town, consider warming up with the spices and sauces of Eastern Indian food. Using the Chipotle model of good-food-fast (not fast-food), Harpreet Singh and Ryan Rubenzer have opened Food of India right on the elbow of the food court in Oakwood Mall. Chef Dada, a Nepalese man with 30 years cooking experience, is doing all the traditional Indian foods minus the heat; they've nicknamed it “Midwest Friendly.” To add heat to your meal, choose from one of the homemade sauces, taking your meal from mild to medium or hot intensity. Novice diners can ask for free samples of any offering. If you’re new to Indian food, try the Naan (bread) or the Samosa, a dense, fried, pyramid-shaped pastry with vegetable filling. Hormone-free Chicken Curry or Tandori Chicken are popular with curious patrons as well. The experienced diner would order the Chana Saag, spinach with chickpeas; Rubenezer hinted this is the advanced choice because of its green and pureed consistency. The Chicken Kebab, pulled chicken with veggies in Tandori spices, is a creative twist on a family favorite. Food of India intends to park its food truck at local events next year.