Ingredient appreciation — what makes Tandoori Chicken special

What sets Tandoori Chicken apart is the handling of whole spices. In lesser versions this is treated as a background note. Here it's central and the tangy and vibrant result shows it. I've started buying it to cook with at home after this experience.

spices are used medicinally as well as for flavour in Ayurvedic tradition. The a dhaba roadside restaurant atmosphere was right for this kind of food. I had chai tea as recommended and it matched well. If you want to understand what makes this cuisine distinctive, Tandoori Chicken is the place to start.