EVENT PROTOCOL & FAQs
Join us for a special and inspiring evening that celebrates the launch of the playful, informative, and utterly original cookbook by Auyon Mukharji (Darlingside) and Jyoti Mukharji (Auyon’s mother).
Heartland Masala pairs 99 recipes from Indian cooking instructor, Jyoti Mukharji with cultural and historical essays by Auyon Mukharji for an effervescent celebration of Indian cuisine and the American immigrant experience.
Each attendee will leave with one of four specially curated spice jars that are talked about during the evening.
The discussion will be moderated by Chef Keith Sarasin who holds a special passion and knowledge of Indian history, culture, and cuisine that drives his own take on dishes.
ABOUT HEARTLAND MASALA
Filled with rich storytelling, stunning visuals, and a blend of modern and traditional dishes, this book is both a heartfelt portrait of one Midwestern family and a practical guide to cooking incredible Indian meals at home.
Here’s what makes Heartland Masala special:
• Delicious, Accessible Recipes — 99 carefully tested dishes bring Indian flavors into your kitchen, with ingredients and methods tailored for American home cooks.
• Cultural Essays & Family Stories — Fresh, insightful, and often humorous essays explore the immigrant cooking philosophy, the Mukharjis’ mother-son dynamic, and the many quirks of Indian culinary history.
• Illustrations & Stunning Photography — A 32-page full-color photo insert plus original art make this a gorgeous centerpiece for your kitchen or coffee table.
• Step-by-Step Guidance — Jyoti and Auyon include illustrations that demystify complex techniques, along with spice shopping tips to build confidence and skill.
A feast for culturally curious readers and adventurous cooks alike, Heartland Masala is unlike any Indian cookbook you’ve seen before.
ABOUT JYOTI MUKHARJI
Jyoti Mukharji is a chef, teacher, and retired physician. She immigrated to the US from India in the late 1970s, and she began teaching weekly Indian cooking classes out of her home in Prairie Village, KS in 2010. Jyoti has since welcomed several thousand students into her kitchen, and her writing and teaching have been celebrated in press and radio outlets across the Midwest. Jyoti's team includes her husband Jhulan (art director), her eldest son Arnob (grocery shopping deputy), her middle son Auyon (musical guest), and her youngest son Aroop (copy editor).
ABOUT AUYON MUKHARJI
Auyon Mukharji is a musician, writer, and culinary historian who spends most of his time thinking about food. He studied biology at Williams College and was awarded a Watson Fellowship in 2007 to study self-expression in folk music. Since 2009, Auyon has toured with, and cooked for, the acclaimed indie-folk band Darlingside. He otherwise finds time to work in and around kitchens (and farms) in both his hometown of Kansas City and his adopted state-of-residence of Massachusetts.
ABOUT KEITH SARASIN
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Over the past two decades, Keith has worn many hats in the kitchen, line cook, executive chef, educator, and author. I began my culinary career in New Hampshire, working in traditional restaurants where precision and pressure ruled the day. But it wasn’t until he launched The Farmers Dinner, a series of farm-to-table pop-ups, that Sarasin started to understand food as something far deeper: a bridge between people, memory, and place.
That shift led him away from just cooking and toward storytelling. Keith became obsessed with how food shapes identity, and no cuisine held more richness, complexity, and soul than Indian food. What began as a personal exploration quickly became a lifelong pursuit.
Sarasin has traveled through India, studied with regional cooks, partnered with food historians, and written several cookbooks, including Meat: The Ultimate Cookbook, Jerky: The Essential Cookbook, The Farmers Dinner Cookbook, and his latest and most personal project, The Soul of Spice. His work now focuses on sharing the history, diversity, and untold stories of Indian cuisine through books, film, pop-up dinners, and his YouTube channel.