We’ve partnered with award-winning Indian chef Surbhi Sahni and her women-owned restaurant Tagmo for a delicious Indian curry that’s perfect for celebrating the vibrant flavors of Asian Heritage Month. Thanks to Chef Sahni, you’ll learn to make this simple, satisfying South Asian dish right in your own kitchen—a fantastic vegan dinner idea for any night. Cashew and pea-studded basmati rice makes a fragrant bed for a tomato-y mushroom and potato coconut curry with as much (or as little) heat as you like.

Chef Surbhi Sahni runs Tagmo, a tony, Michelin-listed restaurant, and bar – which is also a mithai shop, at New York City’s historic Seaport District, which she opened in 2021.  But Sahni, a food & beverages entrepreneur with two decades of professional culinary experience; who has been part of the teams at some of Manhattan's well-known upscale Indian restaurants including Amma,

Tagmo (which in Bhutanese means tigress, the symbol of female strength across South Asia) is both chef Surbhi Sahni’s labor of love and a commitment to employing women of color, with a menu, based on “regional homestyle food and specialty sweets from across India that tell our stories of migration, cultural exchange and self-determination in the diaspora.” It’s innovative, beautifully presented and has levels of spices that linger.

During the week of Diwali, the streets of New Delhi pulse with excitement. Rows of glowing lanterns swing playfully above people shopping at food stalls, where vendors stuff newspaper cones with crispy chaat and fry lacy swirls of batter with renewed zeal. After days of scrubbing and dusting, people open the doors of their homes for holiday parties, out-of-town guests and drop-in visits from neighbors bearing gifts.

When fall hits, South Asians worldwide start gearing up for Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights. The five-day festival is over 2,500 years old and is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists. This year Diwali will take place on October 24—the holiday generally falls between October and November, depending on the lunar calendar—and includes an abundance of food and sweets, dancing, and family gatherings to honor the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness.

An immigrant from India, Chef Surbhi Sahni recently turned her confection company into a New York restaurant celebrating her heritage and other women of color within the food world. Michelle Miller speaks to Sahni about her philosophy and kitchen skills.

Equity and Opportunity shines a spotlight on Tagmo, a South Asian eatery in NYC creating an inclusive and safe workplace while also collaborating with other small businesses focusing on social good.

TAGMO began with a literal dream that I had about a tigress, which is what the word tagmo means in Bhutanese. In South Asian culture, the tigress is this iconic symbol of feminine strength. She represents a type of power that protects rather than harms, and it’s that energy that guides my business. I want to collaborate, not compete. I want to uplift other queer people, South Asians, and anyone who has been marginalized.