Khaana Registaan Ka: Celebrating Rajasthani Food with Pushpesh Pant 

The desert, to many, is a vast, arid wasteland which most of the time, is life-threatening - in fact, the Hindi word marubhoomi or marusthal (deriving from Sanskrit) reminds us of mortality. But for the denizens of the desert, it is their homeland full of vibrant colors and tantalizing temptations - a land of celebrations that more than compensates for its harsh environment. Once you get to know the desert better, it is difficult to resist its myriad seductions. The cuisine of Bikaner, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer -- the heartland of Marwar in Rajasthan -- illustrates this brilliantly.