Seafood from Norway + Lysverket

By Elyse Glickman
May 10, 2022

Rahul Vinod
While Mexican and Indian cuisines evolved on opposites sides of the globe, tamarind is one of those magic ingredients that ties them together. That connection also provided a seed of inspiration for the cocktail program at Rasa, an emerging fast-casual Indian cuisine concept in Washington, D.C. The Tamarind Margarita is an on-point representation of Rasa’s mission to introduce global flavors to customers.
“The bright, sour, acidic notes of tamarind help offset the sweetness of a traditional margarita,” explains Rahul Vinod, Co-Owner. “We boil slabs of tamarind to create and extract a fresh tamarind pulp, which is then finely strained for a tart and refreshing tamarind purée. Combining this with tequila, citric acid and a touch of sugar, we get the perfectly balanced cocktail.”
According to Vinod, innovative flavor combinations like this one are an effective approach to attracting more adventurous guests. “It’s been our most popular cocktail since we opened,” he says. The housemade tamarind purée is also cross-utilized in some of the restaurant’s chutneys and sauces to impart natural sour notes to these, as well.

Rich Tradition: Bergen Fish Chowder Seafood from Norway + Lysverket

Happy Hour: Okonomiyaki Waffle Sunda New Asian | Chicago
Sunda New Asian | Chicago

Cold-Fashioned Seafood Norway’s harsh environment offers the perfect conditions for premium seafood
Norway’s harsh environment offers the perfect conditions for premium seafood

One in a Melon: Crispy Rice Planta | Based in Miami
Planta | Based in Miami

Monkey Around: Mango Monkey Bread National Mango Board + Tesse Restaurant
National Mango Board + Tesse Restaurant

For the Love of Bees: Queen Bee Cocktail National Honey Board + Garden Bar PHX
National Honey Board + Garden Bar PHX

Kashmiri Hot: Kashmiri Fried Chicken Mister Mao | New Orleans
Mister Mao | New Orleans

Dragon Takes Flight: The Little Dragon Cocktail Ma Der Lao Kitchen | Oklahoma City
Ma Der Lao Kitchen | Oklahoma City