Book excerpt: ‘I am always transported to the golden years when our humble dastarkhān brought us all together...’ A delectable trove of stories and recipes, Daastan-e-Dastarkhān unravels the history and traditional cooking techniques of 30 intimate dishes from the culinary heritage of Muslim communities across India. In this evocative journal, MasterChef India contestant and consultant chef Sadaf Hussain invites you to gorge on Bihari kebabs during Eid, discover the influences of the spice trade in vegetarian dishes from the coastal Mappila cuisine and learn about a lost recipe born out of competitions between chefs during the Nizami era. With easy-to-follow recipes adapted for today’s kitchens, this book encourages you to recreate mouth-watering delicacies of old, and weaves the story of a community that is as varied as its food.