Chef Maneet Chauhan has given several TED Talks through the years, and she is a supporter of the local TEDxNashville series of smaller events that pop up to stimulate curiosity. On Monday, Aug.17, she is inviting TEDx members and nonmembers to her Chauhan Ale and Masala House for a presentation titled “The Bigger Truth About Indian Food.”
She has created a special multicourse menu for the evening with each course designed to demonstrate a unique aspect of Indian cuisine. Chauhan will discuss how the history, religious practices, migration patterns and geography of the country have created such a rich and diverse food culture in India.
During the course of the meal, attendees will be encouraged to interact with other diners at their tables between the chef’s entertaining stories and delicious dishes. Tickets are $95 for TEDxNashville members and $150 for nonmembers. (Considering that an annual membership is $180, your discount at this one event covers a third of the cost!) The event starts at 7 p.m. and is slated to last two hours.
After years of development, Michelin-starred Mexico City restaurant Masala y Maíz started Paga Lo Que Puedas/Pay What You Can Day in 2025 and encouraged more than 20 other restaurants in the city to open their doors for one day to everyone regardless of the ability to pay. The initiative was intended to draw attention to the financial imbalance between haves and have-nots, especially when considering the cost of living in a huge metropolitan city like Mexico City.
This year more than 100 restaurants from 14 countries have joined the cause to host a Paga Lo Que Puedes Day as part of a global day of action on Wednesday, Aug. 26. Locally, Julio Hernandez and his team at Maíz de la Vida invite the community to dine with a special Pay What You Can menu of Maíz favorites at his Gulch restaurant for both lunch and dinner service.
Guests are welcome on a walk-in-only basis — no reservations will be accepted on that day. The Pay What You Can experience applies to food only. The full bar will be open as usual, and all beverages will be available for purchase at regular menu prices.
Here’s how the restaurant describes their intentions:
“This isn’t charity — it’s neighbors gathering around the same table. It’s restaurants investing in their communities by doing what we love most: cooking for people, welcoming everyone with dignity, and creating a place where all are invited to share a meal. Nearly 2,000 hospitality professionals across Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, France, India, Italy, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Portugal, Spain, Türkiye and the United States will participate, each serving their community one plate at a time. We hope you’ll join us on Aug. 26 to celebrate the simple idea that a shared meal can bring people together."
