This tastes like home

You can spend a year eating well around the world, and find that the best food is still in India. Here are some favourites

- VIR SANGHVI

It was only when I was researching this piece that I realised that because I had travelled so much this year, some of my best meals were eaten abroad.

Nevertheless, here is a list of some of the best meals I ate in India this year.

Megu. I have seen Shubham Thakur grow from his Wasabi days and his food has never been better. He collaborated with Gresham Fernandes on an American Express Centurion dinner a fortnight ago and the food was fabulous.

Gresham Fernandes. His wonderful Bandra Born in Mumbai showcases only one aspect of Gresham's range. At his Megu collab, he was blown away by Shubham's food and redid his entire menu to reflect East Asian flavours. It was all the more delicious for its spontaneity. And for his versatility.

Kwality. One day, the people at the Kwality flagship in Delhi's Connaught Place will forgive me for treating their restaurant, with its extensive menu, as a mere channa bhatura place. But to be honest, that one dish is the reason I go back.

Across. This place near Lion's Gate in Mumbai does very enjoyable riffs on Nepali and Himalayan food. If you do go, then order the buff tartare, which conflates the principles of the French original with Newari touches.

Firo. Ajit Bangera and Anil Chadha opened the first Avartana in Chennai.