I'm Indian, by the way.

I don't get to eat enough Indian food.

My inclination would be to eat it 2-3 times a week, but I can't because Indian food at restaurants eaten in that quantity would make me thick as hell (see previous post). The problem is that restaurants make curries cream based, not tomato or low-fat yogurt based, like in home-cooked food (ever wonder why you can't stop mopping up that tikka sauce? it's half and half you guys!). Also, Indian food is impractical at work. You can't write jokes or anything when you're asleep under the table of the conference room at your job. Which is what I do. Professional.

There are two obstacles with me cooking Indian food for myself: 1) The Bombay Cafe on Pico.

The Bombay Cafe is the sleekest, most fun, tastiest Indian food in town, which is ten minutes away from me. And 2) whenever I actually want to cook, Indian recipes call for teaspoons and sprinkles of about 11 different hard-to-find spices.

That's why Dean and DeLuca's Indian spice kit is so awesome. No more wandering around Pakistani grocery-cum-video stores asking if they have tamarind powder! Spices include: Ground Allspice, Cayenne Pepper, Curry Powder Blend, Fenugreek Seed, Nigella and Tandoori Blend. All in adorable little Dean & Deluca steel containers. It's great as a present for a worldly fun newlyweds who want to make Indian food and invite you over. Or your favorite college professor.

price: $55 at deananddeluca.com or in stores (the one on Broadway in Soho, anyway)