India is a melting pot of many languages and cultures but there’s ONE universal love language which is beyond borders.
FOOD. Especially the act of cooking and serving.
In India, love isn’t just whispered in words or exchanged in gifts—it’s cooked, served, and shared.
Whether it’s a warm bowl of dal after a long day, a sweet bite of homemade kheer, or a cup of chai made just the way you like it, love finds its way to the heart through food. On this Valentine’s Day, we’re celebrating the most heartfelt expression of love—the kind that’s plated, not just promised.
In India, the strongest most delicate gesture of expressing love has always been through- food. The first thing a lover does for their beloved is cook. It’s an instinct, a desire to nourish, to bring warmth and comfort. Making someone’s favorite meal, adjusting the spice levels to their liking, remembering how they take their chai—this is love in its purest, most everyday form.
In Indian culture, food and love are inseparable. When words fail, a hot, home-cooked meal speaks volumes. Lovers find themselves in bustling street food lanes, sharing a plate of crispy chaat. A simple “khana khaya?” (did you eat?) becomes an unspoken declaration of care.
Bollywood, the great storyteller of love, knows this truth well. Food isn’t just in the background—it’s often the language of longing. Who can forget the quiet romance of ‘The Lunchbox’ (2013)? A misplaced tiffin leads to handwritten notes, love unfolding through carefully packed meals.
Or the playful intimacy of ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’ (2008) when a shy Surinder (Shah Rukh Khan) watches his wife, Taani, cook for him, seeing love in her every gesture. In ‘Cheeni Kum’ (2007), a love story quite literally starts with a plate of perfectly cooked Hyderabadi Zafrani Pulao—because when words fall short, a thoughtfully made dish says everything.
Food is how love grows, lingers, and finds its way back. It’s in the shared laughter over a plate of golgappas, the stolen glances across a candle-lit dinner, the way a hand instinctively reaches out to feed the other a bite of something delicious.
This Valentine’s Day, forget the clichés. Instead, cook something special, share a meal, feed the ones you love. Whether it’s a heartwarming home-cooked dinner or a date night at your favorite Indian restaurant, let food do what it does best—bring hearts closer.
Want date night ideas this Valentine’s day? Savour a rich, delectable Valentines’ Day meal prepared with love at your nearest Namaste Village restaurant. The courses are mindfully selected and dishes prepared to entice your senses and ensure you spend the most memorable evening with your loved one. We have thought of the best vegetarian, vegan dishes that are sure to impress your loved one and make it a V Day to remember.
So, as you start thinking of V Day presents to shower your love with, don’t forget to make a reservation for 2!
Because in India, the real ‘I love you’ sounds a lot like, “Thoda aur lo?” (Have some more?) 💛🍛
Book Now: https://namastevillage.co.uk/book-a-table/
