The year was 2011 and for most Indians, Asian food hardly went beyond the set choice between chilli chicken and manchurian (both available in dry and gravy variants). In Kolkata, our hometown, Benjarong, a Thai fine-dining space, was, at the time, a glorious hit among foodies for it allowed their imagination to run wild with exquisite dishes on offer. A lot has changed since.

Today, a late-night VFM joint almost necessarily involves a Thai green curry on the menu both in Kolkata and, even more so, in a megapolis like Mumbai. Thai cuisine's presumed familiarity with Indian food, coupled with the geographical proximity between the two countries, an exodus of Indian globetrotters to Thailand, and a general rise in awareness about global food, had a direct impact with Thai restaurants sprouting in the city.