Google CEO Sundar Pichai Relishes These Foods When In India

Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and its parent company Alphabet, recently shared his culinary preferences during a podcast with YouTuber Varun Mayya. The Madurai-born executive highlighted his favorite dishes from three major Indian cities: Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore, offering a glimpse into his personal tastes.

In the podcast, Pichai discussed various topics, including the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on India and advice for aspiring engineers. However, the conversation took a masaledar turn when Pichai revealed his favourite Indian dishes.

Love for Bangalore's dosa

“When I’m in Bangalore,” Pichai shared, “I will probably get a dosa. It’s my favorite food.” Dosa, a staple of South Indian cuisine, is a thin and crispy crepe made from a fermented batter of rice and lentils. Often filled with a spiced potato mixture, dosas are a comforting and beloved dish, resonating deeply with Pichai’s South Indian roots.

Delhi ke Chole Bhature

In Delhi, Pichai’s go-to dish is chole bhature. This North Indian favorite features fluffy, golden-fried bread (bhature) paired with a rich, spiced chickpea curry (chole). The combination of textures and robust flavors makes chole bhature a popular choice, and it holds a special place in Pichai’s heart whenever he visits the capital city.

Pav Bhaji in Mumbai 

When in Mumbai, Pichai indulges in pav bhaji, a classic street food. This dish consists of a spicy vegetable mash served with buttered bread rolls (pav). The aromatic spices and vibrant flavors of pav bhaji make it a quintessential Mumbai experience, and a top pick for Pichai in the bustling city.

Beyond discussing his favourite foods, Pichai also addressed the educational challenges in India, particularly the emphasis on rote learning. He referenced a scene from the Bollywood film "3 Idiots," where the protagonist criticizes rote learning. Pichai emphasized the importance of deeper understanding, encouraging students to move beyond memorization to grasp concepts thoroughly.