![October 6th Nerds Like Me Event Series: Getting Nerdy for Northern Indian Cuisine [Nerds Like Me]](https://images.aitinkerers.org/blog_images/website-header-png-aZHB.png)
We’re taking over Indus Progressive Indian in downtown Highland Park for an evening dedicated to the history, science, and craft of Northern Indian cuisine. Indus has just launched Indus 2.0, an entirely reimagined small plates concept built for exploration and sharing. You’ll experience the new menu firsthand while the restaurant’s owners, Sukhu and Ajit Kalra, walk you through each dish, its origins, its ingredients, and how it connects to thousands of years of culinary tradition.
Indus Progressive Indian is Highland Park’s first destination dining restaurant, opened by husband-and-wife team Sukhu and Ajit Kalra. The restaurant is named for the Indus Valley civilization and is deeply influenced by the legacy of Jiggs Kalra, Ajit’s father, who was known as the “Czar of Indian Cuisine” and was the first Asian inducted into the International Food & Beverage Gourmet Hall of Fame. His book PRASHAD is considered the bible of Indian culinary arts.October 6th Nerds Like Me Event Series: Getting Nerdy for Northern Indian Cuisine
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We’re taking over Indus Progressive Indian in downtown Highland Park for an evening dedicated to the history, science, and craft of Northern Indian cuisine. Indus has just launched Indus 2.0, an entirely reimagined small plates concept built for exploration and sharing. You’ll experience the new menu firsthand while the restaurant’s owners, Sukhu and Ajit Kalra, walk you through each dish, its origins, its ingredients, and how it connects to thousands of years of culinary tradition.
The Details
- Date: Tuesday, October 6th
- Time: 7:15 PM – 9:30 PM
- Location: Indus Progressive Indian · 617 Central Ave, Highland Park, IL 60035
- Capacity: 75 persons. RSVP required before October 2nd.
- Payment: Managed through RESY
- Cost: Two options: (1) Tasting menu only: $49/person (+tax and tip) (2) Tasting menu with 3 beverage pairing: $75/person (+task and tip)
- Pre-purchasing tickets is required to attend this event. Use THIS Resy Link.
What to Expect
This is not a standard dinner. Each course of the Indus 2.0 introductory tapas menu will be accompanied by commentary from Sukhu and Ajit on the dish’s regional roots, the sourcing of its ingredients, and the techniques behind it.
The menu itself is a guided experience: small plates designed for sharing and variety, featuring dishes that marry Indian tradition with modern American ingredients. Think smoked masala brisket with house-made Indian BBQ chutney, wagyu steak with herbed compound butters, slow-cooked daal, and seasonal preparations that change with what the kitchen sources.
Expect the conversation to cover:
- The Indus Valley and the birth of spice blending — how the earliest known civilization to combine spices for flavor set the template for Indian cuisine as we know it
- Regional diversity in Indian cooking — the vast differences between Northern and Southern Indian traditions, Mughlai influence, Punjabi hearth cooking, and coastal techniques
- The legacy of Jiggs Kalra — how the “Czar of Indian Cuisine” revived lost recipes and elevated Indian dining on the world stage, and how his philosophy lives on at Indus
- Ingredient sourcing and modern technique — indoor smokers, vapor cookers, steam-infused combination ovens, and the 10-day process behind dishes like the pork belly vindaloo
- The Indus 2.0 concept — what drove the pivot from a traditional fine dining menu to a small plates format, and what it means for the future of progressive Indian cuisine on the North Shore
About the Venue
Indus Progressive Indian is Highland Park’s first destination dining restaurant, opened by husband-and-wife team Sukhu and Ajit Kalra. The restaurant is named for the Indus Valley civilization and is deeply influenced by the legacy of Jiggs Kalra, Ajit’s father, who was known as the “Czar of Indian Cuisine” and was the first Asian inducted into the International Food & Beverage Gourmet Hall of Fame. His book PRASHAD is considered the bible of Indian culinary arts.
Sukhu designed the entire restaurant interior herself. The space features hand-crafted vases and table lamps reflective of ancient Indus Valley pottery, sprawling murals, and an atmosphere that bridges five millennia of culinary history with contemporary fine dining.
The Kalras also own Bhoomi Modern Indian Grill in downtown Chicago. They chose Highland Park deliberately, investing in their hometown after the July 4, 2022 tragedy to help revitalize the downtown area. Today, Indus has become one of the North Shore’s most sought-after reservations.
Who Should Come
Anyone who eats. You do not need to be an Indian food expert. You do not need to know the difference between a vindaloo and a biryani. You will by the end of the evening. This event is built for curious people who want to understand the “why” behind what they’re tasting, whether you’ve been eating Indian food your whole life or this is your first time beyond tikka masala. Bring a date, bring a friend, bring your appetite.
Reserve Your Seat
Pre-Purchase Your Ticket on RESY →
Seats are limited. Indus may close to regular dinner service for this event depending on final attendance, so early RSVPs help us secure the entire restaurant for the group.
What You Can Do Now
- Pre-purchase your ticket on RESY
- Subscribe for updates: https://nerdslikeme.dream.page
- Complete your profile — we’ll use it in an upcoming session to spark deeper conversation
- Whitelist us — add [email protected] to your contacts so you never miss an invite
Spread the word and bring a friend. The more people in the room, the better the conversation.
Jonathan Shertok
“The Nerd”