I lived in Boston for so long that its easy to forget the gems you left behind until you go back for a visit. I found myself getting a tad disoriented on Storrow Drive…now where was that turn into Central Square? Was it this bridge or that bridge? Eventually all roads lead into Cambridge if you hang a left and once you’re in Cambridge and find Mass Ave, it’s fairly easy to get where you need to go.
I always loved Central Square for Indian food and for one of my favorite old hubs in my twenties: The Middle East. I always seemed to be able to nab the cutest table, cushioned away in a small cul de sac that looked out the window to the walkbys, which equated to interesting people watching on a weekend night.
There are also two really special Indian spice shops on Mass Avenue: Shalimar Gourmet Food & Spices on Mass Ave and Rajdhani Express Indian Food & Spices on River Street. 
Shalimar is a tiny, jam-packed emporium which sells all the ingredients needed to make Indian food at home. Basmati rice is sold in 20 lb. bags. Exotic spices and herbs line an entire wall. Imported fruits and vegetables – many unfamiliar to American kitchens – are stacked in a cold case. And the aisles are lined with chutneys, teas, sauces and snacks you probably have not seen before.
But to call SHALIMAR an Indian grocery store is to sell it short. This old fashioned shop also sells:
- Indian videos, newspapers and periodicals
- James and jellies from England and Ireland
- More than 21 types of jarred pickle
- Dry and frozen convenience meals
- Sodas, juices and beverages in flavors like coconut and guava
- Pots, pans and other specialty cookware
- Chilled packages of paneer (soft mild Indian cheese) and ghee (clarified butter)
- Indian beauty products like soaps, lotions and rosewater
- Boxed cookies, crackers and crisps of all kinds
- And countless other imported foodstuffs from around the globe
Not far away is Rajdhani Express, which is smaller and situated on a corner on River Street.
While it doesn’t have the overwhelming cramped atmosphere of Shalimar (which is part of its charm btw), it does have a decent supply of both fresh, frozen and packaged food, as well as fruits and vegetables.
It also houses Indian frozen dinners and appetizers, exotic spices, authentic Indian desserts, cookbooks, traditional cooking utensils, lentils and beans, basmati and jasmine rice, traditional chai, exotic juices, gift items, and of course Bollywood movies and CDs.
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
