Why Indianising foreign cuisine is unnecessary

Hello,

Happy Republic Day! 

This year, HerStory celebrates women whose work and achievements over the last year stood out for their impact and visibility—whose stories are not just about symbolism but about real shifts in public discourse that continue to shape opportunities for other women across India.

In fact, who can forget Indian startups building strategic tech for the world! From spacetech and semiconductor to AI and drone-making companies—their journeys underscore how deeptech innovation from India is no longer a distant ambition but a present reality! 

Now, some tariff-related updates. India plans to slash tariffs on cars imported from the European Union to 40% from as high as 110% in the biggest opening yet of the country's vast market as the two sides close in on a free trade pact that could come as early as Tuesday.

Lastly, American rock climber Alex Honnold has proved that “time is finite”, as he climbed one of Asia’s tallest skyscrapers without ropes or a harness on Sunday, fulfilling an ambition that began more than a decade ago!

Honnold, who starred in the 2019 Oscar-winning documentary Free Solo, ascended the 508-metre Taipei 101 using the skyscraper’s horizontal metal beams to pull himself up with his bare hands. 

What’s more interesting? The 91-minute ascent was broadcast globally on Skyscraper Live, Netflix’s latest foray into live sports programming!

Now, what have you done today to seize the moment?

In today’s newsletter, we will talk about 

• Meet California Burrito’s Bert Mueller
• A metal too shiny to own

Here’s your trivia for today: Which is the only country to have its own official scent?

Interview

Meet California Burrito’s Bert Mueller

The story of California Burrito is familiar enough by now that it does not need retelling in full. The first store opposite Goldman Sachs at Embassy Golf Links. The avocado trees that took five years to fruit. The elephants that trampled some of them. The tomatillos grown in Karnataka. The decision to stay bootstrapped when every venture capitalist in Bengaluru was throwing money at anything that called itself foodtech. 

What is less familiar is the texture of how Bert Mueller thinks. A CEO of a popular food company once called Mueller an ‘American Marwadi’, a description that delighted Mueller, and he does not dispute.

Building in India:

• The founder of India’s largest Mexican food chain discusses why he refused to Indianise his menu, how 400 farmers found him on Instagram, and why more competition in food delivery is welcome.
• “Farming is always a very long-term affair… If you want to do this well, you have to have great ingredients… If you can’t get them, you have to grow them. If you import them, no one can afford them,” Mueller says on not compromising on the essence of the brand.
• On dining in, he says, “We try to ensure our marketing drives people into dine-in because we prefer that. First off, the food tastes better in the store. It’s fresh. You can see it, it looks great. It’s a good environment. We invest money in the store, so we want people to come.”

In-depth

A metal too shiny to own

As gold prices continue to soar, the impact is no longer confined to markets and jewellers. What was once a commodity discussed in investment columns and trade reports is now shaping conversations among common people. 

Gold in India crossed Rs 1,60,000 per 10 grams (24 carat) last week, up from Rs 1,36,000 on December 31, 2025. SocialStory examines whether there are ripple social effects beyond the market. Through conversations with gold buyers, jewellers, and financial experts, we trace how tradition, aspiration, and economics are being reshaped.

News & updates

• Source: Google’s search feature AI Overviews cites YouTube more than any medical website when answering queries about health conditions, according to research that raises fresh questions about a tool seen by 2 billion people each month. 
• Stake: The Trump administration is taking a 10% stake in USA Rare Earth as part of a $1.6 billion debt-and-equity investment package aimed at helping the company develop a domestic mine and magnet facility. The deal and a separate $1 billion private investment will be unveiled on Monday.
• AUM: Vanguard's assets under management outside the ​US have exceeded $1 ‌trillion for the first time, the Financial Times reported. In the next five years, ​the asset manager is seeking to ‍more than double its international client count to nearly ⁠40 million.

What you should watch out for

• Indian stock markets will be closed on Monday, January 26, for Republic Day celebrations.
• Logistics company Shadowfax Technologies will list on the BSE and NSE with a tentative listing date fixed as January 28.
• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget 2026 in Parliament on Sunday, February 1.
• The US Federal Meeting is scheduled for this week from January 27 to January 28, where analysts widely expect the US Fed to leave its benchmark interest rate unchanged.

Which is the only country to have its own official scent?

Answer: Lithuania

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