As the vibrant festival of Diwali approaches, San Francisco’s culinary scene is lighting up with an extraordinary dining experience at Besharam. Nestled in the artistic Dogpatch neighborhood, Chef Heena Patel is serving up a six-course tasting menu that’s a love letter to her Gujarati roots and California’s innovative food culture.

Patel’s restaurant has long been celebrated for transforming traditional vegetarian Indian cuisine, and this year’s Diwali menu is no exception. Each course is a carefully crafted narrative of flavor, heritage, and creativity. The journey begins with a kachori that reimagines the classic Rajasthani street food - a fried pastry topped with coconut, fresh herbs, and crispy potato straws that sets a playful tone for the meal.

The culinary adventure continues with unexpected twists like a five-cheese samosa floating in a tangy guava-tomato soup, a nostalgic nod to Patel’s time in London. A lentil cake wrapped in a banana leaf, adorned with pickle masala and vibrant mint-cilantro chutneys, further showcases her ability to blend tradition with innovation.

The main course is a celebration of vegetarian excellence. A paneer korma with ground cheese swimming in a cardamom-spiced sauce sits alongside panchvati dal, a complex dish made from five different legumes that captures the essence of festive cooking. Accompanied by red onion cumin rice, paratha, and papadam, the dish is a testament to the depth and complexity of Indian cuisine.

The meal concludes with a delicate cardamom rice pudding (kheer) featuring poached pear, a subtle autumnal touch that perfectly encapsulates Besharam’s approach to seasonal, thoughtful cooking.

Available from October 16-19, this Diwali menu is priced at $95 per person, with an optional wine pairing for $55. Reservations are recommended for this culinary celebration that promises to transport diners through flavor, memory, and festive spirit.