If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.

Succulent dishes with mouth watering flavours. If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.

Indian cuisine encompasses a wide variety of regional cuisines native to India. Given the range of diversity in soil type, climate, culture, ethnic group and occupations, these cuisines vary significantly from each other and use locally available spices, herbs, vegetables and fruits. Indian food is also heavily influenced by religious and cultural choices and traditions. There has also been Central Asian influence on North Indian cuisine from the years of Mughal rule. Indian cuisine has been and is still evolving, as a result of the nation's cultural interactions with other societies.

Chinese cooking is renowned throughout the world. Chinese food has a distinctive culinary style all its own. The emphasis is on fresh, seasonal ingredients, prepared with a minimum of fuss and beautifully balanced as far as color, texture and presentation. There are several cooking techniques.

If you love thin slices of meat, prosciutto is an Italian favorite. It is either tossed in pasta or wrapped around cheese or melon. It is known to be the finest of Italian pork product, and freshest in the Emilia-Romagna region.

A fried egg on top and a sprinkle of 'prik naam pla' (sliced chili in fish sauce) are highly recommended. Pad Thai. One of the most famous Thai dishes, 'pad thai' is stir-fried rice noodles with egg, peanuts, dried shrimps, tofu, bean sprouts, tamarind juice, and, sometimes, squid and shrimps.

Mexican cuisine is primarily a fusion of indigenous Mesoamerican cooking with European, especially Spanish, elements added after the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire in the 16th century. The basic staples are native foods, such as corn, beans and chili peppers.

This is analogous to Westerners' referring collectively to the cuisines of East Asian countries as Asian cuisine. When used by Westerners, the term may sometimes refer more specifically to cuisine in Europe; in this context, a synonym is Continental cuisine, especially in British English.

Kashmiri cuisine has evolved over hundreds of years and is highly influenced by the food of the Kashmiri Buddhists and Pandits, the Hindu community of the valley. The food is usually prepared in lots of yoghurt, oil and spices. Mostly Chicken, Mutton, Onions, garlic and tomatoes are avoided in the preparation of the dish.

Punjabi cuisine is associated with food from the Punjab region of India and Pakistan. This cuisine has a rich tradition of many distinct and local ways of cooking. It is supported by locally grown staple foods. Distinctively Punjabi cuisine includes sarson da saag, tandoori chicken, shami kebab, and makki di roti.