India Association of Minnesota Leads Eden Prairie Vigil After Kansas Hate Crime
More than 150 Indian-American residents of the Twin Cities gathered at an Eden Prairie park in March 2017, organized by the India Association of Minnesota, to mourn Srinivas Kuchibhotla—a 32-year-old Indian engineer shot dead at a Kansas bar after a gunman shouted "Get out of my country." The vigil underscored how deeply rooted South Asian life has become in this western Twin Cities suburb. Closer to home, Bay Leaf Indian Cuisine, a strip-mall restaurant near Eden Prairie's business park district, has earned critical praise for its freshly blended in-house spices and generous midday lunch platters.
India Association of Minnesota Organizes Eden Prairie Vigil for Kansas Attack Victim
The India Association of Minnesota organized a vigil and peace march at an Eden Prairie park on March 4, 2017, drawing more than 150 people together to mourn Srinivas Kuchibhotla, a 32-year-old engineer and native of India who was shot dead at a bar outside Kansas City on February 24. Witnesses reported that before opening fire, the gunman yelled "Get out of my country," and authorities were investigating the incident as a possible hate crime. The gathering reflected the collective grief and indignation felt by South Asian families across the Twin Cities metropolitan area, many of whom were personally shaken by the news of the killing. Kuhu Singh, an officer with the India Association of Minnesota and one of the event's key organizers, described the experience in terms of both fear and resolve. Singh, a U.S. citizen who had moved to the country in 1999, said plainly that she and her family belonged in America. "I belong here. My family belongs here," she told MPR News, adding that the attack made her step back and look at her world anew. "This definitely is a shock," she said. The gathering was a visible act of solidarity for Eden Prairie's Indian-American community, combining public mourning with a declaration of permanence. It demonstrated the India Association of Minnesota's capacity to mobilize residents quickly and in large numbers in response to national events that strike at the heart of the South Asian immigrant experience in the United States. [5]
🍛 Bay Leaf Indian Cuisine Wins Praise for House-Blended Spices and Value Lunch
Bay Leaf Indian Cuisine, tucked into a strip mall near one of Eden Prairie's large and expanding business parks, has built a quiet reputation for putting the focus squarely on food quality rather than setting. The restaurant features an extensive dinner menu, but its midday Business Lunch—priced at $10 per person, with a one-dollar supplement for lamb entrees—offers one of the most comprehensive and affordable ways to explore the kitchen's range. Each platter is a heaping spread that includes white rice, an appetizer, two curries, beans or lentils, biryani, raita, and dessert, giving guests the opportunity to sample nearly everything the kitchen has going on a given day. What distinguishes Bay Leaf from comparable casual counters is its approach to spicing: the restaurant roasts and grinds its own spice blends in-house, a practice that contributes to the fresh, homemade character of its sauces and the depth of flavor throughout the menu. The cooks are described as generous with flavorings, and the staff is patient and willing to explain unfamiliar dishes to guests new to Indian cuisine. The spice level at lunch is generally approachable for most diners, though some preparations carry a slow-burning aftertaste; those who prefer more heat can request it when ordering from the evening dinner menu. Among the kitchen's standout preparations is the Chicken 65—served in a bright-red yogurt sauce built from fresh curry leaves, garlic, and multiple types of chilies, with chicken bites that arrive tender and juicy. For those seeking genuine Indian cooking in the western suburbs of Minneapolis, Bay Leaf offers a satisfying and honest option. [3]
Sources: [5] MPR News · [3] Heavy Table