Brick Lane Curry House Opens House of Amrut Speakeasy as Jersey City Declares Hindu Heritage Month
Jersey City's Indian and Hindu American communities found reason to celebrate this week on two distinct fronts: a beloved Indian restaurant on Newark Avenue debuted a speakeasy-style whiskey room featuring rare Amrut single malt expressions to mark its five-year anniversary, while the Jersey City Municipal Council voted unanimously to designate October as Hindu Heritage Month — honoring the growing Indian American and Hindu American communities and the contributions they have made to civic, cultural, and economic life in the city.
🍛 Brick Lane Curry House Debuts House of Amrut Speakeasy on Five-Year Anniversary
The Brick Lane Curry House on Newark Avenue in downtown Jersey City marked its five-year anniversary this week with the debut of House of Amrut, a semi-secret speakeasy-style tasting room built around one of the world's largest private collections of Amrut Indian single malt whiskey. The restaurant's owner, described by Patch as a 'superfan' of the distinctively South Asian spirit, has assembled an extensive library of Amrut expressions and is offering patrons the chance to explore them alongside authentic Indian meals and appetizers in an intimate, inviting setting. The pairing concept is a thoughtful one: Amrut Distilleries, based in Bengaluru, produces whiskeys that have earned recognition from international critics, and their profiles complement the layered flavors of Indian cuisine in ways that conventional bar pairings rarely match. The debut follows a broader moment of national recognition for Jersey City's food scene, cited in publications as one of the country's top culinary destinations, partly on the strength of its South Asian restaurants and food culture. House of Amrut adds a genuinely inventive dimension to that reputation — a culturally grounded concept that pairs the best of Indian distilling with the best of Indian cooking, all within walking distance of one of the region's most vibrant South Asian communities. For longtime patrons of Brick Lane Curry House and whiskey enthusiasts alike, the new space represents both a cultural statement and a culinary experience available nowhere else in the region. [1]
🪔 Jersey City Unanimously Names October Hindu Heritage Month
The Jersey City Municipal Council voted unanimously on October 7 to designate October as Hindu Heritage Month, recognizing the cultural, social, and economic contributions of Hindu Americans and affirming the growing Indian American and Hindu American communities across the city. Councilwoman Mamta Singh, the first Hindu woman elected to the Jersey City Council, called the designation especially meaningful. 'I have always believed that belonging grows when we take the time to understand one another,' Singh said at the council meeting. She described Hindu Heritage Month as an opportunity to celebrate Hindu traditions while inviting residents of all backgrounds to learn about a philosophy rooted in compassion, service, respect, and inclusiveness. 'Hinduism is often described not simply as a religion but as a way of life,' Singh said, 'one that asks us to do good, to live with purpose, to respect different paths, and to recognize the humanity in one another.' She added: 'Our greatest strength is our diversity — we are a city of many cultures, many faiths, many traditions, and every one of those communities deserves to feel seen and celebrated.' Councilman Michael Griffin also voiced support, drawing on personal memories of watching the Hindu community grow during his years in the city near Journal Square and McGinley Square. Praveen Sharma also spoke at the meeting in support of the initiative, formally framing October in Jersey City as a time to honor and amplify Hindu contributions to public life. [2]