Chautauqua – “Ranji Smile”
“Celebrating the American Spirit”
Ranji Smile was an immigrant to the United States who came from British India and quickly rose to great heights as a flamboyant and talented chef. He introduced Indian flavors to the Western palette in the early 20th Century and was the darling of high society for a few years. He may have been America’s first celebrity chef!
Roopa Mohan trained as a volunteer storyteller and docent for school groups at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco where she tells folktales around objects in the museum’s extensive collection. Mohan has expanded her repertoire, and now enjoys sharing personal narratives, tall tales, portrayals, myths, and legends she heard growing up in South India. She enjoys engaging her audience and enhancing her often braided stories with mudras, Indian dance gestures.
Cost: $15, 16 years and younger – Free
The Ranch House will be open 3:30 – 5:30 pm for event guests.
