Book A Table session underway at Bao To Me
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
“Has anyone ever copied you?”It was an unusual question to ask a room full of strangers. But at Bao To Me, a Pan-Asian restaurant in Koramangala, it was the perfect icebreaker for the latest Book A Table session. As guests introduced themselves, stories of younger siblings copying their older siblings and neighbours recreating entire homes soon made way for a larger conversation — one about authorship, identity and cultural appropriation, inspired by RF Kuang’s Yellowface. Hosted by Book A Table in collaboration with Bao To Me, the literary lunch paired a moderated discussion of the bestselling novel with a five-course pan-Asian meal. As plates arrived, so did questions that had no easy answers. “Can you appreciate the art while condemning the artist?” asked Parvati, an attendee, setting the tone for an afternoon of lively discussion. By the bookParticipants debated where inspiration ends and appropriation begins, whether anyone can tell another person’s story, and if commercial success can ever justify borrowing from someone else’s lived experiences. Others questioned whether representation without genuine understanding risks becoming a caricature, while conversations around cancel-culture and audience responsibility kept the discussion moving from one perspective to the next. The food complemented the afternoon without overshadowing it, especially when paired with a glass of iced tea during each course. The smashed cucumber salad kicked things off, followed by soft momos served over jhol, a creamy, cashew-based broth. The Schezwan chicken bao was soft and scrumptious, while the dan dan mian noodles, coated in a smoky, peanut sauce emerged as the crowd favourite before the meal ended with a light Japanese soufflé cheesecake.
