It’s difficult to describe the difference between home-cooked ethnic food and typical ethnic restaurant food unless you’ve truly experienced both. I have to blame my mother’s cooking for making my best friend’s first experience at P.F. Chang’s her last. When I eat Indian or Thai food in a restaurant I always wonder what the real home-food experience would be like. Living in the Bay Area with its large population of Indian immigrants, we have a healthy selection and range of Indian foods to try. But even when the place is devoid of Caucasians, I have to wonder: is this anything like home? Even the very popular dosa restaurant we go to is a chain from India, which doesn’t translate to home cooking. Our local paper has pointed out three places that offer “home-style Indian comfort food.” One, Annadaata, is a delivery service offering “$5 meals on wheels.” Popular for lunch delivery to companies and “home before you are” dinners, the meals may not be just like mom’s, but the pricing and convenience make up for any difference.