I recently took a weekend trip to NorCal with the purpose of finding the best Indian food in California — and getting some much-deserved R&R.

San José is the epicenter of Indian culinary delights, at least on the West Coast. Our Indian food-tour gems:

• Madurai Idli Kadai: One of the best-kept secrets! This is a South India, no-frills café. You will find the most delectable steamed rice cakes, idlis, accompanied by a coconut chutney, peanut chutney and mint chutney.
  

  Photo 32461530 © Solomonjee | Dreamstime.com

• UlavachrU Tiffins: Another vegetarian option I didn’t even think twice about because the offerings were so yummy. We had kara dosa, Mysore bonda and idli with a mango lassi and chai. This was my first time trying Mysore bonda, a simple yet delicious common snack in Southern India comprised of rice flour, ginger, cumin, yogurt and all-purpose flour. This is mixed in a batter and deep-fried. We also had idli, and it did not disappoint.
  

  Enjoying a delicious Mysore bonda

• Pav Bhaji Hut: This was our last stop before heading to the airport. Pav bhaji is the fast-food treat of Mumbai. It is a potato slider but with that Indian flare. It has the kind of spice that someone who has a low spice tolerance cannot stop eating until the end. They use a soft, buttery bread roll that is lightly toasted in butter and filled with a gravy of veggies, including tomato and potato.
  

  Photo 171494201 © Gaurav Masand | Dreamstime.com

In between delectable meals, we got some relaxation in the little wine country gem of Calistoga. It is a region popular for hot springs, and we went all-out at Dr. Wilkinson’s Backyard Resort & Mineral Springs. They have a full-on spa with treatments like mud baths and mineral baths. We did exactly those two treatments, and we felt like new people after. There’s also a salt-water pool you have access to for a cold-water dunk — a throwback to that ice bucket challenge!

Welcome to spa heaven

A nice, ice-cold splash to wake up your senses

— Maria Angeles, account executive