Tag: foodie

Food for Thought | A Family Affair

Prajakta18 Comments

Winding roads lead the way home,
A faint breeze comes beckoning my nose,
Laced with an aroma of velvety richness,
As a gleeful revelry began inside my soul.

The crackle of sautéed onion and garlic,
The fragrance of freshly made puran poli,
The musky tones of newly churned ghee,
Envelope me. Intoxicate me. Welcome me.

I see Mom floating and dancing at the stove,
Grandma munching on the savoury chivda,
Dad heartily uncorking his signature brew,
As a work of art simmers over happy chatter.

The scene is set with ardour and simplicity,
Family recipes and culinary delights lead way,
Weaving an enchanting web of lost memories,
Securing our home with enduring bonds of love.

At dVerse, Abhra has asked us to write about the uniqueness of our food/recipes, and explore. For me, having our meals together as a family has always been special which I used as an inspiration.

P.S. I love food! And have expressed it to my heart’s content here!

Puran poli: a traditional sweet flatbread.
Ghee: a type of clarified butter.
Chivda: a form of savoury, spicy dry snacks. There are different ways to make it as per the region.

For the Love of Food

Prajakta9 Comments
image
Anyone with Me?

“When you wake up in the morning, Pooh,” said Piglet at last, “what’s the first thing you say to yourself?”
“What’s for breakfast?” said Pooh. “What do you say, Piglet?”
“I say, I wonder what’s going to happen exciting today?” said Piglet.
Pooh nodded thoughtfully. “It’s the same thing,” he said.”
― Winnie the Pooh

If ever I am invited to any of those ‘—oholics Anonymous’ gatherings, I am sure they will be the ones for FOOD. And it won’t be anonymous. And it won’t be for therapy. Instead I am imagining a gala potluck 🙂 🙂 Yummy food overflowing everywhere! *chomp* *slurp* *gulp*

I always believed that I am someone with a high set of morals. I won’t fall from grace that easily. Unless you throw in food. I was playing the devil’s advocate in an “argument” between two “friends” with full panache and all that jazz. Out of nowhere, my head snapped left towards the guy who said, “Praj
 I have cheese and nutella in the fridge.” As I started smiling at him like a mad woman, the now-losing other side immediately realized what had conspired and filed for contempt of court! Needless to say, I have no idea what happened to the argument as I was in a happy oblivion made of nutella and grilled cheese s/w.

I wasn’t always such a foodie. Disclaimer: I am a vegetarian and an ex-very-fussy-eater. I do not like mushrooms (Oh God! What is there to love about a fungus??) or baby corn (Totally looks like a boiled lizard!) But then, the gobble-fairy paid me a visit one night and the next day I discovered happiness. Today, I am ready to try any new dish (veg, no mushrooms or baby corn) at any new place with anyone and give my “expert” (un)solicited feedback. The wallpaper on my laptop is a pan of lasagna and I am learning how to cook just so that I can eat (and feed if you are nice/horrible to me – works either ways *evil grin*)

Eating food isn’t just about picking up the fork and shoving the pasta in your mouth. You look at it. You savour the aroma by sniffing at that delectable slice on your fork all flecked with yummy herbs. And then you slowly close your mouth around it and chew slowly. The flavours play and swirl in your mouth and you let the growing sparks of delight take over you. And then, you swallow it. That first bite is an experience to be revered – even if the dish is as simple as a grilled cheese sandwich. The crunchy bite, the oozing cheese, the butter glistening your lips. Yummm! 🙂 (For reference, please catch the movie Chef, by Jon Favreau) Any occasion can be made more special with food (or your significant other as some people like to point out *rolling eyes*). You feeling cold – go have a bowl of soup with warm bread drizzled with herbs and olive oil. You broke up – go treat your awesome self with a tub of chocolate ice-cream. You want to thank someone – nothing like a batch of fresh home-made cookies.

And while I kind of get the ‘Joey doesn’t share food feeling’ – it is impossible not to share your food and your delightful experiences with people who appreciate the same. It isn’t just describing a dish – it is like reciting your favourite poetry, except that it is a new one every time! They get you when you crave for a nutella-banana crepe and that engulfing depression when you don’t get it. Suggesting an alternative – even if it is waffles in chocolate sauce – is totally futile! They understand that clicking a picture of the food will not do justice to its decadency in spite of the food porn boom.

Because food isn’t just a beautiful way of sustenance; it is a celebration, a passion and one of the most sincere forms of love. In the process of presenting my tribute to food, I am feeling ravenous! Baked beans on toast anyone?

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