Friday, March 21, 2008

a delectable experience!

After coming to the US, eating out figures predominantly on my list. I think one of the reasons for this maybe the lethargy to cook. I
really miss my mom on such ocassions...she had this knack of conjuring delicious treats on my ultra-short notices!
But being the food junkie,..or should i say connoiseur, I love to experiment with food and different cuisines. I was amazed by the myriad choices on offer..greek, ethopian, morrocan,vietnamese...name it and you have it!

Last week, i visited a place offering ethopian food. The spread included spicy vegetable and lentil stews called wat, served atop injera, a large sourdough flatbread...all this served on a single large plate from which everyone eats.
food was accompanied by Tej, a honey wine. It is supposed to a local ethopian drink. It had a very unique and tangy taste to it.
This was such a fun experience as I have never done this kind of 'community eating' before. I have never had someone eating off my plate before..my mother would have freaked out seeing this!!
People, you should try it if you all ever get the chance.
Next on my agenda ia to try the vietnamese cuisine. I will keep u guys posted on that.

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Why Paprika Patrika

I was halfway through cooking, when i realised we were out of indian chilli powder...I panicked!!I din't want to spoil this special feast...Then my gaze fell on the paprika bottle kept on the shelf.I used it apprehensive of the end results.
But voila!!!The aroma and flavor brought out the glutton in everyone.
This left me pondering,paprika,though starkly different from the indian counterpart, enhanced the taste of the dish.
It then struck me that the diversity between east and west runs deep..people,cultures,languages and much more.They may have contrasting natures but the underlying ethos remains the same.
So through 'Paprika Patrika', I intend to present the heterogeneity in this world.
Paprika, a seasoning, predominantly grown in the west, adds spice, color and flovor to dishes.Patrika is a Sanskrit word for newspaper.This confluence of east and west will provide spicy and delectable tidbits to whet your appetite and intellect.
Lets celebrate the diversity!!!