A Passion called Food

No matter where you go and in which part of the globe you may be, the one thing that connects the world is the love for food. Be it birth or death, marriage or a Janya thread ceremony, most rituals are incomplete without a lavish spread. And, in India, this tradition is followed even more ‘religiously’ (pun intended!). Often, some funeral rituals literally resemble a feast!

I’m totally in love with this love for food. It often has the power of lifting up a down and out you! (But by no means am I advocating binging away when you’re screwed in the head… never, never, never eat your pain!) It’s food over which love can happen, business deals are struck and even memories are relived.

Just thinking of the most yummy omelette toast that a friend prepares every time I’m having breakfast with him (I confess, I tried making it the way he does, but could never replicate the magic!), or the umpteen number of times I’ve considered myself just so lucky for being the daughter of a woman who is such a lovely cook, food has always been the way to my heart.

And while food is a science, it’s incomplete without its most quintessential flavours - love and simplicity. My mother is the person who has introduced me to the yummiest food ever. She once told me about this really embarrassing moment. I was five or so, and my parents and I were attending a house party. All the uncles and aunties wanted to stuff me away (so typical!), and I kept refusing, and finally when it really got to me, I simply told one of the aunties, “Aunty, I only eat my mama’s food!” And to a great extent that’s true even till date.

I’ve come to realise that the less rigid you are, the more you enjoy food. Be open to a wada pav that costs five bucks as much as what you’d be to a Risotto priced at five hundred. That's the key! Of course, while we all have our favourites, in terms of flavours, spices, cuisines, etc., it is always a good idea to try and make the most of most cuisines.

Hailing from a land that is just so rich in its food culture, I, at times, feel guilty about the fact that while we are indulging and seeking pride in knowing a variety of world cuisines, I often don’t know about the array of cuisines that are available in India itself. Until recently, I didn’t know that there’s a cuisine called Moplah, which comes from North Kerala, and is so rich in its taste and flavours. And I’m pretty sure I’m missing out on so much more.

A few years ago, while having (read - slurping, ogling, and enjoying!) a road-side dosa with a friend, he commented that he had never seen someone as passionate about food! Dear Friend, I now realise that it’s all thanks to the wonderful experiences I’ve indulged in!!!

(The above image is a crazy night with friends at WTF, Andheri. Love WTF's tagline! Image courtesy Rubina Das

Image on the left is the time when Shrikant Ayyangar aka Chika, Rubina Das, and I engaged in total, complete and pure indulgence at Britannia Café, Mumbai. Image courtesy Rubina Das)