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Indian Food Review

The Indian food was AMAZING! and not just because we had some good Bollywood music playing in the background. It was amazing because it was warm and tasty and I could feel it settle into that little corner of my soul that is reserved for all good things.

Appetizer: Bread Potato Rolls

Many things went into the making of this delicious ball of fried goodness... 

Coriander seed,

Green chilies,

Peas, 

and mashed potatoes of course. 

All that was mixed together for a yummy and spicy mashed potato concoction that was then stuffed into a slice of bread. How is this possible you ask? (I wondered myself). You take a slice of Texas toast size bread and take off the crust and then dip the bread in water to make it soft (a full size for big ones and a half size for little ones) and then fill it with the potatoes. The wet bread kind of becomes like a square of dough that you can wrap all the way around the spoonful or so of potato. 

 

Fry them up and voila! (There is that French language again!!) Bread Potato Rolls.

Entree: Coconut Curried Vegetables

If you like vegetables you might want to try this dish. If you don't like vegetables you might still want to try it also because it was so delicious. But if you don't like curry, I don't think you should try it. 

In the bowl are chopped onions, minced ginger, and minced garlic. And then on top of that is a mound (naturally, it is Indian food after all ) of spices.

Mix it together to make sure the veggies get coated with the goodness that is curry,

And then sauteé (seriously, why are there so many French words involved in cooking?)

We used a lager pot to saute the onion mixture because more veggies get added. We added sliced carrot, zucchini, cauliflower, and green beans.

That was stirred, and then it came time for the coconut milk.

And everyone was happy.

It simmered for a while under a lid and soaked up the curry and coconut flavors. And so it was called Coconut Curried Vegetables.

Dessert: Gulab Jamun

This is kind of a rich dessert. I technically cheated because I got a mix. I wanted them to be good and didn't want to mess it up.

On the box they kind of look like "gulabs", don't they? ("gulab"actually refers to the flavor, not the appearance). They turned out pretty good. You make the dough by adding water or milk, and then you make the jamuns by rolling the dough in a little ball and frying it. You then soak the fried balls in sugar syrup. 

Dinner

The entree was eaten over rice, and we pulled out some naan (purchased at the Indian Store).

To drink water, and imported Indian drinks were served.

The meal was a success! (As long as you like curry).

And afterwards we played a little cricket on the beach.

Any comments? Or additional review? What was good? What was bad? Any answers as to why the French language permeates our language involving food? Please comment below!

Indian food tonight!

Prepare yourselves! Like I said before good is part of culture. So is language. You can learn to say "hello" and be ready to exchange a simple greeting during dinner tonight. 

On the menú (more French!) for tonight:

Appetizer (क्षुधावर्धक "kṣudhāvardhaka"): bread potato rolls

Entree (प्रवेश "pravēśa"): coconut curried vegetables

Dessert (मिठाई "miṭhā'ī"): gulab jamun

Cuisine Connosoir

Why is it that so many food words come from French? Could it be that French cuisine is the finest? Could it be that the French palate is more precise in its foodie appreciation? Or is France just where all the best cooking schools are?

I've never been to cooking school, but I have been to France. And the only thing my taste buds experienced while in Paris was a ham and cheese crêpe (which was gigantic and delicious). I'd never experienced a savory crêpe and loved it, but I haven't had one since.

Food is one of the most beautiful and unique things about a culture. I love food. I love the smells, and the tastes, and the people, and the heat, and the satisfaction of clean plates and empty pots. And oddly enough I don't cook for myself when it is just me. I'm content with bean and cheese tacos, or nachos, or something equally plain that requires only the push of a few buttons in its preparation. If only I could afford a chef. But I cant.

I think one of the reasons that food is so beautiful is because of the community that it creates. Food has this way of being shared, and of bringing people together. Think about it. When someone is born and everyone gets together, they eat. If someone gets married and everyone gets together, they eat. If someone dies and everyone gets together, they eat. Even if it is just a group gathering together there is typically food at some point or another. Why do we always eat when we get together? Maybe some people come hungry, but odds are that people need something to do and something to share. And the need for sustenance is something that we all share.

No matter who you are or where you are from, food is a part of your life, a part of your family, and a part of your community/culture. The foods may be different, but the purpose and the necessity is the same. We must eat to live, and to live fully we must have a sense of identity and belonging, and have something to share. Food can do that.