Grapes, Raisins or Wine? - A small talk but a big experience...

A Story of A Caterpillar

There was a time, he wasn't known to many. He was very shy and a consolidated being to the strangers who lurked around him. But one thing was guaranteed to him by the Laws of Nature. It was sure, he would never stop growing. Metamorphosis was inevitable for his survival. Though he was gradually adapting and maturing, becoming a butterfly wasn't the need of the hour shortly after yesterday.

GRAPES, RAISINS OR WINE?

Being a shy-guy made him weaker, the caterpillar wrote down his bucket list. The No. 1 item in it was to reduce the gap between him and the pacing world. Why did he decide so? It struck in his mind that an introvert can also become a respected public leader. 

"Tree Talks", a biannual event where great speakers came with their ideas. The caterpillar had attended one last month. The thought of speaking in front of an international audience of ants, moths, ladybugs, beetles, crickets, spiders, bees and everyone else from the Arthropoda phylum, always reverberated in his grain-sized brain.

So he was in a mission to improve his social presence around the insect kingdom. The Queen of the wise honey bees, once, had advised him to practice 'small talks' with strangers. According to her, the Farmer Ants were the greatest hard workers.

One fine afternoon, the caterpillar was commuting from work to home in the local river stream on a banana leaf. His attention was grabbed by a salesman selling raisins, black and brown. It was a farmer ant with a handful of dried berries.

The caterpillar couldn't afford to buy, but he was determined to approach the ant and do his first ever small talk. The ant and the caterpillar together alighted from the leaf.

He followed the farmer ant for a few meters. For a duration of seven seconds a million thoughts, encouraging and discouraging, crossed through his heart and mind. The 8th second was a long one but the caterpillar decided to do it no matter what and sneaked a tap on the ant's shoulder. He called, "Excuse me, please. I have a quick question."

"Yah! Go ahead." The ant stammered in his rural accent.

"I heard you selling raisins. Which is more profitable to sell? Grapes, Raisins or Wine?" He jabbered quickly.

"No. We do not sell grapes much. They are the least valuable. Usually what happens is we do not get the desired rate for the grapes. They are perishable and before they began rotting, we are forced to sell them to the traders at low yields. Also the traders work in groups. No one dares to give the cost we deserve. The trader's union have predetermined rates. So we rarely do grapes."

"Then why raisins?" The shy caterpillar asked softly.

"Generally... with raisin farmers like us, our income occurs only during festive seasons. In Diwali, we sell a lot of raisins."

"Oh. Okay." The caterpillar nodded, "Why not wine? It must fetch you more money, right?"

"Maybe. Other farmers from our village sell their produce for wine making but we do not." The ant said in his cracking voice. He reasoned, "because, my family is very religious. Money is inferior for us than our faith."

Saying his final words and partly answering the caterpillar's question, the ant crawled ahead with his bag of raisins. Meanwhile, the novice caterpillar was bewildered. He bowed his head and responded to the ant's back, "Thanks for your time, sir."

The caterpillar didn't understand the faith part, but was satisfied as he overcame his fear. He was now a better version of himself than who he was yesterday.

INSIGHTS

Let me define the story's scenario...

A TEDx Event I attended recently

The "Tree Talks" is the Ted Talks. The Queen of the honey bees is someone I know but won't name here. The local river stream is the Mumbai Suburban Railway. The farmer ant selling raisins was a man really selling raisins yesterday in the local train.

The above conversation happened with me when I was travelling yesterday, from Matunga to Thane. So, the story of the caterpillar is based on a true incident. My dear readers, you might have started guessing who the caterpillar really is. I declare, you are partly correct and partly wrong. The caterpillar is an exaggerated version of whom I was in the past. But I know, this kind of fearful caterpillar exists in every human being who fears some or the other thing.

My readers, please do not let your fears take over. After all, every beautiful butterfly was a caterpillar once.

Tracing the Heart-Gut-Brain Canal...

Bizarre yet true Episode 2: The Gut Feeling

My previous blog was dated on May 13. Here I am, with episode two of my new series, exactly one month after the last episode. First, a quick recap. In this blog series, I take some strange topics still pertaining to food and express my thoughts, anecdotes and some web research.

Here we go. (By the way... We are celebrating Two Years of Kitchen Chronicles with Chef Abhinandan... I had rebooted in June 2017)

"Gastronomy is the science of pain."

-Anthony Bourdain

When a young one acts in ways like his or her parent used to, we say that it is in the genes. Do genetics really determine our behaviour? Commenting on this would be appropriate only after years of study in Mendeleev and his science. Philosophers as early as 2000 years ago of Greek and Roman descent like Aristotle and Seneca the younger and Modern humanitarians like His Holiness the 14^th Dalai Lama try to imply that we, humans, by nature are instinctive. Meanwhile, we are social, political and cooperative beings altogether.

Apart from history and archaeology, literature is another unprejudiced witness of our heart-gut-brain relationship. Idioms and phrases like gut-wrenching and trusting one’s guts are informally popular.

Food in Community Kitchens

Concepts of community kitchen and service such as the widely practiced Sikh Langar originated with Guru Nanak in the 1500s. Sitting together on the floor and plunging into the hot food is a unique experience. Also, practices of Maha-prasads, Bhogs and Bhandaras represent the real Indian mannerisms. Bringing people together for celebration and service under the disguise of free food touches my heart (also my hungry tummy). This is the true meaning of religion (I firmly believe with no external influence on me).

Many more instances exist where food goes hand in hand with emotions. Are Indians naive? Do we lack judgement? I would deny it even though arranged-marriages are decided whether the tea is good or not.

A Dish very dear to me heart. Why? This story is for another day

Nostalgia of food is another way to connect. My favorite olfactory memories are the bengali fish jhol, khichdi and freshly baked breads, my craving begins and ends with a bigger belly. Grandma’s and Mom’s food is another nostalgic craving for those who stay away from their families.

The Ratatouille scene. (Credits Pixar and thanks a ton, Steve Jobs)

The animated Disney’s Ratatouille showed us in the climax, the prideful food critic takes a bite of the ratatouille presented (yes, it is a traditional french stew dish and not a pun at all) before him and gets transported to a childhood memory of eating the same dish in his mother’s kitchen. That image resonates with everyone, for good reason.

Emotional eating is the extreme form of what I have been communicating till now. It is not that serious issue but eating when you are angry, stressed, dejected can result into an abnormal weight-gain.

So learn to control your guts. It may take some time but probably reward you with a longer life in the living realm.

{I have always wanted to write something like this ever since I began food blogging. I agree with all responsibility that this blog cannot contain the regular humour but it might remind you of something of greater importance to you which is… your family.}

Uncanny Thoughts give birth to this...

Last week, I was pumped up, full of exuberance. Hence, it resulted in the termination of my lethargy and a new dawn in my Food blogging passion. I am still excited. I just cannot wait to recite a newer, fresher kitchen chronicle.

Almost all the time, I am thinking. I dream for innovation, ideas that can elevate my stories; notions full of spicy thrills. Well, the previous night I found one, while I was unable to sleep as the room darkened.

Before my spirit dies, lemme exploit the opportunity and strike while the iron is hot. (Except in my case, it is a cast iron utensil)

I would call this form of kitchen chronicle: “Bizarre yet True”

A short intro first…

In this, I will be talking about some unconventional stuff that are a bit strange though always (mostly) can be found in and around one’s kitchen.

Bizarre Yet True Episode 1: Pets

Yah! Pets, you read it right. Whether you like them or not, they are basically everywhere. They are omnipresent (in a kitchen). And by pets, I mean of all varying sizes. In every kitchen, whether personal or commercial, there is at least one or two lurking in silence. If you are unaware of such pets, go dig your kitchen and you might find some. Rats, cockroaches, termites, ants and many more. (Wait! They are not pets. Pest, right? I misspell a lot)

Pets or Pests, it doesn’t matter what you call them, they are a nuisance for everyone. In big commercial kitchens and restaurants, the staff loathe them from the very bottom of their feet (Not heart). They get humiliated if a lizard swims in the soup, or a rat races beneath the customer’s chairs. Horrendous! But it becomes more terrifying when an unprecedented food safety officer visits for a ‘Quality Control’ checkup. I am getting chills…

Mr. Chamka

Meet my largest buddy who often roams around my kitchen. His name is Chamka, the one with a shine, in Bengali. He is a nice creature, very social and communicative. An extroverted cat. Loves to eat chicken meat and fish too. Mostly he is given milk and biscuits, because it’s more economical. He goes crazy when is left unattended. His hunger tantrums are worth watching. Despite being a tiger hued feline, his roars (meows) are entertaining.

The question that requires to be answered is:- How to control the pets that skulk in the place where we are supposed to maintain topmost hygiene? I would suggest, rather than scaring or killing them away, just give them whatever they are in search for (in moderation). Feed them if possible. But if situation goes from worse to worst, use rational chemicals. Treat them well.

(Clearing my throat) I am saying this because I DON’T DESIRE TO BE SUED BY ‘PETA’.

Befriend them or not, YOU DECIDE!

Thanks for reading…

A Mystery of Leftovers...

In my seventeen years of life, I have been a keen observant of mannerisms. I see a lot of people and try to interpret their motives. I wouldn’t say that I judge them, nonetheless humans (unintentionally) endeavor to portray a definite image of themselves while interacting in the society. There is an aphorism that is quite popular presently; “fake it till you make it.”

The mind can influence one’s body, similarly the body can affect the state of mind. A trivial smile can induce positive thoughts, a seven minute walk changes your mood inside-out.

The End Product

I was on a long break, cameo-ed by academics, procrastination and inactivity. “Experimenting with self” is a good way to not to call oneself lazy, isn't it? Now I’m right on track, until some other thing arises to bother my perception.

Frankly speaking, I was unable to motivate myself to cook; A Chef’s Block. (Another word to describe 'sloth' is 'block')

Anyway, I excavated some leftovers from the fridge, and ‘khat khat khat’! Made a bland sauce, boiled and fried some noodles and bam! There you go, A Chopsuey!

Crisp Noodle Cake

I have plenty of time now, I hope my readers have some too.

Anthropology of Food is an interesting dilemma. No one knows what to speak, but some random dude will connect some random dots backed by some stochastic stories and assumptions and there you have AN ORIGIN OF A DISH.

One guy who wears the above description, contemplates Chopsuey to be an abbreviation of ‘Chopped Sewage’. Seriously! I accept the fact that the dish is somewhat bland, contradicts the Chinese as it contains overcooked veggies, and can be found in almost every take-away menu. 

Regardless, I feel Chopsuey is a perfect example of a dish meta-morphed as per the social ambiance. It suits both Non-Asian and Oriental taste buds, without any disappointment.

Spare me some time to speak on my take on Chopsuey. This was my fourth time making it, it felt like I am a step closer to perfection. The main attraction of this dish would not be the sauce, because it's bland. The salient one is the crisp noodle cake, it is the cherry on top of the cake (pun intended), a new mouthfeel. It doesn't depletes the overall umami as well.

Thanks for reading...

A Tribute to Our Roots...

Thali - A Journey Home

I have heard, Thali brings people together

I have no idea, how it changes the household weather

Is it the food? Or is it the plate?

Still it establishes the bond and teaches us the social etiquette

I have heard, Thali brings people together

That is the reason why, food is a mesmerising essence of India

There are many kinds; Vegetarian Marwadi, Gujarati and Non-vegetarian Bohri and Bengali

Different traditions have their own identity which is recognised by their unique Thali

I have heard, Thali brings people together
Right amounts of proteins, fats and carbs coming altogether

Balance diet would have been the prime motive behind it's formation

Rainbow like colours of vermilion, green and yellow in a perfect syncronisation

I have heard, Thali brings people together

My mother says me to have all veggies even though they may taste awful

But there is starch in the form of breads, rotis and rice

Devouring their combinations feels like a paradise in disguise

I have heard, Thali brings people together
The meal may include rice, chapati, dal, vegetables, chutney and curry
I believe, the main idea was to offer all the six flavours of sweet, salt, bitter, sour, astringent and spicy in a single serving
Even for a poor man, satisfaction derived from the Thali makes him feel like a True King

I have heard, Thali brings people together
It's a delight to see the whole family eating and chatting as if it is their last plunder
There may be great Chefs on this planet, but there is only one Thali connoisseur
Even now the Chef of the House is working, she is the one and only, my lovely mother

"If Preaching is bland pasta, then examples are the spices"

"South Indian Thali" from Madurai, a Dravidian Pilgrim in Southern India. For a foodie like me, it was a perfect lunch after the tranquil visit of the Temple.

Comment below your suggestions on the poem. Be sure to follow me on my social network.

My first ever "Poetic Recipe"

The Lazy Way to Swirl

The season was humid, the wind ran fast

The clouds were angry, they conferenced to meet

Ninety percent precipitation was the weather forecast

So I felt the urge to eat, anything oily but sweet

I stepped inside my kitchen, turned on the gas

Placed a heavy pot on the red-blue flame

Heated the sugar and something nice happened

The exquisite aroma dispersed, caramelisation was it's name

I poured a cup of water as the sugar would have burned

A pinch of cardamom to give a nice effect

Whisked the mixture till the caramel dissolved

Gradually it thickened and the sugar syrup turned perfect

In a separate mixing bowl, dumped all my ingredients

I felt I was going right, I was at my best

The yeast, flour, salt, sugar; some soda and water at regular intervals

For fifteen-twenty minutes, the batter had to rest

Meanwhile, I heated the oil at 180 c

Poured the batter in a piping bag with the help of a cup

Swirled my hands, fried the jalebis with my hands moving fast

Finally, the cooked jalebis were dipped in the sugar syrup

The rains were almost over as the Rain God blessed me

My wish came true as he was pleased with me

I served my jalebis with some hot tea

Nuts were garnished which amplified it's beauty

I have returned with some new ideas which are fresh like my dishes. Comment below your suggestions on the poem. Be sure to follow me on my social network.

My encounter with Ms. Mentha.

After a long-long break, I came to my senses which gave me a thirst to write on this page.

My readers, I made a new friend and she is a lady (this line contradicts!).

Let me describe her, even though judging a lady can only be done by a lady. Still I will try my best.

When I met her, I had already lost my sense of perception. I had a fresh aroma down my nostrils, my eyes were addicted to her green beauty. I felt that I really lost all my fatigue and her fresh aura was the 8th wonder I saw in my short span of 1.6 decade.

She beared the name Piperita Mentha. But later she gave me the authority to call her Pepper. It took her a zeptosecond to grasp my humour and I enjoyed watching her laugh. She told me about her ancestral origin and she is the descendent of the Spear and Water Clans from Europe.

Later. Suddenly, I felt my right fingers full of burn scars. It seemed as if I had grabbed a hot-sizzling wok with my fingers. I sustained the pain. My clothes became sweaty and the temperature was too high. There was no hope for a breeze of cool air. I fainted... while she worried for me.

I opened my eyes. I was in my kitchen. The fan was switched off and the exhaust was stuck. I finally realized that it was a short dream because I was holding a knife in my right and a bunch of mint leaves in my left hand. The gas was on and the wok was being heated. Still I had burn scars on my fingers. This was a hallucination, a trickery by my sub-consciousness.

25 minutes later, I ended up with this...

My first ever dish with mint. Szechuan Noodles with lots of veggies. I had used mint while sauteing the veggies as well as in for garnish. This resulted into a new dimension of flavors.

My Childhood Rivalry with Tomatoes and how I overcame them...

Chinese Choupsey - My style...

久しぶり

(Hisashiburi - Its been a while)

Yesterday evening, I was pretty hungry (like always) to prepare something new. My food stocks were refilled. I had gained some inspiration for a kick start and rest is history! (Of past few hours)*

I finally possessed the four 'P's similar to that of Marketing (Coz I am studying commerce, u know?) . 

According to ME, every plate of food goes through four stages viz. Plan, Pockets, Place and Plating.

Plan:- This consists of making a proper recipe with lowest probability of failure. 

Pockets:- Here, "pockets" is referred as Resources or Stocks of proper ingredients. Having quality ingredients results to quality food.

Place:- Eventually, place is nothing but a safe and well-equiped kitchen.

Plating:- Presentation is equally important to taste. The critic should be able to judge our dish without even tasting it.

I have been working on all four prospects since a year.

ENTER THE "UMAMI"!

Since my childhood, I was a picky brat. The vegetable I used to hate the most were the nasty tomatoes. I felt like puking when I smelled them. But it is the need of the century, for me to eat and cook tomatoes. Well, I did overcame my psychological issue.

I have been watching a new Anime namely 'Shokugeki no souma' which is regarding culinary battles. From it I came to know about Umami in japanese and other international cuisines. So I did a little knowledge hunt and learned about Monosodium Glutamate (ajinomoto) which affects the umami receptors and gives a great aftertaste. The unique salt can be separately added in foods but it is naturally found in many fermanted ingredients, parmesan cheese and tomatoes. Yes. I was in a dilemma to see my "enemy" in this category. From yesterday I am respecting tomato as my senpai and am expecting it to cooperate with me in my culinary journey.

What's magic and where can I find some?

Deciphering the Magic in me

"Those who don't believe in magic will never find it."

—Roald Dahl

(The narrator guesses that he made his readers familiar with the Novelist el Chef.)

First things first. Let me fulfill my duty as a food blogger.

Presenting 'Townie'. A tart with brownie. The tart base is so buttery that I still can't forget it's flakiness. The brownie is awesome as hell. The accompanied nuts adds the nutty element. Well, this is the only piece that I was able to cut properly. I had messed up almost everything while doing so...

My current situation can be emphasized as...

"a state in which people (temporarily) lose their sense of time (whether the weather be, day or night), can't sleep and their bodies tend to move themselves to fulfill their Dreams."  

...(Is this Junoon-Jasba, as my watch says its 03:06 hrs???)

People who doesn't know the meaning of the above bold words can refers them as Inner Magic.

(Ha haahaa. Abrakadabra)

I do believe Magic. By me, it is something (still) undefined by science. For ex. TRUE origin of life. 

Every human has some kind of magic in them but s/he needs some guidance to explore and polish their witchcraft and wizardry...(Harwy Potah style)

The word believe is itself a be"LIE"ve. A man's faith and belief is something not to be forceful.

As far as the connection between ME and the Qoute-smith, I remember his poem 'Television' which was in my 10th grade syllabus.

For more such one way conversations keep following me on the web. You may encourage me by commenting below, but actually I don't require such encouragement, as I get inspired by the people I see daily.