From My Kitchen

When I was a baby, I was particularly fond my cousin (Shrutika didi) I idealized her, followed her everywhere and wanted to do everything she did. Didi, cooked very well. Chocolate balls, macaroni hot pot, strawberry gelatin these are treats from my childhood all lovingly introduced by her. My initial desire to cook was inspired by her. I was in my teens and too busy in my own life, so I missed the early growing years of my niece (Shrutika didi’s daughter Siddhika). But then one day I met this little girl (she may have been 8-9 yrs old) at a party, she was sitting with her arms around my dad (her nana) on a very crowded banquet table. She was half his height and 1/5 his size, but she had him twirled around her little finger. The twinkle in her eye, her beautiful smile, and very mischievous expressions was magnetic. We started our relationship on that day.  Together we did endless trips in the middle of the night to ‘Mannat’. You guessed it right, it’s the actor Shah Ru

I am back to the blog today, the quickest I have been so far!!  These are uncertain days. The evening news says we can get back to work (actual work!!), the morning news takes a ‘U’ turn, and sends me back to the kitchen. I am mentally confused and exhausted. Those who know me, know well how much I dislike indecisiveness and my need is to always plan ahead.  Although I love being in the kitchen this loss of control about what is to happen next is driving me mad. Covid times have pushed me to participating on some group chats within building societies, where change is constantly constant (drives me mad too). Besides getting a daily dose of soap opera it helps in making sure I don’t miss the bhajjiwala’s time in the building or miss the morning news before the printed paper is actually delivered. It’s all there. These days I even know whose dog is going for a walk and when in my Mumbai building society. I am completely tuned in from Bangalore!!! As the chat drama is unfoldi

It’s been four weeks since we have been locked down, as much as we may have to except it’s going to be the new normal, restlessness is creeping in. My target to blog each day has miserably failed, I do love to be in the kitchen, every part of it, sourcing, cutting, cooking, cleaning, presenting and eating. Just all of it. What I don’t like and it’s definitely not my skill is - writing.  However, this story has to be shared in this period or else it would lose it deep connection.  I am a Mumbai girl, lived through the harsh floods 26/7, the terrorist attacking the Taj Mahal Hotel 26/11.  When I was writing my last ICSE exam on 12 th  March 1993, bombs were ripping the city I love the most. Each time the city bounced back stronger,wiping every memory of the day before. I believed people for people, no matter what the crisis was, is the character of a ‘Mumbaikar’. Forward 2020. I now live in Bangalore and as Covid strikes, I expand my belief, I am an ‘Indian’