Culinary skills

Discovery of my culinary skills

The beginning of 2015 turned out to be a year of discovery. It was the unearthing of an untapped latent talent, unimaginable dream, something hard to accept as a reality, both for me and my beloved spouse. Yes, that I could cook on my own and that too quite well at first instance based on rapid quick instructions noted down in a scrap book just before the day I left to Germany. No training, no supervision, yet I prevailed and how well did I do…I will tell you now…

I was scheduled to stay in Hamburg, Germany for almost 7 weeks. That is quite a long time to be eating out 3 times a day. So I had no option but to carry all the masalas, basic kitchen items, so on and so forth. It was, as if, I had left on a warpath. Well, officially, in a way yes, it was to integrate a company and personally, I had to survive the hard times of being alone and manage the show. This time around, unlike in the past, there was no family or maid to cook and serve delicious food. And food is indeed precious to me.

So, how did I manage? Here we go. I left the shores of Chennai on the 19th of Jan 2015 morning and landed the same evening in Hamburg after almost 14 hours of travel. By the time I reached the hotel it was 8.30 PM. I left my luggage in the hotel and went to a nearby Kebab shop to have some food. But, this time around, I did not like it much.

And from the next day, my fingers tapped, chopped, sliced, minced, mixed and mashed all the myriad stuff that I bought from India to make some great, yummy, sumptuous, and scrumptious food. Well, not as delectable as my better half would make, yet good enough….you know, it’s time now to return back home and enjoy the delicacies that she has to offer…so you have to oblige. After all, women are a supernal dainty delicacy themselves and my spouse is someone very special.

Alright, back to food. Ok, I had the help of ready mix items. But nevertheless, I was able to make the following variety of dishes.

A] Rava Idly

B] Rava and Masala Upma with some additional garnishing’s of my own choice.

C] Mor Kozhambu

D] Mixed vegetable curry (gravy/dry) in such large quantity that can be a match for the 4sa potluck get together. Tasty as well…

E] Aval upma with garnishing

F] Sambhar

G] Kichidi

H] Beetroot and Carrot curry with coconut

I] Bhindi fry

J] Jeera rice

K] Many types of raithas

L] Palak sambhar

M] Yellow Dal

N] Palak Dal

O] Noodles

P] Tomato and vegetable bath

Oh my god!!!...I just can’t believe myself. Is this me…oh gosh…amazing man…this is stupendous effort. What a change from someone who defined all odds to keep himself out of the kitchen to become a kitchen king.

Well, as my father oft says, necessity is the mother of invention. And my spouse would put it differently. You had to satisfy your stomach and you have no choice but to do this. So eventually, you were forced to do this.

Yes, may be…not may be…both of the above statements are true. And I made it happen. And did I enjoy what I did. Yes, very much, because I loved it as an excuse to get away from the daily office chores etc., and try something creative, for me especially being the first time.

Somehow, all the mixes and matches came out pretty well and was appreciated by my colleagues who tasted it. They said, it is quite good, especially for a first timer. And there you go…that’s how I…should I say… on the way to become a master chef…cool isn’t it.

It’s the 4th of March and I am scheduled to travel back to Chennai day after tomorrow. Everyone is anxiously waiting for my return…and so am I. Is it to see me…or see what I can offer…as a culinary expert…only time will tell…?

#Travel