As if desis could get any more passionate about their comida, food diversity in India is rising with income (thanks, Rohit):
The amount spent nationally on meals outside the home has more than doubled in the past decade, to about $5 billion a year, and is expected to double again in about half that time…“In the 1970’s and 1980’s our international menu consisted of Russian salad, shrimp cocktail, French fries … oh, and something baked,” Mr. Desai said. “Recently, though, I had a conservative Hindu lady explain to me the specifics of a risotto she wants for her son’s wedding, and a traditional Bohri Muslim family requested Mongolian hot pots…”
“When I first opened Diva people would send back al dente risotto because they were used to very soft cooked basmati rice…”
While I’m complaining about not getting arbi, Bombayites were complaining about not getting Italian:
The legendary Crawford Market in Mumbai… sells broccoli, iceberg lettuce, thyme, basil, rosemary, bell peppers and other non-Indian vegetables. Pasta in bulk is available alongside basmati rice.
It’s all causing drama with the saas:
“Much to my mother’s chagrin I use store-bought yogurt,” said Rujuta Jog, 24, a recently married office worker. “And my mother-in-law was upset when she saw that I use Pillsbury flour to make rotis. She still prefers to buy wheat and grind it fresh…”“In the old days, since only the men worked outside the home, they were served first,” said Sathya Saran, a senior executive at Worldwide Media, one of India’s largest publishing companies. “Now everyone eats together, and the entire family dynamic has begun to shift.”
They’re quickly picking up the worst of the West, chhi!
… a celebrity chef whose cooking show, “Khana Khazana” (“Food Treasures”), is the longest-running program on Indian television, has an infomercial promoting the Sanjeev Kapoor Tandoor…
The story makes an inept comparison, Coffee Day is more like Starbucks than Dunkin’ Donuts:
Ms. Jog’s husband, Vivek, a computer sales executive, brought back an appreciation for American coffee culture when he returned from a stint working in Boston for Intel. Cafe Coffee Day, India’s answer to Dunkin’ Donuts, was ready for him…
One import I’d love to see is achar tasting, India’s answer to automated wine bars:
“In one local mall in Mumbai an eatery geared toward the Indian Gujarati middle class even offers a pickle tasting bar…”
Aaand… now I’m hungry. Off to make myself some masala tortelloni.
You left out the best part: “Sanjeev Kapoor, a celebrity chef whose cooking show, “Khana Khazana” (“Food Treasures”), is the longest-running program on Indian television, has an infomercial promoting the Sanjeev Kapoor Tandoor, a sort of George Foreman grill offered as a healthy new-age timesaver.”
😛
Yeah, that was quite the rhyme. Added, thanks.
eeeeeew, arbi. i HATE that stuff. and of course, my parents grew taro by the bushel. blech! i’ll console myself with your love of achar. where’s the pickle-bar at? 😉
p.s. vinod, is arbi/taro the same as chembh? or is it the other root-thing that starts with “ch”…chehn? (yes, yes, my spelling blows.)
taro= bleeecchcchchchhhhhhh 😛
You know, I have to wonder how successful an italian/indian franchise would be in india. Its got a growing middle class with money to spend, and an insatiable hunger for anything west. After clothing, food is definitely an expenditure target for indians. Maybe even before clothing… Anyone in with me? 😉
Cafe Coffee Day, India’s answer to Dunkin’ Donuts, was ready for himâ€Å
Not another word about “chai tea.” 😉
Oh – and Italian pasta (rotini?) with Indian spices is one of the most delightful things I’ve tasted. The taste and texture are unexpected together… but good.
We get this beverage called the Chai Latte at the Second Cup over here……it’s name intrigued me and I tried it. However I was disappointed to find out that it tasted neither like tea nor like a latte.
And like chai latte, egg cream contains neither egg nor cream.
On Indian style pasta… I believe Manish has a tortellini masala type recipe. Do share it with your Sepia readers, chef.
No Anna, it isn’t Chehna. It is Chembu, which is a sort of potato.
As for Chehna, is more a yam, elephants foot yam if I remember correctly.
Oh, for some Chehna Thoran…. 🙁
Chai Tea Latte – the most redundant version I’ve seen. All of them sort of taste like molten cookie – ease up on the cinnomon, yo!
Mmmm…..chembuh 🙂 What’s the verdict on Jerusalem artichokes (aka sunchokes)?
-D
AAACK! i hate ALL the “Ch-” veggies…Chembu, Chehna and CHEERA (the spinach that dyes thenga PINK). of course the garden at home bustles with them, as well as pavaka, velarika and padvelenga…if it weren’t for the pavaka, i’d starve. 😉
p.s. thank youuuuu Gautam for the spelling check 🙂
:+:
deepa, when i am forced to go to the unholy Starbucks, i occasionally get the redundant latte, but that’s b/c i love cinnamon. i have no delusions of “chai”. 😉
ANNA, thanks for the delocator link!! What’s thoroughly nauseating is the fact that there are 180 Starbucks-es in a 5 mile radius of my office.
Anna, I just went all lowe-y about my current place of residence: Local cafes in a 5-mile radius: 73. Starbucks: 75. Not bad?!? More notable, in a two-block radius in my neighborhood: Local cafes: minimum of 5. Starbucks: 0. Even though I don’t go to cafes, that was my happy thought for the day!
Coffee day OWNZ…and so does Barista 🙂