The greatest story that was never told – our living story of finding our spicy roots in the US!

Masala Dosa, Cary, NC.
Masala Dosa, Cary, NC.

S. Ramanujan, The Man Who Knew Infinity, died at a rather young age of 32.  His death was partially attributed to the malnutrition he suffered while he was at Cambridge during WW I. During his time in England, he could not find ‘lodgings where good vegetarian food was given.’ This was long before curry houses became prevalent.  He complained that he ‘would have suffered much more had it not been for the good milk obtained’ there. He begged in his letters to his friends and family to send ‘some tamarind (seeds being removed) and good coconut oil by postal parcel through cheapest route.’ It was such a desperate food situation that he would resort to making rice and sprinkle it with a few drops of lemon juice and add some salt to concoct a rasam. Continue reading The greatest story that was never told – our living story of finding our spicy roots in the US!

Rasam and tracing the ‘essence’- the rasa – of our food

Rasam and tracing the ‘essence’- the rasa – of our food

Rasam - The spicy soul
Rasam – The Spicy Soul

Rasam, as we call it, is as fundamental to our food as the very air we breathe, and yet it is the simplest form of a soup. It is a comfort food for us, and to all our South Indian neighbors. When the British came to India, it was the first Indian food that got anglicized. They called it mullaga (chile) water, which eventually evolved into Mulligatawny Soup. Apparently, they liked it so much so that today, in its varied incarnations, it is available the world over. Continue reading Rasam and tracing the ‘essence’- the rasa – of our food

Corn Roaster

Corn Roaster, Marina Beach, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

Beach Food, street food
Corn Roaster, Marina Beach, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

I could not have chosen a better day to visit the famed Marina Beach! It was a Friday evening, and it seemed like everyone in Chennai was at the beach on that day to get a dose of the cool evening sea breeze after a very long, hot, and humid summer day. The beach was brimming with concession vendors, photographers, sellers and buyers, Romeos, young lovers, petty thieves, and children. Continue reading Corn Roaster