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!

India Town

Patel Brothers, Indian Grocers, Cary, North Carolina, USA.

 

Patil Brothers - The Spicy Soul
Patel Brothers – The Spicy Soul

When I was a student, in the college town where I lived, there used to be only one grocery store that sold spices catering to the small Indian student population.  The Asian gentleman who owned this small grocery store called “Asia Stores” kept just one shelf full of Indian groceries. They were generic Indian spices and some Patak’s pickles. We were creative in using these spices to concoct some of the best sambars, rasams and curry varieties. Continue reading India Town

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

Sambar/Vegetable Lentil Stew

Sambar/Vegetable Lentil Stew

Sambar - The Spicy Soul
Sambar – The Spicy Soul

Of course, a dish as popular as Sambar must have a real tall tale to showcase its mighty origin! One day, Sambaji (none other than the son of the great Maratha warrior Sivaji), who also happens to be a great cook, finds himself without his favorite ingredients in his cousin’s kingly court kitchen in Tanjore. He magically creates this world-famous dish with local ingredients and aptly names it after himself – Sambar!  Continue reading Sambar/Vegetable Lentil Stew

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