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The magic of meal time

The magic of mealtime

Published by Anita

Growing up, I remember that my parents always made sure we ate at the table. Together. At least one meal and it was usually dinner. I didn’t really pay much importance to it till I grew up and moved on and out of home. 

Now that I look back, I really appreciate that we all got together at the dining table every evening. It might not have been deep conversations all the time, but just the act of gathering at the table was something we followed pretty much every night. As was tradition, mom would cook, and the three of us would eat! I do remember trying to learn some culinary skills at a young age, more specifically baking, but for some reason my mom did always insist on taking charge of the kitchen and never really taught us how to cook. My sister, however, did go on to become a chef during the early phase of her grown up life, but that’s a whole different story.  

As I moved on in life, I crossed the country to study journalism and found two wonderful roommates. Thankfully for me, one of them was a marvelous cook (she still is!) and I remember that we had a small table where we would gather around whenever we were in the house and just talk to each other (pre-mobile phone/laptop days), recount the day’s activities and share our experiences and enjoy our food over a lot of laughter and great conversation. It was also our shared love for good food that was the glue which kept us together in a sense!

During my workshop in France last month, it was a daily practice for everyone—16 of us—to get together and share our meals. Over glasses of wine, there was merry chitchat and a lot of laughter as we shared stories and talked to each other. No phones to disturb us. Everyone was present in that moment.

In France, it was our daily routine to get together for our evening apero and meal where we exchanged stories and relaxed after a day's work.

In France, it was our daily routine to get together for our evening apero and meal where we exchanged stories and relaxed after a day’s work.

Delicious fresh food we feasted on!

Delicious fresh food we feasted on!

I recently visited Stephanie in Switzerland, and whenever she was home early, we made sure we set the table and ate our meals together—chatting about various things. Our life’s trajectories have taken us on different paths, but there have been a lot of common trends, and it’s just great to have an insightful conversation about some of life’s lessons. Just talking to each other, over a shared meal, over our love for good food, I realized we learn so much from one another. Stephanie is also easy to please with food, and I found her to be an eager and appreciative subject for all my experimentations. She’s also a great cook herself and whipped up an excellent poha, which I personally find very challenging to get right! 

Stephanie was an eager and appreciative subject for my food experimentations!

Stephanie was an eager and appreciative subject for my food experimentations! Her kitty Quintus, however, was not very impressed with my no meat diet!

A Swiss person who makes poha. Oh my goodness!

A Swiss person who makes excellent poha. Oh my goodness!

Somewhere along the way, I lost that important practice in my life. Today, the tendency is usually to bury ourselves into some device and eat our meals on a sofa, each to his/her own. It’s as if the food is always secondary to what we’re doing at that point of time—reading the news, catching up on emails, watching a movie etc. 

When did that happen, I wonder? Do most families operate this way and have lost the art of eating around a table? I don’t have a large family—it’s just two people—is that perhaps one reason why this practice has died? I can understand that for a single person, there’s not much motivation to do this as a practice, but being present and paying attention to food is still something that I would try and do, if I’m eating a meal on my own.  

Of late, I’m trying to be more conscious of what I eat, and if you’ve read my earlier post, you’ll know I’m on a 100 day challenge. I’ve realized that I personally can choose be in the moment, when I’m eating a meal. I’d rather be focusing on the flavors, the texture and the nutrients I’m putting into my body instead of being distracted by a million other things. I’ve decided that when I’m in front of my plate, whenever possible, I will take that time out to enjoy that particular moment to the fullest. 

I still like to think that some families do eat meals together; or at least they try. If not around a table, then at least at the same time. Is this a practice that families and couples still cherish? 

 

A 100 day challenge: Fitness, food and a few important things

Published by Anita

When visiting Stephanie last month in Switzerland, she and I reminisced about when we met and how we met. We actually met through our blogs! I was quite active on blogger at that time, having discovered blogs around 2002. I found some correspondence between us dating back to 2004, but we might have connected even before that time frame.

Stephanie and I, enjoying a day out in her mountain chalet

Stephanie and I, enjoying a day out in her mountain chalet

We were both prolific blog writers—Stephanie wrote a lot about her experiences in India and that’s what got me interested (why would someone leave paradise, a.k.a. Switzerland, and spend a year in India?!). I used to write a lot of ‘diary’ like posts about life in general, my travels and experiences. Over the years, I’ve lost that habit (of writing on my blog regularly, not writing for work, which is my bread and butter!) and I still remember it feeling so good to just write. It didn’t matter what the topic was—and I didn’t have reservations about writing about what I ate for breakfast or what I did for lunch. It was my blog and I felt I could pretty much vent and express myself through it.

Over the years, a lot of self analysis and critical thinking set in. For example, ‘maybe this is too frivolous’ or ‘should I really write about this?’—were some of the thoughts in my mind when on the verge of writing. More often than not, I would then convince myself that no one would be interested in what I had to say.

In a way, I probably killed off my own creative spirit. The act of writing has always been a bit like ‘purging’ for me, though not in the negative sense. Just offloading these thoughts and feelings coursing through my veins, which in the normal course of life doesn’t have an outlet, is rather cathartic. 

Back to 2018 and as I look back, I’ve been blogging (intermittently through the last few years) since around 2002, via blogger, LiveJournal and then WordPress set up on my own domain. I’m ready to start writing again—and this time I’m going to worry less about what other people think. In a sense, I’m going to treat this as what it was primarily meant to be—my playground! 

So Steph and I made a pact. That she would write a post and then challenge me to write one. And back and forth. To get my creative juices flowing and get back into the habit of writing again. 

Setting a new goal: 100 day countdown

So my routine, or the challenge I’ve set for myself, has a few aspects to it. It’s a 100 day challenge (why 100?—I just felt this was a feasible number) and these are the 4 things I’ve set as my focus tracks (disclosure: I began on July 23 so I’m on day 88 counting down now). 

NO 1: FITNESS

One workout a day for 100 days, no excuses. The only exception is falling sick or injury in which case, I have to make up by compensating on other days. 

After getting back from my adventures in Europe (more posts coming on that topic), I decided I had to work harder on getting my fitness back. While I had prepared (somewhat) for the big adventure (a 2 week hike around Mont Blanc), I felt I could have been in better shape.

 The last year and a half, I’ve struggled with my fitness. A lot of other things took priority and I found myself letting go with what I really enjoy—keeping fit. 

On July 23rd, I embarked on a plan to get back some of my fitness. Traveling in Europe put my eating habits way off track. At the ceramics workshop I attended in the south of France, it was easy to settle into a glass of wine (or two) everyday after a long day at the studio. Especially, since everyone gathered around the table sipping wine and exchanging stories. It was an easy habit to fall into, given my penchant for wine.

And then, during our hike, I pretty much ate whatever was available.

Tour du Mont Blanc: a two week hike covering 3 countries

Tour du Mont Blanc: a two week hike covering 3 countries

To cut the long story short, I came back home and decided to get my act together. 

My aim for the next 100 days to get in one workout everyday, and if more, one of them should be a run/walk of at least 5 kms. I feel better with a goal in sight and something to work towards. I’m trying to create a stronger mental frame of mind by keeping a target in front of me.

I also want to set a regular yoga practice in place; something I’ve wanted to do for a long time, and I’m hoping to do that in the next few weeks. I found a really nice yoga studio in Lausanne where I practiced for nearly 3 weeks and really enjoyed my time there. My goal is to find something similar here and establish a good practice. Apart from that, I am hoping to get in bike rides whenever I can and some hikes as well; and go back to swimming, which is one activity I miss. 

There's nothing quite like the freedom of being on a bike!

There’s nothing quite like the freedom of being on a bike!

NO 2: FOOD & NUTRITION

Clean, healthy food; eat just what the body needs

I’ve always been a big foodie and anyone who knows me will vouch for the fact that I can do anything for good food. I also eat WAY more than I actually need. To begin with, I’m eliminating some foods which I know don’t really help me much. And it’s mainly bread, sugar and meat. I cut down on my meat consumption last year and occasionally eat chicken. But I largely try and eat vegetables, fruits and grains when I have an option. I love fish and do also indulge in it around once a week.

I remember growing up, mum would have the hardest time to get us to eat our vegetables. I wasn’t too fussy, but my sister was an absolute terror. I still remember her tantrums at the dining table when it came to food! Now, both of us are vegetable junkies and my mom is horrified when we say we don’t want meat ;-/ How the tables have turned! 

I’ve definitely become more mindful of what I eat. While I’ve never had a sweet tooth, I did notice that my sweet consumption has increased over the last few years. I’m eliminating (processed) sugar/sweet though I still consume fruits which contain sugar. Apart from following these guidelines, my main challenge is to eat what my body needs, and not carelessly eat for the sake of it.

Filling my plate with colors!

Filling my plate with colors!

After 10 days, I’ve realized that I’m already feeling better and I look forward to my meals—I’m experimenting with various veggies and trying to look for simple but yummy recipes. My goal is to eat good food, but I also don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen! 

NO 3: DECLUTTER

Get rid of things that don’t serve a purpose or that I haven’t used in the last 6 months to a year

‘Things’ tend to accumulate over the years. I remember coming to the US with a couple of suitcases, two cats and some furniture (and yes, I did get all my curtains and kitchen stuff along). But ‘collecting’ runs in my veins. In my family, my dad is notorious about hoarding. He has documents ranging back to the 1960s and files from his bank days, which he still clings on to. He cannot throw away ANYTHING—what if we need this little screw thingabobby sometime in the future?  

I seem to have caught a bit of his strain, though in my case, I recognize the problem and constantly try to do something about it. My goal in the next few months is to tackle one problem at a time. Since we live in a pretty small space, I need have to be creative too. 

I’ve basically divided the areas into:

1) kitchen—organize it better and get rid of a lot of cutlery/plates etc. I no longer use. I also use more of handmade plates/cups and bowls now, and I need to get rid of everything else that I don’t have any use for anymore.

2) clothes—it’s amazing how many t-shirts one tends to collect! I’ve never been a big spender on clothes or shoes, but my goal is to give away everything I haven’t worn and don’t fit into anymore.

3) art/crafts – I tend to do a lot of my work at home and over a period of time I’ve collected a huge range of things like beads, tools, glazes, books, accessories, files etc. I’m hoping to give away everything I know I’ll never use again!

5) patio: this is one area where I have a succulent garden—and also a lot of my clay tools, the wheel and other random stuff I tend to accumulate. 

NO 4: WRITE

Get into the daily habit of writing

Marissa Meyer in this post has some interesting tips about how to write more. Some of the tips include, doing it first thing in the morning, turning of distractions (like the Internet!) and don’t multi-task during that time (very important: I get distracted by all those interesting videos online!). Also, have someone who’s going to make sure you’re accountable and that’s where I’m counting on Steph!

While I am maintaining a diary of the 100 day challenge, that is private. But I am recording it on Instagram, so feel free to follow my journey, send me inspiration or just laugh at me! 

http://www.instagram.com/anitabora

I’m also on Strava, where you can keep track of what I’m upto:

https://www.strava.com/athletes/7971153

While on this topic, I also learnt a new word from Steph’s blog post—acedia— which is mental sloth. And it sounds quite familiar. I do procrastinate on low impact tasks I really don’t want to spend my time doing. There’s no real deadline or need in this case, and I’ve been known to push it out to another time and another day. For example, I absolutely do need to organize my work desk, but I haven’t really gotten around to it as yet. And paper work, argghh… Don’t even get me started.

So there you go. I’ll try and take pictures of the projects I’m taking on and have updates on progress. 

I’m on day 89 now and my next challenge is to identify which area to declutter first. And meal prep for week 3! 

Wish me luck 🙂 

Albi Chronicles: A tram ride to remember

Published by Anita

As the noisy white tram clattered through the narrow cobbled streets, I am filled with wonder at the navigation skills of the driver of this rather clunky long vehicle. He’s doing very well and considering the train runs around 5-6 times a day, he can probably do this in his sleep.

We’re in the town of Albi in Southern France and this tram proves to be a rather quick and easy way to get in a 45 minute glimpse of the city.  Though I’m using the term city rather loosely. It’s small as far as cities go and this is one place where you’d be hard pressed to get lost. The first morning here, I realized that all roads lead to the main cathedral. And you don’t really need GPS or a map after the first couple of hours—just check where you are in relation to the cathedral tower, which is visible wherever you go. 

Located beside the Tarn river, the main attraction of Albi is the Cathédrale Sainte-Cécile. The outside walls of this imposing brick building are quite bland, but the sheer height is impressive. Built as a fort, it’s claimed to be the largest brick building in the world and was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.  A few menacing gargoyles look out from the top right of the building while the entrance itself has delicately carved sculptures and arches. Once you enter the cathedral, you are immediately drawn to the very large organ situated towards the front—the work of Christophe Moucherel, which dates from the 18th century. It apparently has thousands of pipes and I could only imagine what it sounds like in real life when in action. 

The next thing that you stare at in open eyed wonder is the ceiling—elaborately decorated and painted. Every section tells a different story and the audio tape you can hire inside the cathedral for Euro 5 gives you all the details. On the first floor is also a section showcasing treasures from the medieval era, with signs explaining their context and my very poor French wasn’t enough to decipher them, but some of them looked mighty impressive.

We also got an impromptu performance from a traveling group. 

As medieval towns go, Albi has retained it’s charm of the yesteryears. When you’re walking around the streets, you might think a horse drawn carriage will draw up beside you and ask you where you’re heading and if you’d care for a canter. But then a motor car whizzes by quickly dissipating that image.

The town itself is very small with a very useful map the tourism office (situated right opposite the cathedral) will provide you. They mark 3 walking routes and you can probably cover that over 2 days—Circuit Pourpre, Or and Azur. One day if you’re really enthusiastic and plan to run from one sight to another.

The other worthwhile visit is to the Toulouse Lautrec museum which houses a lot of art from older and contemporary artists and is named after French artist, caricaturist and illustrator, Henri de Toulouse Lautrec. Fun fact—an early painting of his called La Blanchisseuse—sold for a record 22.4 million at Christy’s auction house in 2005. Gasp! 

I enjoyed walking across Pont Vieux—apparently the oldest working bridge in France—and took my time sauntering across a couple of times. From there, you get a view of the new bridge a few hundred meters away, which is slightly larger and higher than the old one.

You can easily spend a day or two walking around, enjoying the river (there’s a path beside it which stretches for a few kilometers). There are some pleasant cafes and restaurants where you can enjoy cuisine from the l’occitane region to even Turkish kebabs and Lebanese food. The Place du Vigan seems to be quite popular for tourists and with a few restaurants with outside seating. This could be another place to watch the world go by, while you sip on a glass of wine. 

I was pleasantly surprised when the driver of the tram greeted me warmly in English (I don’t usually presume that everyone knows the language!) but he seemed only to happy to practice it on me. He told me which channel to select to hear the English translation as the tram made it’s way through the by lanes of Albi. It can get a bit harrowing at times—you think the tram might touch the wall of some of the brick-wall buildings as it clatters through—but it adds a dash of excitement to your trip to this otherwise laid-back and quiet French city. 

Accommodation:

I stayed at the hotel Les Pasteliers. The owner spoke English and was very helpful. The room I got was quite small, but cosy and since I was out a lot, I didn’t really mind. The bathroom especially is extremely congested and might be uncomfortable for a larger/taller person, so make sure you check that before you get the room. Since I’m not blessed with long limbs, I managed to fit in!

They had breakfast at the hotel and it was mainly a large assortment of bread, croissants and jams/chutneys/butter and comes at an additional price. Some hotels might have breakfast included. Also a good idea to check while booking.

Eating:

The tourism office has a book which recommends restaurants. Make sure you pick it up – it’s usually not on display and I had to ask for it. The helpful lady at the desk gave me one. I did look up places to eat too and found this quite helpful: Albi Restaurants

Restaurants tend to have a ‘prix fixe’ menu between Euro 20-25. But if you don’t want to spend that much, there are options which cost lesser. I found a Lebanese restaurant where I had a meal for Euro 10 and this crepe restaurant where I spent around Euro 15. 

Getting Around:

By foot is the best since it’s a very small town. And of course, get the tram ride.

Getting to Albi:

Toulouse is an hour away by train and unless there’s a strike (it was going on while I was there), they run quite efficiently.

The other option is visiting Albi on a day trip if you’re in Toulouse.

Picture postcard Albi-Ville

Published by Anita

Landed in this charming little town yesterday and walked around the cobbled streets on a rainy evening. The town’s main feature is the Saint Cecile cathedral, which is the largest brick cathedral in the world and a UNESCO world heritage building. It’s been rather gloomy but I plan to venture out today, umbrella in tow, of course! 

Under Canvas in Zion

Starry nights and the glamping experience with Under Canvas, Utah

Published by Anita

A road trip covering four national parks – Canyonlands, Arches, Bryce and Zion – gave us the opportunity to go “glamping” in Utah and we found the perfect location – Under Canvas

A recent road trip saw us journey through four national parks in Utah. We began exploring Canyonlands, and the Arches (which are in the same vicinity). From there, we drove to Bryce and after two days, continued to Zion.

Though there’s tons to write about and share about the trip, what I wanted to do is write about the fantastic place we stayed in. The concept reminded me a bit of the tents in Jungle Lodges back home in India.

If you’re looking for a camping experience, but with comfort, look no further

Under Canvas is a “glamping” alternative to camping, or staying in a hotel (or B&B). The first location we stayed in was located near Moab town in Utah. Though it seemed remote, the site was just off the highway, so you can actually hear the sound of cars whizzing by. The tents are done up comfortably and you come home to a nice big bed after a day of sightseeing or hiking.

Unfortunately though, the week we visited the temperatures soared to over a 100° F. The day we decided to come back early for an afternoon rest, we didn’t survive in the tent for more than an hour. It was like a sauna in there!

Under Canvas in Moab

Under Canvas in Moab

The main tent usually located in the center of the property has large sprinklers. Might be a better way to beat the heat. This year, it’s been unusually warm, we were told. Global warming and all those things that are still being debated. Meanwhile, the proof is doing a jig in front of us and we’re refusing to see it.

This being my first experience at an Under Canvas property, my only gripe is that the tents are really close together (they have acres around) so it would have been nice if they were further apart. The rest rooms are in a mobile vehicle converted into showers and toilets. And they’re really neat and tidy – but they’re quite small. If you’re used to showering with a bit more room, you might need to skip a few (showers!).

But overall, we had a great stay. They didn’t have food either, but if you ordered the night before, they delivered breakfast and a meal to go for the day from an outside vendor. We found some great dining options (Twisted Sisters for one) and a fantastic coffee shop (Moab Garage) in Moab.

Canyonlands viewpoint near the visitors center

Canyonlands viewpoint near the visitors center

Sunset as we drove through the Arches

Sunset as we drove through the Arches

Base yourself at Moab and explore Canyonlands and Arches

Moab is ideal to explore Canyonlands and Arches and after a couple of days, we traveled to Bryce where we stayed in a cute AirBnB (more about it later). Our third leg of the road trip was at another Under Canvas property near Zion.

View as we enter the property

View as we enter the property

Around 30 minutes from the park entrance, but with a self contained restaurant in the property, we had no complaints. But let me get to the property itself – the first thing that strikes you is that it seems to be in the middle of nowhere. When you’re driving down the road, you can’t really see the property till you get over a hill and then all of a sudden you notice the white tents arranged on the slopes in a random pattern. Framed against the rocky red mountains, it sure makes for a picture postcard frame. I love the fact that it’s remote, and there’s nothing you see from the property except some of the grandest views.

The road to Under Canvas, Zion

The road to Under Canvas, Zion

A perfect place to enjoy the gorgeous Milky Way

The solar system is clearly visible especially on the darker nights. Just look up to get a sense of how microscopic we are in the scheme of things! The property is designed on various levels and the tents have more “breathing space” between them. If you’re on a hill, the only downside is that you’re going to have to make a bit of a trip to the restrooms. But then thing of all the exercise you’re getting in exchange. And with the main area with the restaurant slightly further down the road, you could kill two birds with one stone.

Both the sunrise and the sunset were sights to behold from just outside our tent. We woke up to the soft morning light playing with the clouds and illuminating the whole valley in front of us. While the sunset colors played magic with the clouds turning orange to purple and then darkening as the evening gave way to the night. Frankly, if I was a painter, I’d probably whip out my brush and canvas. Since I’m not, I just sat back and enjoyed the spectacle.

Just chilling and the view outside the tent

Just chilling out and enjoying the view outside the tent

The central tent where the restaurant and the common area is located

The central tent where the restaurant and the common area is located

The restaurant, which is under a large domed tent in the center (and if you’re atop the hill, you can look down and see the lighted up structure any time) serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. So if you want to take a rest day and do nothing, order yourself a nice meal and sit back and relax.

Needless, to say they’ve got it right in terms of the location. I would definitely recommended at least 2-3 days here if not more.

What can I say – I’m definitely a fan of glamping now!

Comfortable enough! And just what you need after all your hiking activities

Comfortable enough! And just what you need after all your hiking activities

More information:
Under Canvas

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For the love of Mustard

Published by Anita

You either love it or hate it… The smell could make you go into raptures. The taste will leave you longing for more. It’s the rather strong sensory experience called mustard. Or as they say in France, ‘moutarde’.

While the western palette might be used to the slightly blander version of the French mustard, the Bengali version is definitely stronger and more potent. One can liken it to the ‘wasabi’ taste as a comparison. Good mustard should get into your nose and leave with you a feeling of sheer (culinary) pleasure.

Widely used in Bengali (and Assamese) cuisine, mustard gives a fresh and unmistakable intense flavor to dishes. Teamed with fish—it’s what we Bengalis and Assamese folk crave as our comfort food.

The cheery blue and white interiors of the restaurant, as we walk in, are a bit Mediterranean, but we’re assured we’re in the right place as the sign says ‘Mustard‘. The fare is Bengali and French. Might sound a bit surprising at first. But then, they are both cuisines which are centered around many ‘courses’ and they do have a common ingredient—mustard.

Located in Sangolda, Mustard is the handiwork of Shilpa Sharma and Poonam Singh who decided to give shape to their shared passion for food, after years in the hospitality and retail space. The chefs responsible for the mouthwatering delicacies are Pritha Sen, a renowned chef and food historian who curated the Bengali menu and Gregory Bazire, who lends his expertise to the Continental side of the food, bringing some of his favorites and also innovating with some of his own creations.

I am looking forward to my Bengali meal a bit more. Being an Assamese it is quite close to my own cuisine and good fish is something which makes never ceases to make me content. There’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of fresh fish, cooked well. I still remember my dad going to extreme lengths to get us good fish and then all of us going into raptures about it—and the feeling sustained pretty much through the entire day. In fact, my mom cooks up quite a fish curry, so I have naturally high standards when it comes to fish dishes.

Anyway, back to the task at hand. My friend, who accompanies me to the Mustard is a vegetarian and I tell her that I’m going to rely on her for that side of the meal since I’m more eager to taste the fish.

We talk to chef, Abhimanyu Sen, who suggests we try out smaller portions so we can taste a wider range of dishes and we’re only to happy to oblige.

My drink to set off the evening meal is Singapore Sling. My friend settles for a ‘lemu sherbet‘ (lemon juice) though my personal preference is the ‘aam porar sherbet‘, a refreshing and cooling drink made with slow roasted green mangoes in their skin and gently spiced with roasted cumin and black salt. The only reason I keep away today is because I want to make more space for the food.

Amongst the appetisers, there’s a variety to choose from both menus.

My friend tries the vegetable chop to begin with and I dig in. The Bengalis have adopted the common croquet and made it into a celebrated chop. It’s made from mashed potatoes and crumb-fried, and seasoned with fennel and ginger and is a favorite snack for any time of the day. I think we have a tendency to turn anything into a chop, but then no one’s complaining. This one is just right and sets off the mood for the rest of the food to follow.

From the French menu, we order the three layer veg millefeuille, light and crunchy pastry with vegetables in a delicious sauce and with just the right amount of cheese.

I am happy with my smoked fish, chunky with a tomato base with a hint of mustard. This fish dish, I read on the menu, was born about the steamers that plied the waters of the Padma river in undivided Bengal. It is marinated in mild flavors and smoked the traditional way with puffed rice, jaggery and husk. All I can say is that it’s a good way to start the meal.

I also taste the shammi kebab—finely minced mutton ground to a paste and then flavored with spices and filings. A delight to the tongue and senses as you bite in and enjoy the sharp taste. Dip it with a tangy yoghurt. For the lack of a better word—yummy!

I am torn about the main course, but naturally. So many things that I want to taste. Sadly, this is just one meal and there’s only that much my poor stomach can manage in a meal. Though I’m always surprised by how much!

Since I’d already tried the fish starter, I skip fish for my main course. I know, quelle horreur! But I would suggest any fish lover to try the rui maacher shorshay jhaal—it’s a preparation with mustard gravy and nigella seeds and is another staple in the Bengali cuisine. I would definitely try it next time I visit.

Rui Maacher Shorshay – I need to try this the next time! Image courtesy: Mustard

The channa dal was we order is light and sweetish, little low on salt and I must admit I’ve had better. The aloo postho (poppy seeds) lacked a bit of zing but since this is one dish both of us have eaten a lot of, maybe our standards are higher.

I mustn’t forget the main condiment of the meal of course—the mustard prepared in-house. It’s well-made and just right in terms of it’s level of intensity. The French version was delicious too.

What I am really looking forward to with much anticipation (like a true Assamese) is the luchi with kasho mangsho. Luchi is a puffed fried bread and rules supreme in Bengali (and Assamese) cuisine. Any time you want a snack or are visiting a relative or friends—be prepared to be tempted by this delicious (but calorific) snack. With a thick onion base, the mangsho (lamb) is particularly flavorful and tasty. It is cooked in mustard oil, infused with with cardamon, clove and cinammon, reputed to be Bengal’s best known meat curry, so don’t miss it. This is one dish which is usually eaten at celebrations and festive occasions. This didn’t disappoint as I downed a couple of the fluffy luchis along with this heavy, but satisfying dish.

The kosha mangsho, one of Bengal’s flagship dishes. Image courtesy: Mustard

Chef Abhimanyu chats with us a bit about the traditional Bengali meal. Beginning with a shukto (appetiser), veggies, meat dish and then end with a chutney, and a kheer based dessert. He has worked at several restaurants in Calcutta and Mumbai before moving to Goa, which he says he’s enjoying currently.

But here’s a bit on the French side too. And yes—we’re still eating…

For the main, my friend tries the tortellini pasta (more Italian then French), with pumpkin, zuchini and mushroom and served in a Girdiniera sauce, which is quite flavorful and delicious. The pesto aranccini (which we didn’t try) also sounded rather tempting—fried risotto rice balls with gooey mozzarella cheese cores inside and pesto coulis outside. What’s not to like about it, I’d say?

Ratatouille is definitely a very French dish. And I have mine with sea bass. The fish is cooked separately and has a crunchy exterior. It’s served in a tangy tomato based curry, with lots of vegetables. I do remember lessons on trying to pronounce this dish when learning French (many years ago) but I haven’t had the opportunity to taste it much. So I must admit that I didn’t have a strong reference point. In which case I usually ask myself, would I come back for it? And the answer is no. I’d probably opt for something else.

We have no room for dessert, of course by now. But like my good husband often says: “There’s always room for dessert!”
So we settle for a crème brulee, which is a happy ending to a very long and taste infused meal.

I must say though that the Bengali dishes stood out much more than the French ones. It might also be because of my natural inclination towards this particular cuisine.

But one thing I have to mention is that when you’re looking for a different taste while in Goa, try out Mustard for a bit of a refreshing experience. Your taste buds definitely won’t regret it and you’ll go back wanting more…

Two happy foodies with Chef Abhimanyu.

Address:
House no 78 Mae de Deus Vaddo,
CHOGM Road, Sangolda, Goa-403511
+(91) 9823436120
savour@mustardgoa.in

Hours: 11 a.m to 11 p.m.
Open 7 days

Budget: Around Rs 2000-Rs 2500 for 2 people with alcohol

(Note: This was on an invite by Mustard restaurant. All opinions expressed about the food are mine).

Image credits: Unless otherwise mentioned below the image, all other images are taken by me. The cover/feature image is also courtesy, Mustard.