Today the four of us were invited to have lunch at the home of an Indian couple that is somewhat affiliated with our organization. Believe me, I've eaten plenty of Indian food, but having a home-cooked, authentic Indian meal was just about a first for me. In fact, with the exception of one small Christmas party, this is the only time I've been invited to the home of an Indian family for a meal.
We had a lovely time, and they could not have been kinder or more gracious. While we live in Tamil Nadu, this couple is originally from Kerala--those two states together comprising the southernmost part of India. Their food is a little different, but rice is still the staple, unlike the north, where bread is more popular. Their language is also different from the Tamil spoken here--good thing we all spoke English!
I'm always game for anything like this, but there's also a little uncertainty for me when it comes to food. I had nothing to worry about here. We had two kinds of rice (one specifically the type they eat in Kerala), lovely chicken curry (initially described as "bird"--was it the surprised look on my face that caused him to further clarify?), chapatis (thin, flat, round bread, very nice for tearing pieces off with which to scoop up other dishes), a mixture of delicious vegetables, beet root, bitter gourd (might take a little getting used to) and more. Nothing very spicy, but all very good. Oh, if you're wondering, they offered silverware, but we declined.
The most unusual thing about the experience, for me, was that neither of our hosts ate with us. There was room at the table, and he sat with us the whole time. The wife also sat down, when she wasn't busy serving. They never explained themselves--the rest of the group was not surprised by their not eating, and I seemed to remember reading something about it--but at one point mentioned that they would be eating lunch before going to pick their kids up from school. Odd to us, but normal to them, I guess.
We took an auto rickshaw to and from their apartment, so on the way home we had to walk a short ways to get to a main street where we could hail one. There it hit me that I definitely live in one of the nicer parts of Chennai, a truth that only becomes apparent through comparison. But I don't think this family would consider themselves poor. And nothing important really seemed to be lacking.
Yet another lovely day in Chennai.
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4 comments:
Can you use your right hand in tearing off pieces of chapatis? Sounds a lot like Mexico, where they tear off pieces of tortilla for scoops (though they can use silverware in the other hand). Beet root? I thought that beets are roots. Maybe they eat the tops too, so they have to distinguish between them. Are the auto rickshaws you take designed for 4 passengers, or do you have to compact yourselves?
Two posts in a few days time? You spoil me!
Glad you had a nice time in Kerala.
Yes, using the right hand to tear pieces off the chapatis is exactly what we do. Interesting similarity.
I don't know if they are distinquishing between the tops and roots, or whether that's just their name for beets. You may well be right.
The auto rickshaws are designed for two or three people to ride. It certainly amuses the Indians to see us packed in there. Sometimes the driver has one of the guys sit up front with him, which is by far the most comfortable for all, except maybe the driver.
According to wikipedia it's common for Indians to squeeze in or construct ad hoc modifications for extra people, but where you are I guess not. Or maybe the amusement is in seeing Westerners do it.
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