No stress to impress

My father is in town.

This man is the real deal when it comes to authentic Indian home cooking. And the official anti-Christ of quick Indian cooking.

In his sprawling Kolkata kitchen, one head chef and two assistants run ragged around him chopping, stirring and tidying. A floor-standing tandoor makes hot chicken kebabs. While dad navigates boxes of exotic spices sourced from far flung corners of India.

When he emerges from the kitchen six hours later, with an eight-part meal, I can’t help feeling a bit exhausted at the sight of it.

Now, my Indian dinner party meal planning technique is slightly less intense:

1. Make one chicken/lamb curry and a dal
2. Serve it with a cooling yogurt raita, which also cleverly doubles up as the vegetable dish and jazzed up Basmati rice
3. Buy sweets from an Indian shop and keep vanilla ice-cream handy to accompany it

I’ve never had any complaints. But then dad hasn’t had my guests over for one of his feasts yet.

9 Responses to “No stress to impress”

1. Radman Says:

   June 5th, 2008 at 3:21 pm

   Eventhough, your menu sounds sensible and delicious, I would catch the next plane back and live with Dad (or at least next door).

2. Krista Says:

   June 2nd, 2008 at 6:02 pm

   Colour me green with envy. I grew up on Kraft Dinner and Zoodles. So who cooks when he comes over to visit?

3. raita Says:

   May 26th, 2008 at 12:29 pm

   […] his sprawling Kolkata kitchen, one head chef and two assistants run ragged around him chopping, stihttp://www.quickindiancooking.com/2008/05/22/no-stress-to-impress/Punjab Palace The Phoenix A chip off the ol?? baingan bhartha Had I known that Punjab Palace was […]

4. Dee and Chai Says:

   May 25th, 2008 at 9:15 am

   Nice!!! Now we know where those great cooking genes came from !. have a great time.

5. sra Says:

   May 24th, 2008 at 4:03 am

   So is your dad cooking for you?

6. mandira Says:

   May 23rd, 2008 at 7:40 pm

   your menu sounds a lot like mine
   waiting for my parents to whip up some home cooking love when they visit over the summer!

7. Mallika Says:

   May 23rd, 2008 at 10:34 am

   I hope you are making your dad cook for you ?!
   Seriously though , the raita sounds great – kaal saturday – try korbo

8. Asha Says:

   May 23rd, 2008 at 4:10 am

   Looks like nice looking yummy thali to me! Glad you are enjoying authentic Indian dishes with dad! Have a wonderful weekend!:))

9. Srivalli Says:

   May 22nd, 2008 at 11:05 pm

   it must be a real treat eating your dad’s feast!…

Leave a Reply