"Mumma I did not eat Chicken" - The Veg Dialogue

I wonder what is a good age when toddlers begin to understand the kind of food they eat/are offered to them by their outside world. I would assume that they realize this when they observe food others eat which perhaps may begin in school. I thought it would be a while before my soon-to-be 3-year old would identify chicken or meat as food items. Hence I was pleasantly surprised when K remembered that he did not eat ‘chicken' nuggets that were offered to him at a recent birthday party. (Aside from the fact that he rarely eats anything outside of his 'subzi-roti', I would like to believe he stressed on the 'chicken' part more than the 'not eat' part).

Both A and I were raised vegetarians and hence there is no doubt that we would raise K the same way too. At the same time, the subtlety of handling this issue as K grows up is quite critical vs what we were exposed to as kids. For e.g., it was 'easy' to be raised as a vegetarian in India where majority of our immediate circle was of the same belief. But in America I am often asked how we would handle vegetarianism with K as he grows up. What if he was the only one with 'special meal' plan in his school or that others considered him the 'weird kid' if he wouldn't eat those nuggets? While I know this is the time to explain the concept to him, I want to be careful in the way we communicate it to him.

Since he is an animal-lover, it would be easy to tell him that eating non-vegetarian means killing/hurting animals. At the same time, that just sounds too judgmental especially considering he might have his close friends who are meat-eaters.

For A and me, there was a strong religious connotation to our upbringing but to pass down that conviction is also something that might be out of character for us. Nevertheless, my role as a parent would be to guide K in the direction that we 'believe' would be right for him and us; that I may have to inculcate values in the upbringing in a way that he would still be able to make his own choices, be it spiritual or otherwise; that each family eats differently hence it is important to embrace different cultures but not to an extent that you compromise on your own.

How have you explained such concepts to your child? What has your experience been in having conversations about meat/no-meat to them especially in ways they have responded?

Co Co Sala Experience

Wish I had my camera to capture the chocolate-dining experience, yet took some random images from my iphone:

Co Cojito: Van Gogh Chocolate Infused Vodka/Fresh Mint & Lime/Dark Chocolate Flakes
Totally rejuvenating!

Chocolate Tasting Menu: different types of couverture in three states - solid, semi-solid and liquid
Haven for Chocolate Lovers

A Perfect Co-Co Dining Experience

Flavor of Food

Chocolate Mousse with dark chocolate pastry served with berries and cream

Most delicious Tiramisu

Butter served on stone

Spirit of Diwali - Part 2

Thank you Mrs. Amin...and Deep!

It is a universally accepted phenomenon that being a Gujarati by blood is equivalent to Thepla, Dhokla, Undhiya and Mohanthaal! So the fact that Gujaratis love their food is an understatement. Not a big fan of any of the above, I thought I wasn’t a true Gujarati until my most recent relishes of all.

Before I come to that, it is important to understand the inherent relationship we Gujjus share with Food. It may be a simplest meal but the unique way of preparing and serving is what makes it special. One would know this when visiting a Gujarati family over meal or simply going into a Gujju restaurant. The THALI way with unlimited servings is simply exciting (for a non-foodie like me, so you can imagine how a foodie would take it). And it is extremely typical of Gujjus (in the Gujju parts of India, to be specific) to go for the morning ritual of jog and run and return home to feast to the sweet and savoury Jalebi-Ghatiya! It is this undying connection with food that separates the Gujju clan from several others. And it is this love that has made several corporations venture into special interest services. So there is a Pizza Hut in Ahmedabad that serves Jain Pizza and Kadai Paneer Pizza and a McDonald’s written in Gujarati on one of the expressways in Gujarat. Indian Cola tastes better when there is a mix of Coke with Indian spices to it! Chinese food has a much larger variation among Gujaratis than even the Chinese themselves. There’s is Chinese Dosa, Chinese Samosa, Chinese Bhel, Gobi Manchurian.

So while the Gujjus in India are certainly keeping themselves happy with varied culinary interests, they are equally united here in the US too. Without delving into varied Gujju restaurants in this country, I am thankful for especially one corporation that has made sure people like me remain grounded to their Gujju taste-buds. I did not even think I had those flavours in me when recently, Deep Foods proved me wrong. With Diwali celebrations ongoing, it reminds me of those delicacies cooked around this time of the year, back at home. Of special mention is what Gujjus prefer to call it – Chorafadi! Trust me, I have no clue what it means but who cares about that when what it tastes is simply amazing!

Again, I do not know much about how it is made (maybe Google it) but Deep Foods has ready frozen packets and all one has to do is thaw them, cut lines, (‘dip’) fry them, sprinkle some masala (included in the packet) and Voila! You’ve the Chorafadi to relish with some Desi Chai!

For someone least patient in preparing things from scratch, Deep Foods is the ideal ‘home-like’ option for me with its exotic choices and also, something it keeps reinventing. Some favourites are Guvar (cluster beans), Onion Uttappam (Rava Masala and Mysore Masala Dosas are Ashit’s favourites), Methi Malai Mutter, all kinds of Khakhras (methi in particular). Yet to taste several other delicacies but do thank Deep Foods, especially, Mrs. Bhagwati Amin for converting her hobby into a thriving business, and indirectly activating the Gujju DNA in this random blogger.