Notes From India - Part 1
The Delhi Belly (in the best way possible!)
Flavor:
My first meal arriving in India was possibly the most special simply because it was the first. In my friend Samara’s home, I was treated to air-light idli rice and lentil pastries (which we will start making with Laroot soon!), sambar vegetable stew, some chutneys, an onion and tomato uppam (still dreaming of it) and onion and potato dosa. Basically, it was heavenly in every way.
For dinner that night, I had delicious multani soup followed by a galouti kebab wrapped in a fresh paratha. Galouti literally means ‘melt in the mouth,’ and that’s exactly what I felt when trying this homemade chicken-based delicacy. Day 1 in India was an absolute gastronomic success.
The next day, lunch was on the rushed go as I struggled to outmaneuver the famous Delhi traffic to visit the incredible Old Delhi Spice Market AND make it back in time for my scheduled workshop with Dr. Avilochan. While I invite you to look at some of the best spice market pics on my Instagram in India highlights and on Laroot’s Instagram, I want to highlight how finally, after a very long, exciting, action-packed day, my hostess and BFF Samara invited Jesse (also BFF and travel partner champion) and I to a thali homemade dinner. Thali refers to a tasting of a few options in a delicious-looking set of silver mini pots and is traditionally eaten using the paratha (bread) provided and one’s hands. Of course, we cheated a little using our boring Western forks. There is no food like homemade food, and it was a spectacular foodie finale of my two incredible days in Delhi.
Stay tuned next week for more Indian food adventures from Ranthambore, Jaipur, and one of the world's foodie capitals, Mumbai!
Lots of love,
Tash
Appendix:
Old Delhi Spice Market, Khari Baoli, Chandni Chowk, Delhi, 110006, India