Anything For Tummy

It's not about Money Honey!
It's all about Tummy!!

Onsite is all about first time experiences. In the forefront of all is 'Cooking'. First time in my 24 years, I found myself wondering in a food mall in search of a cheapest oil brand. I searched 50 shops for getting 'Tur Dal'. My search for curd is still on!
Believe me cooking can be the most interesting out of office activity. Before leaving India, Mom had given me a book full of recipes, dal, chawal, sabji and roti. Till date I have never referred to that book, but still, I can make rice, dal tadka, any sabji, fried rice, and yes, chapatti also! Its was like, trial and no-error.
Cooking is all about time and resource management. My resources- 4 burner Gas, microwave, toaster, vegetable chopper, a range of catering instruments and of course 'India se laya hua Pressure Cooker'. Using these resources to an optimum efficiency and reducing cooking time to a minimum is a real critical task. My mummy is best in that.
Wash rice & dal, put on the cooker, put the milk on another burner, put 2 breads in a toaster and set 30 sec timer, start cutting tomato and onion, toast is ready, apply butter, milk is ready, pour into cup, start cutting again, sandwich is ready, ' Are anda to boil kiya hi nahi', cooker whistled, half sandwich is finished, milk cup is empty, second whistle, remaining sandwich, egg is ready, rice is ready, put on oil, 'Sambhalo boss, tadka jalna nahi chahiye ', put it into dal, dinner is ready, half is already finished, have the remaining in front of National Geographic.After this huge mess, there is a huge pile to be cleaned up. Vinayak comes to the task from now on.
On 23rd July, on Vinayak's birthday, we had a delicious menu. Kashish had made garmagaram parothe. 'Aakho se pani ata hai, So pyas nahi katega? Aare haaat!!' I took that task. Delicious potato-onion rassa was ready. Rice is always a simple task. I arranged a dining table with all available cutleries and lit up the candle. Even Bharat appreciated the smell of the delicacies. He was on line on video conference from Canada.
Around Amsterdam, there are few Indian restaurants. First we had a go at one panjabi dabba 'Sandly'. On that day I had the best panjabi meal of my life. I think Bambaiya panjabies have a long way to go. There is another restaurant called 'Gandhi', still it serves non-veg items. 'Rushi Kapur' was serving there. We had another delicious meal on our way back from Rotterdam, Just for 10 Euros. 'Akhir Bambayi mai 10 rupaiya mai kya milata hai bhai !!'.

Mandar Joshi
Tata Consultancy Services Ltd.Amsterdam (2 August 2006)