My Story

I grew up in a Gujarati joint family with my grandmother, grand aunt, mother, and two aunts. I have many fond memories of the women mixing mango pickles in summer, making sweets and savory snacks during Diwali, rolling out puris or filling pattices for my grandmother’s family get-togethers.
I didn’t join them as often as Double Trouble who were rolling out perfectly round puris at age 10. This probably caused my grandmother much concern – how could I be a good wife if I couldn’t roll puris?
Anyway fast forward to 2007. Milind thinks I’m a good cook and Double Trouble can barely boil water.
(Did I mention that I work as consultant doling out advice to all and sundry whereas Double Trouble are physicians savings lives on a daily basis?)

Thursday, June 28, 2007

Fada ni Khichdi

This is what Food & Wine had to say about Swati Snacks

Swati Snacks, in the bustling Tardeo area, is one of many places in town that serve snacks, an afternoon tradition in Mumbai. When we arrive at 4 p.m., the room is packed and we have to wait 10 minutes for a table. With its simple menu and its streamlined industrial design—long steel benches and a granite floor—this is a no-frills restaurant. The cuisine here is Gujarati, from the neighboring Gujarat region, which is known for its vegetarian dishes, deep-fried foods and slightly sweet flavors (cane sugar, or jaggery, is a staple). Rashmi orders the paanki—garlicky, lacy rice pancakes steamed in banana leaves—and I decide to try the dal dhokli, an Indian lasagna of sorts made with peanuts and chickpea flour and served in a bath of lentils. There are so many flavors in each dish, but they meld beautifully. I'm reminded of advice I've heard often: "To find the best vegetarian food in town, look for a place run by Gujaratis."
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