This Sunday I cooked one of my tasting menus for my mom & my bro. It was a pretty simple fare, starting with an amuse bouch of “Cream of Carrot with Orange foam”, followed by “Ravioli de Mozzarella”-in English, a simple buffalo mozzarella stuffed ravioli, with a very rustic sauce of anchovies, garlic, olives, tomato & basil—and generous olive oil. The main course was the good, old “roast chicken”, one of the prime comfort foods, if I may say; accompanied by forestiere garnish—wild mushroom & bacon fricassé and saffron mashed potatoes [though the classical garnish swears by parmentier potatoes..but who gives a fuck???] & some buttered Brussels sprouts. I chose the luscious & the notorious Cinnamon pot de crème, accompanied with a generous dust of cinnamon powder & a quenelle of homemade apple chutney. I guess, my so called “gourmet” meal was successful, since there was slurp from the amuse bouche till the dessert, with neat & clean plates during clearance…& no complaints!!!
Day before yesterday…I got up late, as usual [I don’t recall now, when was the last time, I got up early..n went to sleep early too….] & in the evening, with the excuse of going out to replace the battery of laptop, I was walking all around the city. Once I got my laptop’s battery fixed…I went for a long walk from New Market till A.J.C. Bose Road crossing [colloquially, people refer to this place as “Exide”, due to the presence of the company’s H.Q. in the very crossing]. I was craving for some good food..outside..but damn..I can make it at home..Can’t I?? Apart from being over privileged in the kitchen, one of the virtues can be a cook knows how to cook like in other restaurants….so I changed my mind & instead of visiting “Casa Tosana”, I headed to the old den, Gariahat.
If New Market is the meeting point for North Kolkatans, I must say, Gariahat is the most popular hubs for the resident of South Kolkata-you get every thing here, albeit,at a premium rate. You must know how to bargain[I am poor at it—my friends can vouch for that…], you must know what is good & what is bad…and the poor pollution, the crowded lanes, flocked by hawkers, who swear their products are always the best buy at cheap rates…the screaming conductors & their helpers out of their buses, the never ending traffic congestion..and what not????
Still not sure..what to do…I headed to Café Coffee Day, a popular coffee parlour in India
“One espresso and two cookies please”, I asked the server.
“Sir, it is a very bitter coffee”, the server’s reply. I was a little pissed off by his reply. I am not like those customers/consumers who don’t know what are they ordering or their food. I am aware of my food & so I order it, unless when I am intrigued by something new & never mind asking about it…
“Yes, I know….single espresso with some sugar”, I said.
“Ok sir….”, he went away.
I was expecting a free wi-fi hotspot..but damn..these guys don’t have free wifi, like Dubai
After gulping down my expresso[this is the alternative spelling], I returned home..with the news that the mercury may drop below 10˚ C. Hmmm…I am expecting some more chilly weather…& such chilly weather demands more & more roasts….I am already shivering inside…don’t know, how long will it continue..but in any case…I am enjoying this winter…better than the desert!!!
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