Diwali to be celebrated at Whole Foods in Minneapolis - spoiler alert...

If you are anywhere close to Minneapolis, MN, around Oct 22, 2011, you might want to stop by the local Whole Foods to get a cooking class and try the sample dinner...but if you are Indian, and read the description of what is being offered, not sure if you would be that excited...

"Traditional Festive Indian Cooking Class/Dinner Thandai – Nectar of the Gods made with sweetened milk, almonds and saffron. Onion Bhajias – the classic onion ring made the Indian way – with a chick pea tempura Nut Studded Chicken Korma  – A stunning entrée of creamy chicken in a korma sauce, generously dotted with dried fruits and nuts! Elaichi Pulao – Basmati Rice pilaf delicately scented with the queen of spices – cardamom! Aloo Fry – Spicy stir fry of cubed potatoes – a traditional Indian fare. Shahi Badami Burfi --  Almond fudge, A must have dessert/sweet that is relished and given away in gift boxes during Diwali..."

Someone's creative juices were sure in overdrive...

Related articles

• Why is diwali celebrated (wiki.answers.com)
• Chicken Korma (jamesbonfieldrecipes.wordpress.com)

These Assholes Line Jumped at the Frisco In-N-Out Yesterday

These Assholes Line Jumped at the Frisco In-N-Out Yesterday - Dallas Restaurants and Dining - City of Ate

OK...if you live in Dallas, and don't live under a rock, you should know that the biggest news, giving Osama a run for the money, in the last few days was the arrival of In-N-Out burgers in town. Obviously it was covered with relish (no pun intended) by the local media, including re-runs of the woman who cried on camera after taking a bite of this fast food delight (wow, I don't know Californians were so attached to their double-doubles...), but this article takes the cake.

Jenny Block is no Alice Lassaude, but her description of the events unfolding in Frisco is hilarious...and don't miss the erudite comments at the bottom...next on the list, Trader Joe's....

Related articles

• Video: Woman Cries Tears of Joy at Opening of In-and-Out Burger in Frisco, Texas (shoppingblog.com)
• Burger-Loving Texans Go All Out for the Grand Opening of In-N-Out (aht.seriouseats.com)
• Texas Woman Is Really, Really Happy About In-N-Out Burger [Video] (jezebel.com)

Importance of food in world's religions

The status of food, at least in the developed countries, has been elevated form a basic necessity to an object of pleasure, to a sport, and to a series of interpretations by various cultures - witness the rise of the Cooking Channels. And now, there is a renewed twist on food - the spiritual twist...
Food in religion is nothing new - ancient religions incorporated certain practices about food in their rituals - not to eat certain types of food for a certain group of people, e.g. Jews or Christians, or to abstain from certain foods on certain days. Initially, there must have been a reason for these, as there were no methods of refrigeration and preservation of food - for example, not eating easy to spoil food items like dairy or eggs on certain days, fasting, vegetarianism, or not using stimulants - but over time, these were modified and became a way of life. Sharing or donation of food was incorporated into our rituals as well, and those practices continue to the modern day.
There is an initiative under way called Holy Kitchens, which examines the commonality of the role of food in world's religions. From their site, "Sharing food is as old as time itself and an inseparable part of the human experience. When we share food in a spiritual setting we imbue it with meaning that draws us closer to our creator and closer to each other. A simple dish of lentils becomes much more than a simple bowl of food. It becomes spiritual sustenance that elevates our consciousness..."


Interesting concept, and thought provoking...click here for coverage in the WSJ

Indian restaurant bottles its experience for homes

Indian restaurant bottles its experience for homes - The Globe and Mail

So its no secret that Indian food is fairly popular in most major cities in North America, and now branching into smaller cities as well...(there are 3 Indian restaurants in Nassau, Bahamas!) - but this article suggests an interesting concept - bottling sauces for DIY cooking. That concept is not new either - with companies now promoting "home made" Indian sauces in the likes of Whole Foods - but would consumers buy and experiment? Or are they now so used to the $9.99 buffet to even mess with it?

Related articles

• Real Indian cuisine: Spice world (independent.co.uk)
• What Makes Indian Cuisine Unique? (indian-food.suite101.com)
• India Journal: India's Inadvertent Exports (blogs.wsj.com)

The killer curry challenge – Eatocracy - CNN.com

The killer curry challenge – Eatocracy - CNN.com Blogs

No comments.

You try, you think you are invincible, you suffer.

Don't mess with this curry.

Desi supper clubs?

Indian supper clubs tickle the American palate - Hindustan Times

What a concept! We all have heard of the underground, impromptu dinners in closed down restaurants, but not really with a desi twist. Wonder what the liability could be, for someone who had extra spicy Bhartha? (remember the woman suing McDonald's for hot coffee burning her legs?)

But oh well...as long as it raises the awareness, its all good..