In Mumbai, restaurants during lunch time are quite packed and one normally has to wait to get a place. This is, especially, true for restaurants / eating joints near commercial areas and happens because Friday is the last working day of the week and so, is casual and more relaxed and hence hordes of people prefer to dine-in restaurants avoiding their routine and dull canteen food or a break from their home-made dabbas (Lunch tiffin).
I am no different and after eating, more or less, the same canteen taste for 4 days, it’s a pleasant treat to satiate your tongue and stomach for some delicacy. I work for an IT firm and my lunch group table consists of techies making me an odd-man out. But, I guess we get along pretty well, atleast when it comes to eating.
Mostly, Friday morning discussions revolve around deciding on which restaurant to raid for lunch. So like always, I asked Pramod (one of the lunch members) and, strangely, he avoided the topic and did not respond, which made me very curious and sad thinking that i will have to again eat canteen lunch. Later at about 12, when I had gone for my smoke break, he came and said we won't go out for lunch. Although, his idea was nothing but disappointing and somehow didn’t make sense, but before I could jump onto conclusions or react, he continued by saying that it is Onam and he is inviting the group at his home for lunch.. This just sounded exciting.
After reaching his home @1, basic introduction and pleasantries were exchanged, which included wishing 'happy onam' to his family members and yapping with his kids , I was eagerly waiting for the festive lunch.
Seeing Pramod setting the table with four banana leaves, I was getting up to occupy one seat, when Pramod told me to wait. Known for my love of food, guys started telling me to have patience and some jokes followed on me and my voracious appetite, for which I am famous.
After serving some basic items, Pramod directed us to sit for lunch.
'WoW' was my first immediate expression and my face turned like that baby’s face who has just been offered a dozen lollypops. The banana leaf had 5 different types of pickles, aviyal (one vegetable), 2 types of banana chips and papadom. Pramod started serving us the authentic kerala rice (which is of a fatter variety) and told us to have generous servings of sambar and 2 more curries. The entire experience of having to eat on a banana leaf with so many colorful items was too much for me to control and immediately started raiding the lunch. Morsel after morsel, the meal had so many beautiful flavors; it is really difficult to put words to my experience. I had some generous servings of rice, sambar and especially 2 pickles (one chilli and the other was of lemon). The lunch ended with 2 types of kheer (guess they don't believe in making only one of the same type).
Although, before coming over to Pramod’s place, I had inquired if the lunch will have any non-veg and he had smilingly declined. But, after having served such a magnificent spread, there was no time during my eating, that I missed non-veg.
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| The delicacy served on Banana Leaf |
Like always, i have forgotten to take pictures (this is downloaded from the net) and closely resembles what i had at Pramod's place. Pramod has taken some pictures and would upload that soon. Have to get in the habit of taking pictures..
Onam is a festival celebrated by the people of Kerala, India. It falls during the month of Chingam (August–September) and marks the homecoming of the legendary Emperor Mahabali. The festival lasts for ten days and is linked to many elements of Kerala's culture and tradition. Intricate flower carpets, elaborate banquet lunch, snake boat races, Puli Kali, and the Kaikottikkali dance all play a part in the festival. Also, celebrates Kerala's rice harvest festival and the festival of rain flowers.
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