Indian
Summers . . . “can’t
get into it,” commented a fellow traveller.
The Jewel
in the Crown . . . “too violent” rejected the same tourist.
“Well, it certainly wasn’t boring,” I
returned . . . meaning I loved it.
Sipping wine in the shady but warm garden of the Oberoi
Maidens Hotel, I almost felt as though I could, if I turned quickly, catch a
glimpse of Baker and Lutyens chugging gin and tonics while arguing over the placement
of Rashtrapati Bhavan. (Might explain
why they got it wrong!)
So far, however, the highlight of our trip has been our night visit to a
restaurant right in the middle of the Chandi Chowk market in Old Delhi.
Our driver was a 34 year old Hindu who apologized for his poor
English. He told us he has eleven year
old twins back in his village with his wife, his mom and dad, and his brothers
and sisters because renting a room is too expensive in Delhi, he said. “Four or five thousand rupees a month." (That’s one thousand dollars Canadian.) Both children are going
to school and learning to speak good English.
He talked a bit about Indian weddings. “A man like me,” he said, “spends 4 or 5 lakh
on a wedding.” That’s 400,000 to 500,000 rupees (ten thousand Canadian dollars).
A rich man in India spends 40 to 50 lakhs on a wedding . . .
or more!
The driver had to park the car a ways off and paid some guy to
keep an eye on his car. Then he led us
down a BUSY narrow street, wending our way around motorcycle cabs, rickshaws,
and PEOPLE, none of them white. I think
the only light came from the shops on one side . . . the crispy brown chicken
street food looked sooo tempting, but I was glad we were going to end up in
some kind of a restaurant.
Karim’s is a Muslim restaurant which is highly recommended by
Lonely Planet for both the food and the experience. Good job, Lonely Planet!
Instead of having the driver wait for us somewhere, Nestor
asked him to join us for dinner.
On the way home from supper the driver was so grateful. He told
Nestor, "I am so happy I got to eat chicken with gravy." (He
ordered the butter chicken.)
India is, of course, a country of side by side marble and mud . . .
showy streamers and scabby squalor.
So yesterday we visited an immaculate and opulent Temple. This
religion dates back to . . . 1968 :). Everybody was looking for something and the wealthy Gujerat found this
swami. Now, saffron-robed monks ring
bells and chant in front of a huge golden statue of him . . . and that immense stone adorning the forehead
is, I am assured, a genuine ruby.
Security is very strict and no cameras are allowed. Well, never mind, my camera’s kaput anyhow.
MATAR
KHORMA (Peas in Tomato Sauce)
From
Premila Lal’s INDIAN
COOKING FOR PLEASURE
1 lb
tomatoes
1 lb frozen
peas
½ inch fresh
ginger root
1 green
chili (jalapeno)
1 tsp oil
½ tsp garam
masala
½ tsp salt
·
Boil some water in a saucepan.
Dip in a tomato and roll about in the boiling water for about 30
seconds. Set aside and blanch the other
tomatoes.
·
Peel the tomatoes and blend them in a food processor.
·
Boil the peas for 3 minutes and drain. Set aside.
·
Discard the seeds of the green chili and finely chop it.
·
Peel and finely chop the ginger root.
·
Heat the oil over low heat.
Add the garam masala and chili. Stir
for one minute.
·
Add the tomatoes and peas. Remove
from heat and let stand until 15 minutes before serving time.
·
Cook for 15 minutes over low heat.
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