Saturday, July 09, 2005

Kathrikka, Vendekke, Kotharange....

A few years back, the names of these vegetables would make me go 'Phbbbt'! Like in the movie, 'Kaadhalikka neramillai', 'I only liked English Vegetables'!! Even outside of home, I would not lay my fingers on any dish with those vegetables. But today, after a few years away from India, we drive miles to the Asian grocery store in the hope to find something other than the carrots and beans!!

I sometimes feel funny when I proudly inform my mother on the phone about how great my 'vaangi baath' or 'dudhi kootu' or 'kothaveranga usli' came out as I know my mother would be smiling. And these dishes are reserved for special occasions now!!!! A special mention has to be made for curry leaves. The 'kariveppilai' which is given the least respect in India is the most expensive abroad felt my mother-in-law.

Most of people(from India) who have lived in the US for a long time tell me how a lot of Indian Vegetables, spices etc. are readily available now unlike those days. But I (high) hope that in the future, as in the title, the voice of the mobile vegetable seller would ring in like the ice cream van!!

Did you know...

Ladies Finger is also called Okra?
Brinjal is also called Egg plant (and Aubergine in UK)?

2 comments:

jack said...

welcome to the blog world.

Me too said...

Thanks for visiting my blog, Senthil.