Skip to main content

The call every Immigrant dreads




I got the call over the weekend. The one that every immigrant is terrified to receive. Mom is not feeling well. She is experiencing terrible abdominal pains and had to be admitted to hospital. My sister has flown down to Mumbai from Bangalore to be with her. I must stay ready to come down if the situation worsens. A certain feeling of helplessness and fear takes over. I wish I could be there right now more than anything, so I could help with the care process. However given the state of the pandemic, the need for quarantine after travel and the limited space in our two bedroom Mumbai apartment, I would only be more of a burden than a solution as of now.



This is the scourge of the immigrant. When you choose to be an immigrant, you choose to always be an outsider. There isn’t a true home for you anymore. You no longer belong in the country of your birth, but you don’t really belong in the new country you have chosen. You really don’t truly belong anymore. Perhaps this was what led me to be a chef. Through my food, I connect with where I came from Through my food, I keep my heritage alive. Through my food, I feel a sense of belonging.


At a time like this, what would I cook for Mom. I think about one of my favorite soups when I am under the weather. Ginger Cilantro Chicken Soup. Due to her gastro intestinal issues, Mom can’t handle much spice at this time.This soup is mild but flavorful and full of healing goodness. The chicken has to be bone-in, to coax out the collagen and gelatin making it truly food for the soul. If I could be in India right now, this is what I would cook for her. I know it will make her feel better.

But till that happens, I will have no choice but to stand by and wait with fingers crossed, praying for good news around the corner. I don’t believe there could be any greater reminder of how truly fleeting the moments actually are.

They say hope is not good strategy, but it’s the only one I got for now.







Location: Oakland, CA, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tadka: one sexy kitchen manoeuver

Cooks love what they do because, let’s face it. Cooking is sexy! It’s a dance. It’s choreography. It's a theater. It’s why we like to bang things around with our feet and our hips, it’s why we slam the pans on the counter extra hard, and it’s why we smack meat on a scorching hot grill, causing the flames to leap up angrily. We say it’s because that’s the only way to get the coveted deep grill marks, but honestly, it’s the theatrics. Some latent hidden primal instinct is awoken that appeals to the thrill seeker that lies otherwise dormant within us. When it comes to Indian cooking, very few techniques scream theater as much as a Tadka. It’s mesmerizing to observe a seasoned cook go about the process. First, a round bottomed pan with a sturdy handle is placed on the flame, and filled with oil or ghee. All the spices and aromatics are carefully lined up in advance, because scrambling for ingredients is for rookies. The palm of the hand is hovered dangerously close over the shimmerin...
Post a Comment
Read more

Mumbai Memories of Cutting Chai

" What on earth is Cutting Chai?" Most people in America give me this incredulous look when I speak of the iconic Mumbai street food experience. I don't blame them honestly. I have the same look when Yoga Mom decked out in Lululemon asks for her "Grande nonfat chai latte extra foam with 3 pumps of caramel". I resist the urge to bury my head in my hands as she happily swipes her card for her 6 dollar mid morning pick me up. If you happen to be in the Chai Latte loving camp, I suggest you stop reading right now, as I don't wish to offend your delicate sensibilities. Please return to the article about the perfect form for the downward facing dog. Consuming chai is an integral part of being Indian. We consume on average, at least four cups of chai every day. Your morning newspaper moment is just not quite the same without it. The mid morning breather is the perfect excuse to inhale a quick cup before getting back to the tasks at hand. The four o'clock slump ...
2 comments
Read more