Chef from the North Country

* Notice the titles. I have been stuck in years long ago here - Indians taste is music is not really u to date. I have yet to hear Bob Dylan (play on above), but 80's hip hop and 90's boy bands are ALL the rage. Just wanted to explain my new titles! GO BELOW FOR RECIPES

Again I was in the kitchen! Chef told me that I was to be in hygiene today. I agreed and started to walk to the department. I then realized – Julia, no! So I politely asked Chef: “Chef, can I work in the Indian kitchens the next three days?” He was shocked and said, “I didn’t know you wanted to work in the Indian kitchens!” What a great example of miscommunication.

Chef then brought me over to the curry station of the Indian kitchen. My Dad always asks a great and funny question (not seriously, yet wanting a real answer): “what do Indians say when they go out for Indian food? What to go out for food?” But in India there is no such thing as “Indian” Food; rather, food is divided by region. India is so vast and diverse that each state has its own specialty and cuisine.

I was in the curry station. Like in bakery, few of the chefs spoke English – or admitted they did because they were too shy. I was introduced to a chef that admitted he spoke English and he quickly became my buddy for the day. Chef started to show me two delicious looking recipes and I was trying to remember every detail, but because everything is so new everything was blending together! I knew I couldn’t let this opportunity pass me by and I politely asked Chef if he would mind if I wrote down the recipes. Chef was shocked! He was so happy to hear I had a genuine interest in learning about Indian food that he told the other chefs. They could not believe that this white girl wanted to learn how to make Indian food!

I was so happy by their enthusiasm, but I was even happier that I was going to gain all this knowledge. Chef went back and retold me the first two recipes before continuing on to the third. Each dish, chef had me try and tell him if it needed anything. Some dishes were SO spicy (flavorful) and some were truly delicious.

When my new chef friend had to leave for his lunch break, I was passed onto another chef from Delhi! He was great and really loved going into detail about the cuisine. We were talking and he asked where I was from, I, obviously, replied the United States. The chefs all looked up at me with aw and one – who hadn’t peeped a word of English yet – said, “but then why are you in India?” I laughed and said it was a wonderful and unique experience that I was very happy to have.

My new chef friend, Chef Ahmed, told me he had some friends in the US. I ask him if he ever wanted to go to the US, he said yes and I told him that he has to visit them while they still live there! He told me that he tried, but was rejected for a visa. I was so surprised because everyone has been telling me how easy it has become to get an American tourist visa. He then continued to say it was because he was Muslim. Awkward silence crept through the kitchen. I felt bad, but didn’t know what to say. Ahmed said that both the UK and the US reject his visa application purely because he is Muslim. Again, I didn’t know what to say.

Next thing I know, the awkward silence was broken – Chef Ahmed sneezed. Before I could realize it I was speaking. For two minutes of awkward conversation I couldn’t think of anything to say and then before I knew it I was speaking: “Goddddd…” o no. O NO. why? Why did my reaction have to come out now? I have learned since arriving in India that people do not say anything when others sneeze. The first openly Muslim person I have met in India I start to bless! I said “God” and knew I couldn’t just stop there, that would almost be worse. “….bless you” came out and we both, again, stood there in silence. Thankfully, we silently decided that I did not just say that and continued to talk about gravies.