A craving for curd rice? How unglamorous! Until last week, when I was laid low by a stomach bug, I wasn’t even aware of how much I love curd rice. But after spending the better part of the week spent eating a variety of boiled things, the craving hit. I could almost smell the mustard seeds and curry leaves frying, taste the little bits of onion and ginger, inhale just a dash of the hing…
It took three days of curd rice for breakfast, curd rice for lunch and curd rice for dinner for the craving to pass. I’m happy to report, though, that I still love it. Just that I’m ready to move on to regular food.
Anyway, it got me thinking about my favourite comfort foods and when they are particularly special to me:
Chocolate: No explanations needed here, of course. But somehow I like chocolate best at night, and only when I’m relaxed. Unlike a lot of people, I can’t wolf down a tone of the stuff when I’m depressed—I like chocolate when I’m happy.
Tea: For the more pedantic among you, yes, I know, it’s not a “food”! I’m a regular tea drinker, am fussy about how I have my tea, and it’s always the one thing I crave for when I’m stressed or tired. I also love a cup of tea after a meal.
Light chicken curry with rice: Among my fond memories of kiddy-hood, chicken-curry-rice, with a squeeze of lemon, is definitely right up there. Both my parents have perfected the art of chicken curry—spanning the spectrum from a racy, masaaledar magnificence to one so light that it almost floats in the air. It’s the latter that I long for on lazy days. I’m not terribly bad at making it myself; the trouble is, I crave it when I’m feeling indolent.
Roadside momos: They are my favorite street junk food in Delhi. I know it’s not very adventurous, but they are what I reach for when I’m feel particularly reckless. They’re usually served with a deadly sauce made of red chillies that my stomach revolts against, though.
Brown Bomb at Corner House: One of my favourite junk foods in Bangalore, but stay tuned for a more detailed post on this subject.
~PD
I will join you for chocolate and light chicken curry and rice any day, though not together of course. By light chicken curry and rice, you mean like how mom makes, right? 🙂
Well maybe when you’re in Delhi next month that’s what we’ll do!
That cup! 🙂
And yes, the light chicken curry – our home equivalent was the chicken stew in winters – with potatoes and red carrots peeking out of the gravy. Had with rapidly cooling rotis as the Delhi winter made us reluctant to pull our sleeves back as we ate. Sighhh…the memories food serves up are sometimes more delightful than the food itself.
Yes, that cup. 🙂
And you also reminded me that I should have added chicken stew to the list! Did you put butter on the rotis?!