How I Became a Foodie

I think I was destined to be a foodie, what with the importance food is given in my family. Though I am pretty sure everyone thought that I had gone after my mom's side for whom food is just a matter of sustenance, not to be relished but to be consumed. I was a skinny kid, never eating, always hating meal-time. I had gained a reputation as the most excruciatingly slowest eater in the world. An hour to finish a chapati would be a T20 inning for me. As things were in Delhi at that time, there wasn't much eating out, atleast in my family. Most of our outings would be to the then-legendary Sagar Ratna in Defence Colony and Nirula's in New Friends Colony (those were the heydays of Nirula's). To say that I didn't eat much would be an understatement. Imagine, a "big boy burger" (a rip-off of the original Big Boy Burger in California) which was the best burger then available for the middle class folks in India, used to be stuffed in my mouth, regardless of my protests. I used to go to my nani's house in the erstwhile Calcutta and would have my doting mausis rip my chapatis and parathas in bite-sized chunks. I would still take a couple of hours to finish them.

I have two very vivid memories of my complete and utter dislike and the disrespect I showed towards food. First was when I accompanied my parents and a couple of our family friends to the famous Moti Mahal in Darya Ganj. I am pretty sure the staff there would remember me too, though not too fondly. We had ordered their hallmark butter chicken, something I could kill for at this time. Anyway, I, as usual, refused to eat a single bite. Though, under my mother's stern eyes, I did manage to eat a couple of spoonfuls. However, on being forced another one, I freed myself from her grasp and ran and vomited in their fountain. I repeat vomited. An act which I laugh at and my parents cringe. The last time I went there, the fountain had been removed. How much did my transgressions lead to it, I don't know.

The second occasion was when we had to go for a high-profile wedding. I was dragged by my parents to the market to by a suitable "dress" for the wedding. I, at that time, looked like a kid suffering with kwashiorker or marasmus. Anyway, due to my size, we were unable to find a suitable "dress" for the wedding. And we did hunt for it, probably like it was my own wedding. When we got back home, my dad was getting me dressed for the night. He made me wear a newly bought(though inadequate) pair of shorts. As soon as they were pulled up, they fell down like the oft-repeated wardrobe malfunctions in fashion shows. Already on a short fuse, dad went crazy and berated me for not eating enough and always running away from food.

The turning point in my eating life came when I underwent a surgery for the removal of my appendix. Post surgery, I had to remain on a liquid diet for about 3 days to a week. Those days were excruciating. I have never in my life felt as hungry as I did then. While I was in the hospital, I would see my parents eat paranthas, curd etc. and the same things that I ran away from looked like food from a Michelin starred restaurant. I was ravenous, willing to eat anything, even the most hideous looking lady fingers, a vegetable that I detested then and still do.

It was then that food cast its magic spell on me. Girlfriends have come and gone, but food has remained my true love, at It has helped me get over my times a jealous mistress. Break ups, bad moods etc., there is nothing that it can't cure. A Sunday morning hangover, nothing a good ole' breakfast can't cure. This I am pretty sure is what Anthony Bourdain means by "food porn". Porn it is, but I don't mind being a part of it, pay me for it, I don't care!

Stick with me and I am sure you will end up realizing my love for one of God's greatest creations and hopefully will start loving it too!

PS: During the entire blog, I will try my best not to offend anyone's feelings, where I do, it will be meant to do that. Hoping for a long relationship with everyone who reads this. Cheers!