Briyani is..... a delicious South Asian rice dish full of meat, spices and onions. It is a party in your mouth. It is a crowd pleaser. It is the dish extraordinaire to serve to guests. It is a one dish meal. All in one. It is the equivalent of brownies for dessert in America or a great casserole that needs no trimmings.
Here in India you better have at least a half dozen dishes to share unless you serve the all purpose Briyani.
My sister-in-law every Christmas makes a slew of different cookies. Her and her girls make dozens and dozens. Then they put a mix onto plates and give them away. When neighbors receive them they do not count the number of types, at least I do not think so. In America, if a friend visits, coffee and a cookie is great, particularly if the friend just dropped in unannounced.
Here in India, that is not the case. Three plates with at least three different items is minimal. Chai is crucial for everyone and it must be served with something savory. Water with the sweets and chai with the savory.
Just two days ago I sat with my mom drinking a hot drink and eating cookies at a moms and tots play group. My son Abe was playing with three other boys, one named Mohammed, all from different countries. They greeted each other with Salaams and then proceeded to do that cute toddler play which means no one play together just along side of each other. Us women had a delightful time as my mom made a Western time frame become an Eastern time of hospitality with just a little chai and snacks!
This is terribly disjointed and I must sign off as my computer is going to die.
In case of confusion remember Briyani for the East and Casserole for the West and for dessert the West is always easier but hospitality is not always about what is easiest.
Here in India you better have at least a half dozen dishes to share unless you serve the all purpose Briyani.
My sister-in-law every Christmas makes a slew of different cookies. Her and her girls make dozens and dozens. Then they put a mix onto plates and give them away. When neighbors receive them they do not count the number of types, at least I do not think so. In America, if a friend visits, coffee and a cookie is great, particularly if the friend just dropped in unannounced.
Here in India, that is not the case. Three plates with at least three different items is minimal. Chai is crucial for everyone and it must be served with something savory. Water with the sweets and chai with the savory.
Just two days ago I sat with my mom drinking a hot drink and eating cookies at a moms and tots play group. My son Abe was playing with three other boys, one named Mohammed, all from different countries. They greeted each other with Salaams and then proceeded to do that cute toddler play which means no one play together just along side of each other. Us women had a delightful time as my mom made a Western time frame become an Eastern time of hospitality with just a little chai and snacks!
This is terribly disjointed and I must sign off as my computer is going to die.
In case of confusion remember Briyani for the East and Casserole for the West and for dessert the West is always easier but hospitality is not always about what is easiest.
No comments:
Post a Comment