One of the benefits of being in an international environment that is grad school is exposure to people from all over the world. And, not to forget, to their food. Now, sometimes this last one is hampered if said people have never cooked in their life, as all they can help with is telling you which restaurants are authentic and which aren't. But every now and then, one strikes gold. Below is a conversation I had with a labmate from India (IL).
SG: So what do you think about [local Indian restaurants]?
IL: Don't go there, they are no good.
SG: But I love Indian food! Do you know of good places in [cities nearby]?
IL: No, I don't go to the [cities] much. But I can cook some for you if you'd like!
SG: ?!?!? Really?!? I'd love that.
IL: I have to warn you that I am vegetarian.
SG: That's not a problem, us meat-eaters don't have to eat meat at every single meal!
IL: Than its a deal.
A few days later I receive the following email from IL:
"I have some time this evening. Would you like me to cook [dish] for you and your husband for tomorrow?"
My response:
"[dish] sounds delightful! But tomorrow won't work for [husband], and I wouldn't want him to miss out. How about next week?"
His response:
"Sure! Just give me a day's notice."
Yeah! I can live with that :)
The perverse incentives of academia
6 years ago
12 comments:
Awesome! Indian food is our faaaavorite. But it's kind of expensive, so we've decided we're going to learn to make some stuff at home. It won't be authentic, but as long as it satisfies our cravings and keeps us away from the restaurants, we'll be good. We live near a major Indian neighborhood. We're planning to head there this weekend to get the requisite spices.
Sometimes our grad school friends have international pot lucks where they ask everyone to bring something from their home country. Far Off Land doesn't have a particularly unique or delicious cuisine, so people are always a little disappointed when we say there's nothing much exciting for us to bring.
Color me jealous. I love indian food! Fortunately we've got a good restaurant and supermarket near us. So, we can buy or make our own. But Indian food I don't have to make is the best.
I'm jealous too! My Indian friend who used to share his food with me has moved away. Sad....
EGF--I'm so impressed you guys are going to make Indian food at home. It's a lot of work grinding the spices and making the pastes before you can even start cooking!
EGF - I do make a few Indian dishes at home, although it doesn't come out nearly as good. You bet I will be asking for the recipes and the tips along with the food this labmate will be making!
Amanda - I know! Any food I don't have to cook is the best, especially if it is going to be authentic and good!
MadHatter - my lab-mate swears it is easy, so I am going to keep picking his brain about it. I have only gotten the spices in a pre-ground form, then again, maybe that is why my results are sub-optimal.
That is totally cool. My labmate from India had her parents visiting for a while and had the group over for a party. Best food ever!! Plus another labmate was from China and would cook us potstickers to take home!! Such great friends. We also tried to have lab parties where everyone would bring their favorite dish. I got to bring the authentic hippy food.
Jennie - now you've got me curious. What is authentic hippie food?
Hi, science girl! I just linked to your blog through dr crazy, janus prof, etc. Fun!
I just wanted to give you a small suggestion in reply to your comment over at Janus prof, and sorry if it's a little off topic - but it *is* about food!
You mentioned that your husband had a hard time eating away from home b/c of food allergies. Well I started doing sthg that you might want to try out - dunno- and wanted to let you know about it. I make a smoothie with a machine w 3 hp - incredible power- it can grind everything from broccoli sprouts to beets, carrots, cabbage, blueberries,walnuts,flax seed, pineapple, tomato. you name it, it liquefies everything, and then I have a custom made diet that I can pour into a thermos and take w anywhere.
I know, I throw some really odd bedfellows together, but it still comes out tasting good - of course, everyone's personal list will be different.
Anyway, just wanted to mention it as a possible solution to the eating away from home (or in home) problem. It has become quite popular - you can find video how-tos on YouTube, under green smoothie. I use the Vita Mix machine - hugely pricey at $350 at Amazon (but $50 cheaper than anywhere else), but worth every penny, and w a 5 year guarantee.
Sorry for going on so long, and bringing down the lovely Indian food riff going on here - I do love Indian food, no doubt. Just wanted to help if I could.
Yeah, I don't know really. I brought a salad and taboli. I was just trying to point out my non-ethnic, non-exciting food background :)
Hi, Boshness! I remember seeing your comment over at Janus Prof's, actually, and thinking this would be a good idea to try; thanks for giving me more details! My trick so far has been making home-made power bars to take along, but the dry diet gets old quickly (although this works well with air travel). Hubby's restrictions is actually one of the reasons I am learning how to make a variety of foods, so he can still have his favorite dishes that he would not be able to eat wherever the ingredients are out of our control. I will be definitely trying out the smoothies, thanks again!
Jennie - depends on who you ask! My favorite example is a camping trip a year ago or so, on which only a few people were American, but coincidentally the Americans were in charge of food. All the others were quite excited about making the cobbler in the fire and s'mores and stuff! (I liked it too, but it wasn't my first time, so I got to observe the excitement with interest ;)
Indian food is super easy to make, time consuming but easy. The problem I have with teaching others is that I have no idea how to tell them to adjust the measurements for the different spices. I just *know* how much to use because I've been doing it since I was 8
ScientistMother - that's why I doubt I will be offering any of the Indian dishes I make to anyone who knows better :) But it comes out good enough for me and my husband, and I hope that with time I too learn the adjustment game somewhat to make it even better. Feel free to ship good examples for me to learn from ;)
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