[Somerset]

This past weekend, the local Bengali community celebrated Durga Puja with a cultural program followed by a dinner. The cultural program was great, and was highlighted by a skit based on a Tagore story, but the main event of the evening was dinner. It was the first time that my wife and I had tried Bengali cuisine, and we were both looking forward to it. Naturally, I was thinking about Jyotirmoy and our other Bengali members during the dinner. I loved the food, although I have no idea what the names of the dishes were. Very different from the other types of Indian dishes I've had, and I am looking forward to next year's Durga Puja!

After dinner, the family and friends went to another venue for Garba, put on by the local Gujarati community. We are so fortunate to live in such an international little town.

Edited by Somerset, 21 October 2008 - 10:00 PM.

[Hyderabadi]

Wow! That sounds like a great weekend!

Seems like you have a pretty big Bengali community there. I have to say I've not met any Bengalees here, none that have a home here anyways. We have say 90% Gujjus, a few Andhras including me, and a few Guptas and Saxenas. A Mangalorean runs an Indian restaurant. I know a couple of Mallus.

[jyotirmoy]

Hi dear Somerset,
Glad to know that you liked the Bengali dinner. If you write a brief description of the foods you ate I may try to add names and recipes if possible.

[sadhuji]

jyotirmoy, on Oct 22 2008, 05:33 AM, said:

Hi dear Somerset,
Glad to know that you liked the Bengali dinner. If you write a brief description of the foods you ate I may try to add names and recipes if possible.

yes - pl do .. we could share the beautiful recipes and might even go ahead and experiment ..

[Somerset]

I'd tell you all about it, but I don't know enough about cooking (Indian or otherwise) to give you a good discription. We had dhal, fried fish and chicken curry. All had kind of a fishy taste and  were a bit on the sour side. Not spicy as in Andhra or Kerala, and no cocoanut. I expected some cocoanut because I had heard that Bengali cuisine is similar to Malayali, but what we had Saturday night was quite different. I usually don't care for dhal, but this was great.

[jyotirmoy]

Ok here is Choler Dal for you.....

Take about 250gms Bengal Gram dal, add 2 cups of water, one and half teaspoon Turmeric powder and pressure cook.  
Heat oil in a pan.  Add small bits of coconut and fry till golden. Remove the coconut pieces from oil. Add two Bay leaves, two teaspoons of grated ginger, a few chopped green chilies, two teaspoons of sugar & a pinch of asafetida to the oil. Add salt to taste. Stir for a minute and add the boiled dal along with the water.  Simmer for a few minutes,  add fried coconut bits before removing from the stove.

[Somerset]

Hyderabadi, on Oct 21 2008, 07:39 PM, said:

Wow! That sounds like a great weekend!

Seems like you have a pretty big Bengali community there. I have to say I've not met any Bengalees here, none that have a home here anyways. We have say 90% Gujjus, a few Andhras including me, and a few Guptas and Saxenas. A Mangalorean runs an Indian restaurant. I know a couple of Mallus.

Yes, we are very fortunate. Relatively large and diverse Indian community and large Chinese community. Only a few Malus here, though. Great place to raise children. Unfortunately, I've recently learned that we do not live in the Pro-America part of the country, nor are we considered to be 'real Americans.'

[Somerset]

jyotirmoy, on Oct 23 2008, 07:19 AM, said:

Ok here is Choler Dal for you.....

Take about 250gms Bengal Gram dal, add 2 cups of water, one and half teaspoon Turmeric powder and pressure cook.  
Heat oil in a pan.  Add small bits of coconut and fry till golden. Remove the coconut pieces from oil. Add two Bay leaves, two teaspoons of grated ginger, a few chopped green chilies, two teaspoons of sugar & a pinch of asafetida to the oil. Add salt to taste. Stir for a minute and add the boiled dal along with the water.  Simmer for a few minutes,  add fried coconut bits before removing from the stove.

Sounds great; will try it an let you know how it comes out. Thanks!

[priya]

Quote

Unfortunately, I've recently learned that we do not live in the Pro-America part of the country, nor are we considered to be 'real Americans.'

Off Topic, but what does this mean exactly?

[Somerset]

priya, on Oct 23 2008, 02:20 PM, said:

Off Topic, but what does this mean exactly?

Nothing that belongs on this forum. I'm sorry for the outburst of frustration. Mere whining compared to what you are dealing with every day in Zim. Amazing how people under real hardship don't whine, when the privileged (such as me) have this tendency to whine when things don't go our way.

Edited by Somerset, 23 October 2008 - 07:55 PM.

[priya]

I didn't think you were whining at all, Somerset, I was genuinely interested to know, otherwise I wouldn't have asked.

[dzibead]

He's talking about somenthing the Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin said recently -- about certain parts of America being "real" America and others ...  well ... not (in her completely warped view).  

Uh oh!  Now I'm starting to rant!   Oh, well, what can you expect.  I'm not a "real" American, either (in Palin's opinion).

[priya]

Thank you dzi - Now I understand. What a cheek

OT again.  So I guess it's okay for her to spend a fortune on a new wardrobe (strictly for campaign purposes) seeing she's a 'real' American?

(sorry Somerset, I think I've hijacked your thread, but if I don't ask now, I may never know )

[Hyderabadi]

And I live in partly real America.

It's surreal actually.. after that reality check statement, I'm asking myself every morning - "Where am I? Who are all these people??" And I'm really really not a 'real' American, not red or blue, just a 'green' carder. It's all quite confusing really.  

11 days and counting.....

Feeble attempt to go back on topic = We also have 4 or five Tamilian families, two of them Christians. One family is staunchly Vaishnavite, pure vegetarian, attend night long Ramayana readings up in ATL. The wife (from Hyderabad) runs a catering business from home- phulkas, vada & sambar, masala vada and also 'tiffin carrier' meals. They do get a bit lonely at dinners among all of us pure non-vegetarians.  

[Anna Ruth]

Durga Puja is the best historic festival and  people celebrate it with happiness and unity, and also Bengali foods are really awesome.