Monday, June 15, 2009

Rasam powder's importance

What is the value of Rasam in Varun's life?
Zilch.

Ok, that's a very rude thing to say about Rasam because it is great to have it and some people love it. Most people live because of it. Every Tamilian survives on it. Teluguites have a bit of it on most days as appetizers and call it "Chaaru". Kannadigas and Malayalees have it too with their own variations. The rest of India would not much know the difference between a Sambaar and Rasam but do like it when they have it.

Rasam, with its ingredients, can not only be an appetizer but also give relief from cold and flu. "It makes you want to live another day..." says my dad, when he gives his pro-Rasam talk.
I never eat it with rice. For me it is a mere nutrition-less food. I'd rather have as much as my appetite normally permits than increase my appetite and find that Rasam anyway filled that newly increased appetite.

Let's refine the question a bit.
What's the value of Rasam in Varun's life in India? Zilch.
What's the value of Rasam in Varun's life in USA? Increasing...
Mr Innovator (one of my faces) made Rasam flavored Pasta. I'll call it "Rasamy Pasta". I'll take suggestions for a better name. I was tired of eating outside. I wanted to make something and realized that we were out of rice. "Ummmm!!! Varun, what do we do now?"
"Ummmm!!! How about making pasta?"
"Yeah! Will save money for tonight and I'll get to make it to suit my taste buds..."

So I religiously start cleaning 2 utensils, boil pasta and sautee vegetables. I'm not your emergency cook but a Chef-i-have-time-give-me-something-new-yet-tasty cook! I realized it and people did praise me for my food. The only flaw so far has been that potatoes in my dishes often aren't completely cooked. So let's say I am a Honest-chef-I-have-time!-Give-me-something-new-yet-tasty cook. I wanted my taste buds to get a tingle of red chilly powder. I have been having really bland food for long without whining.

Indians need spices and chilly powder in particular. More so, people from Andhra Pradesh. We are people who just make a pickle of everything. Most them vary in degrees of spice - (with '!' symbol to be read as the spice level)
Most spicy, !!!!! + !
Moster spicy, !!!!! + !!
Mostest Spicy and !!!!! + !!!
Call-the-fire-brigade spicy !!!!! + !!!!!

Now as I finish this post, I can't say anything more than, "Call me home, and let me dish out a Varun special, anytime when you're at leisure!"
For now, Chef Varun (CV) signs off, having satisfied his belly and taste buds.

I'm just wondering if it should have read: Honest-Chef-I-have-time!-Give-me-something-new-yet-tasty!-Remind-me-of-my-mom cook!

11 comments:

Persona non gratis said...

I made it through the facebook route. Leaving a comment, because your blog says it does make a difference. Blogging is a good way to remember your student days. Keep writing.

Varun T said...

Ahhh! Thanks a lot! So people do read the sides too. And it is an honor that your comment is the first one here. Will keep writing. Do keep coming back...

Shruti Godzilla said...

nice and funny.....
would risk my life and taste it if it still remains taste-able by the time come to your place...
I like the way you have describes yourself as a cook...and love the measure of spicy food...awesome, couldnt stop laughing on that, a typical "varun's way" of expressing things....

Varun T said...

For some reason I pictured you having a good life about those levels of spice. Surprised that you left a comment, though... Thanks. And worry not, I'll make it again for you...

Unknown said...

Hehehe...... A funnier tone... comic tone is more pervalent in ur latest writings :D its fun to read :) n i am not sayin it 'cos i have to or 'cos i cudn make sense out of it.... its true appreciation..... n al these r really v short.... waitin for ur nexxt big story ;)

Teju said...

Dude.. Nice one.. But if only you could cook as fast as you could talk and write, you'd probably be a better cook around.. ;)
By the time you would have finished preparing the dish, people supposed to eat that would have fallen asleep just waiting for food!!!
Pick up the speed maga.. You dont have to cook slow cause you eat slow!!! :)
But do keep writing some tasty blogs..

Kavya said...

Woah! Hilarious...Hats off to the spice levels ;) I would agree with Shruti on this!!!

Unknown said...

surprise was it!!! I saw it on facebook!! i thought you will traumatize me for joining the followers list..!! but alas i was wrong!!! but nice post buddy!! I have started appreciating the rasam now.. and can diff between rasam and sambar ;-)

Twistedfrk said...

Hahaha, that was a classic "Varinism" if I might call it one. You seem to be trying your best to be a Indian-blogger-wannabe-wodehouse, Hahaha. Noted that you might be able to cook well, I bet by the time you actually get to eating and then finishing, there's not much left!!

Varun T said...

Twisted Tushar! I don't know whether the wannabe part was a compliment or an abuse, but just the Wodehouse part makes me want to take it as a double compliment ;)
Thank you. Well, everyone knows about my eating speed. Here's more info. By the time I cook, I lose my appetite, so I eat very little, though extremely slowly. (Snail speed + Loss of appetite can make me %^$*&%&* slow) Keep coming back. Thanks for your comments!

Anonymous said...

im craving some pappu chaaru now.. with those yummy onions in them YUMM.. and some spicy avakai pachchadi to go along with i.. yummm... curse you varun.. i dont have pappu chaaru or avakai pachadi now :(

awesome post though.. keep it up... :)