Some food for thought Ethnic cuisine is the preferred option for those looking to celebrate or just bond over a meal

Some food for thought

Ethnic cuisine is the preferred option for those looking to celebrate or just bond over a meal

There was a time when Indians had just woken up to pizzas, burgers, wraps and rolls, with every desirable snack being American, Italian or Chinese. Be it a special menu for a party, a general evening snack, the Sunday brunch or the menu at a wedding it had to have either mushroom with melting cheese starters or French fries with a so and so dip to be a hit with the masses. As far as the elite crowds are concerned they boasted of having Thai, Mexican or Spanish dishes as a part of their meals on a regular basis. Now we find that things have taken a big u-turn in the food-circuit, with people preferring an ‘aloo chaat’ or the evergreen ‘pani puri’ for an evening snack. From ‘chhole bhature’ for the special Sunday meal or exotic kebabs as starters for a party; traditional Indian food has come back to the center stage. A very important part of this popularisation of Indian traditional cuisine is the Thali. From a time when thali was a term used for an economised menu in the local eateries and small restaurants, today the concept of has become quite popular as an upmarket item. Earlier, when a person ordered a thali or a half-thali (also known as a rice plate), we would presume that it was his way of trying to stretch his limited budget for the maximum possible meal within that amount. But today we have specialised eateries and restaurants that serve the thali. Be it Gujarati, Rajasthani, Konkani, South Indian or Punjabi version, a speciality thali from all the Indian regions is not just available, but with an ambience to match. Getting back to our roots and opting for an ethnic Indian experience is considered to be the ‘in’ thing today. It has all the exotic and snob appeal, yet it is a humble and cherished meal loved by people of all age groups. Until quite some time in the past, if you had an Indianised palate, it was considered a sign of being too rustic or unable to adapt to different cuisine. Now, it is quite the reverse. Any person who is not ready to have a thali or parathas with raita is looked down upon as someone who cannot enjoy good food or savour the burst of flavour to the fullest extent. The other major advantage with Indian food is that the experience is not limited to just the food itself. It’s an overall ambience that makes all the difference. At a typical ethnic themed restaurant you have all the works, from the tikka ceremony to dhol players and the charpoys that take your dining experience to a completely different level. Traditional Indian food that had since forever been restricted to family get-togethers is today the most preferred choice for parties, corporate events or dining out with friends. The major advantage offered by Indian cuisine is that it has something in it to offer to everyone; the vegetarians, the sea-food lovers or the meat eaters. It caters to those with a sweet tooth, those who love the spices, the ones on a diet or the ones wanting to add a few calories. Indians love their food and Indian food loves you back, with a spread of spices that are devoured by your taste buds these spices also give a lot of health benefits to your body. The innumerable advantages the cuisine offers to everyone makes it the most popular dining option today.