Banana Leaves & Diwali Lamps
After a long summer pause, it's that time again! Welcoming the Indian festive/ Berlin fall season, we wished to bring together autumnal gems into one cozy, traditional South Indian meal at the wonderful Entretempo Kitchen Gallery.
Traditional South Indian, meaning, sitting on the floor, eating the customary South Indian meal on a banana leaf and with plain hands, yes. I'd had this on my mind for a while, and longed to recreate the hearty communal feast that is this experience back home. Thomas, Karthik and I then planned a menu that was inspired by the traditional structure of a South Indian meal, but infused with Berlin ingredients and cocktails to pack a punch. Here's what we served:
A pinch of salt
Green Apple Pickle
Appadams
Mamidi Thandra
Vankaya Pacchadi
...
Varuval-inspired: Ladysfinger Fry
Poriyal-inspired: Gutti Mirapakaaya
Avial-inspired: Sabassge Soppu Kootu
...
Sambar-inspired: Dumpling Squash Bisibelebath with Mixture
Curd
...
Butternut Squash Halwa with Raspberry Compote & Boondi Brittle
K serving the green apple pickle
Thomas and Jelena making those drinks fun
Plating the Gutti Mirapakaya
Sabassge Soppu Kootu is ready
K, Thomas and Bianca
Dumpling Squash Bisibelebath and mixture
Butternut Squash Halwa with Raspberry Compote & Boondi Brittle
We had the pleasure of having an amazing audience who really embraced the setting, made themselves cozy on the floor and ate effortlessly with their hands! Thank you, dear guests!
This dinner wouldn't have been complete in its form without the gracious help we received from our friend Jelena Kind and the gallery's intern Bianca Bellani. Without them we simply couldn't have managed to do anything in time! Big, big thanks to these ladies!
It's been nearly 2 years since my last visit home, and my last such hearty meal. I left this evening jubilant about having been a part of the same experience in some form. Onto the next adventure now!
