World on our plate!

As we boarded our flight to HK from Mumbai, we promised each other we won't confine ourselves to Indian food and explore all the myriad culinary delights HK has to offer. For we truly believe that food is integral to understanding and absorbing any place's culture and identity.

HK is a melting pot of various cultures and we found options enough to confuse us as we embarked on our culinary journey. While we haven't had the chance to have the local Sichuan cuisine yet, we've had some Xian, Thai, Mexican, Italian and Indian food. And Hong Kong doesn't disappoint!

From the 'hot pots' of Xian to the dark sticky rice dessert of Thailand, it's been a scrumptious, fragrant experience so far!

Xian 'hot pots'

Thai Kung Phad Nam-Prik Paow, Guey Tiew Phad Khee Maow, Pad Priew Wan, 

Hor Mok Ma-Praw Oon Talay 

Thai dessert, Khao Niew Mamuang

Ham and Parma pizza, for lack of anything else at the 

Dragonboat Festival, Stanley Beach!

Nachos and drinks! 

(These nachos are surprisingly different from what we get in India.. yummier!)

Here's to more experimenting in the days to come. 

P.S.: I am so proud of us... We realised most people just stick to the tried and tested when it comes to food. Our motto is, "Try it, don't like it, leave it. Try again!" 

:)

I love India

There are moments of great revelation. Moments when you think thoughts you had never thought before. Like, do I really love my country? Will I miss it if I'm not living there? These are not questions you ask yourself on a regular basis. One tends to take one's country, one's environment for granted, like it's a given.

Last night, while craving for some Indian food (after having some excellent Xian, Cantonese, Vietnamese cuisine over the past few days) we stumbled upon not one, not two but three restaurants serving Indian food at Hong Kong's famous Lan Kwai Fong (LKF) district. Oh joy!!

The following exchange ensued between us and Jamal, the guy taking the order at Ebeneezer's -

Husband: "One chicken biryani and one boti kabab please"
Jamal: "Spicy?"
Me: "Yes please!"
Jamal: "Haan, Hindustaniyon aur Pakistaniyon ko toh spicy hi chahiye hota hai"
(Husband and I double take)
Husband: "Hindi sunn ke kitna achha lag raha hai!"
Jamal: Laughs
Me to husband: "We are coming here regularly from now on"

What followed was some really spicy and flavourful biryani and a yummy boti kabab roll.

With my mouthful of spicy tangy biryani and enveloped by the fragrance of familiar food, a thought came unbidden to my mind - "I love India."

And quick on it's heels another thought followed - "As long as I have Indian food occasionally, I won't miss it terribly."