स्वादिष्ट लोग

कुछ लोग बड़े स्वादिष्ट होते हैं और पौष्टिक भी।

बस...वो हमारी थाली में ना परोसे जायें... यही चाह रहती है।

कभी भी !!

Cities

I have recently been travelling... .

Each time i go to a new city, i find that it does not smell like this Capital city i live in.

Each city has it own smell... something which adds to its character.

Chennai has a salty, grassy, musical smell. And yes... idli, sambhar and chutney. And fragrant Filter Coffee. And Mallipoo.

Kochi smells of rain and money. And of Avial and Mutton ishtew. And Coconut.

Kolkata smells of ...well.... many things... food, calm, dance, rhythm. And of Chicken Kalia, Doi Machh, Sorshe Ilish Bata and Mustard Oil. And Jhalmuri and Puchkas.

Mumbai, my beloved, smells of activity , bustle, and yes, the ubiquitous vada-pav. And Bhelpuri.

Agra... the must visit for people in love (so i hear so often) of Petha, muck and Horses.

Mathura, of incense.. as also Tanjore and Mysore.

I am still on this long travel itinerary... led by the travel plan, and followed by my nose.

It is strange how i associate the smell of certain dishes with a certain place, or a certain person. Each time i think of a friend of my Ma, i always think of Ponds Dreamflower Talc. And another, with the smell of chopsuey. And another favourite aunt, with the smell of jaggery and coconut laddus. Ah well, for a foodie, the list is long. But now, even with the years passing by, the habit of associating smells with places and people hasn't left me.

My journey continues, and so does the habit of labelling each city by its smell.