My mission to complete 10-culinary experience worldwide from age 60-70 is not complete without a Curry Sojourn in India. Via TripAdvisor I was able to join Chef Usha at MasterChef in Delhi for a full week of 1-on-1 classes. I chose the word 'baptized' in the title because it is the most appropriate description of what I went through, at the end of which I emerged with a totally different mindset on Indian cuisine, and of course on the challenges of cooking it. Indian cooking is complex, make no mistake about it. My 6-days gave me a rudimentary first look at 'what is Indian cooking' and in particular specialties like; Punjabi, Mughlai, South Indian,Tawa-Handi Specials & of course Indian Sweets.
The Chef hails from the Punjabi region but Delhi is home for 20+ years. She is a veteran in teaching Indian cuisine. A vegetarian all her life, what amazed me is her abundant knowledge how the maze of curries, Masala, cooking methods and technical tips complement meats, poultry and seafood. She is a walking dictionary. The lessons were conducted in her spacious home in the quaint neighborhood of Defence Colony, away from the hustle-buzzle of Delhi. I stayed in the area (Stallon Hospitality) and 'walked to school' every morning, passing the local market and making friends on the way. Such friendly people! This unique feel of 'belonging' alone is memorable.
Back to the classes : totally producible recipes and clear notes were always at the ready, fully hands-on experience in the kitchen from start to finish for every recipe, open to all questions throughout the course, excellent demonstration of techniques, plating instructions and lastly, ample tasting at the end of every day, in the form of a sumptuous 5-6 course late lunch to 'taste what we made'. The curries and specialties are simply superb. Did I make them .. I asked myself that question daily, the answer was still no, I did not, I could not possibly have. I took copious notes but unless I start practicing .. code word for making each dish 10 if not 15 times .. I can never get to the fluency that the Chef showed me, and expect of me back in Hong Kong. I was in awe the whole week, by the overload of information, by the Chef's never ending coaching but above all, by the kindness and generosity of the Argawals. I have done 7 such sojourns already with 3 more to go but believe me, my time at MasterChef is one of a kind.
Chef Usha thank you for my Baptism!
The Chef hails from the Punjabi region but Delhi is home for 20+ years. She is a veteran in teaching Indian cuisine. A vegetarian all her life, what amazed me is her abundant knowledge how the maze of curries, Masala, cooking methods and technical tips complement meats, poultry and seafood. She is a walking dictionary. The lessons were conducted in her spacious home in the quaint neighborhood of Defence Colony, away from the hustle-buzzle of Delhi. I stayed in the area (Stallon Hospitality) and 'walked to school' every morning, passing the local market and making friends on the way. Such friendly people! This unique feel of 'belonging' alone is memorable.
Back to the classes : totally producible recipes and clear notes were always at the ready, fully hands-on experience in the kitchen from start to finish for every recipe, open to all questions throughout the course, excellent demonstration of techniques, plating instructions and lastly, ample tasting at the end of every day, in the form of a sumptuous 5-6 course late lunch to 'taste what we made'. The curries and specialties are simply superb. Did I make them .. I asked myself that question daily, the answer was still no, I did not, I could not possibly have. I took copious notes but unless I start practicing .. code word for making each dish 10 if not 15 times .. I can never get to the fluency that the Chef showed me, and expect of me back in Hong Kong. I was in awe the whole week, by the overload of information, by the Chef's never ending coaching but above all, by the kindness and generosity of the Argawals. I have done 7 such sojourns already with 3 more to go but believe me, my time at MasterChef is one of a kind.
Chef Usha thank you for my Baptism!
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