Curry for breakfast? Too right !

I really think that getting to the heart of a country is by sampling its food. I was very excited about visiting India as it is the home of spices.
We visited many spice shops and were given wonderful talks and tastings. Store owners are so proud of their spices, the way they sell their product is a performance in itself and worth the sit down and cup of spiced chai tea. I brought back a traditional stainless steel spice tin and the curries made from it are sensational. You can bring spices home through customs as long as they are clearly labeled and packaged.

While I was out researching cooking classes, I ended up in a spice and grain grinding shop in Udiapur. Here, the local villagers can bring in a sack of grain they have grown, get it weighed and put through an ancient grinding machine. It is then put back into the sack (they would come back and collect it later) all for 20 rupees (about 80c). I sat in the shop for quite a while watching the people coming and going. I visited 3 classes and was just in time for tasting and hearing great feedback from the clients. They are so welcoming and friendly.

The markets were so colourful and vibrant. As I saw food being made on the streets I forgot about the "be careful" part and got straight into tasting. I tried some wonderful snacks that were like puffed up mini pappadams, the tops were knocked off and a sort of potatoe dish and chilli chutney were put inside. You then dip the whole thing in spiced water, and it fills up the remaining holes. You then pop the whole thing in your mouth and it explodes with a crunchy outside, tasty chilli potato and then the refreshing water. Very weird but tasty. The food is a wonderful mix of textures and that’s what I love.

Every meal we had was a banquet and with all the accompanied dishes I wondered how the weight loss program was going to cope. Nothing was overly spicy as in chilli hot, and if you wanted a visit to the kitchen, the chef always welcomed you in.

Our last lunch was my highlight. We went with our driver to a local vegetarian restaurant. When you sit at the table they place a stainless steel platter in front of each person that has about 6 segments in it. They bring out pickles, chutneys and salad to share and then the waiter comes out with a 4 potted carrier container that had in each pot a spiced dahl, palak paneer (my all time favourite spinach and cubed cottage cheese), chickpea curry and lentil sambar (a thin lentil based soup). The waiter spoons out as much as you like onto the stainless steel platter. He then brings rice and piping hot wholemeal chappatis. The waiters will top up your platter as much as you like, this is the Indian version of all you can eat for 60 rupees(about $2.40) per person.

I can't wait to return to bring back more spices.