Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Masala Stories


My friend , Anjali Koli, who is a food blogger at Annaparabrahma,  recently collaborated with Chef Ranveer Brar   on the Great Indian Rasoi 2 program , an epic culinary journey across India,  on the Living Foodz Channel.

She demonstrated the a traditional (Dried)  Shrimp Masala preparation,  under the benevolent gaze and active participation of the  various Mavshis present.   The location was the precincts of the Khandoba temple, the patron godof the Kolis, the original inhabitants of Mumbai.

The program inspired a vegetarian like me to compose an ode to the entire preparation and celebration, with Anjali and Chef Brar.  First inspired in Marathi; but then wrote an English version for Chef Brar.....   :-)

Do watch. And wish you were there .....





तेलात चकाकले शुभ्र कांदे ,
हळूहळू झाले सोने ,
जणू मावशीन्च्या नाकी चमके

साग्रर मोत्याची नथ;
फटाकड्या हिरव्या मिरच्या
तुटून पडती त्याञ्च्यावर ,
आणि कुणा एका ब्रारला ठसका लागताच,
मावशी मान डोलवून ,
गळ्यातलं चाचपडून,
टीव्ही क्यामेरा कडे बघून
"अगोबाय !" हसू पडे …
अंजलीचा हात लागताच
"इश्श, मी येतच होते…" म्हणत
स्वतःला त्यात झोकून देणारी वांगी ,
स्वादात डुंबत आतुरतेने
चिंब
कोळीमची वाट बघणारे सगळे ,
कोळी मसाल्याच्या होडीच्या
तवा वापसीचा अपूर्व जल्लोष;
आणि मग कोवळ्या पण जबाबदार
हिरव्या कान्दापातीचे आगमन ,
आणि त्यांचे बोट धरून
हट्टाने टीव्ही वर आलेले कोकम .

सर्वांवरी एक झाकण ,
आसमंतात मावशीनचा फुललेला चेहरा,
एक दणदणीत वाफ
झाके मावशीनचा चष्मा.

गोड तांदुळाचे वडे
वाट बघती
कोळीमची,
परवानगीसाठी बघती अन्जलीकडे .

आणि कोळी बांधवांचे अदरातिथ्य बघूंन
अन्जलीचे कौतुक करून
ब्रार भारावून जातो,
आणि
देवा  खंडोबा
समाधानाने सागराकडे एक दूर कटाक्ष
टाकत
म्हणतात ,
"मी अनेकदा टीव्ही वर
आलो रे ,
पण सर्वाना घेउन अंजली आली ,
फार छान वाटलं !"
White onion slivers
glistening in hot oil,
with a tinge of
pale polished  gold,
like the Pearly nosering
adorning Mavshee's nose;
 

Item number mirchis
rushing in
all cut up and
doing their stuff,
causing a Brar to cough,
and a Mavshee to nod
and crack up,
quickly adjust her necklace,
and surprise the camera
with a heartfelt "Agobaya!"....

And the brinjals,
falling on to the tawa
at the slightest Anjolian nudge,
waiting and sizzling
for the tiny shrimp,
inebriated with water.

The celebrated Tawa Wapasi
of the Koli Masala,
spicing and saffronizing it all,
and they agitate and stir
as streaks and cuts
of green onion,
lugging some Kokam
enter the scene.

A great cooking
behind closed lids,
steaming and tearing,
and the shrimp are done
amidst a  clouding
of the specs of a Mavshi
checking it out
and waiting for it all...

A thrilling welcome from
Sweet Rice Wadas
impatient to hold close
the shrimp masala.

And as the Brar sits,
biting into 

the wada and the shrimp,
overcome
with the Koli Hospitality,
the resplendent Khandoba
watching it all,
looks at a shining sea
in the distance,
and says,
" You know what,
I've been on TV many times,
but this one
with Anjali and friends
is special indeed !
".....

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