Monday, June 15, 2015

An Indian Feast


An unexpected treat during my week at J.C. Campbell was an invitation to  the Indian Cooking class's feast.


The class had prepared samosas for our instructors' get-together earlier in the week and I had carried on about how good they were to anyone who would listen. Including Miki, the lady in the picture below. We were seated next to each other at one meal and I'd asked her, as one does at JCC, which class she was taking. 

 When she said Indian Cooking, I'd raved a bit and  then we'd gone on to other topics -- including C.S. Lewis.  She was a charming table mate and I swear, I had no idea that there was to be a feast, much less that class members were allowed to invite guests.

Had I known, I'd probably resorted to bribery. But I didn't and it was a lovely surprise on Thursday morning when I saw Miki at breakfast and she told me of the feast AND invited me.


Wonderful smells were coming from the kitchen/classroom when I showed up, unfashionably early.  The space was decorated with flowers and Indian fabrics and the class members were in Indian garb (or an approximation, thereof.)


Gulshan Singh, the charming instructor , greeted us and affixed tiny jeweled bindis to the foreheads of all the women


Spices and other ingredients on display.


This is a first class teaching kitchen -- five range tops, acres of counter space . . .

What looked like every implement known to man . . .



The students were putting the finishing touches on the meal.



Displaying each dish just so . . .


The aromas and the colors were tantalizing . . .

There was a menu . . .


And the individual dishes were labeled -- and marked with a V if they were vegetarian.




Roasted cauliflower, as I recall.





The big cake-like thing is biryani -- rice with chicken and vegetables inside, all baked in a mold.


We were encouraged to try everything and waste  nothing -- and come back for seconds -- (which I did.)


Incredible food, proud cooks . . .


This teaching kitchen also boasts a fireplace and all the implements for old time fire place cookery.



It was an amazing evening . . . all the better for being unexpected. 
Thanks to my benefactor Miki and all those hardworking cooks!




Gulshan and her husband posed for pictures . . .


There's a terrific article about Gulshan and her cooking and her cookbook (and how to order it) HERE.

(Of course I bought a copy of her cookbook. It has recipes for all the dishes at the feast plus many more.  They all look quite do-able and not especially time consuming. )



10 comments:

Ms. A said...

I don't think I have ever eaten Indian food, at least that I can recall. At one of the local hospitals, which employs many Indians, there is a certain wing on the lower floor that has many of them and the smell is unmistakable as you walk through, especially at mealtime.

KarenB said...

Vicki - I would love to get my hands on Gulshan Singh's cookbook. Do you know if it is commercially available?

Your week away looks absolutely wonderful! What an amazing place!

Vicki Lane said...

Karen, Click on the link in the post (The big HERE) to the article about Gulshan. There is info in there about ordering the cookbook directly from her ($20)

Vicki Lane said...

You need to contact her by email to order.

Masala Magic ($20, order direct from: shan.singh95@gmail.com)

Barbara Rogers said...

Oh my, I crave Indian food now. Haven't gone to the best Indian restaurant around for quite a while. Lucky you having such a feast. Thanks for sharing the photos, though I would have preferred a taste of everything!

Jime said...

Love "dot" indian food. At first I thought you were talking about "feather" indian food. The husband's full beard makes a wonderful photograph. I will visit her web site and look for the book.

NCmountainwoman said...

My cousin married an Indian and she makes her own curry. She sends some to me several times a year and we treasure it. Glad you had an unexpected feast.

Kath said...

fabulous. And it all looks DELICIOUS!!!

KarenB said...

Thank you! Will do.

jennyfreckles said...

My, that all looks so good...