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| New Year spread for lunch. |
-Brian Mendonca
Food brings people together. When we step in to our place in Kharghar, Navi Mumbai we make it a point to host a meal for the family.
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All smiles.
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This year the occasion was New Year's day. I had suggested 31st December since we were travelling back to Goa on 2nd. But uncle Ossie suggested 1st and 1st it was.
The house was filled with positive energy when all the family arrived. I had placed a Santa cap on the clock in the living room - to remind us of the remnants of Christmas. Queenie brought the Christmas table cloth from Goa.
As soon as they trooped in - dressed to the nines - Queenie brought out her Christmas sweets made in Goa. The sweets were widely appreciated - specially the batika.
The food was sourced from Kurla. The high point was traditional East Indian fugias which I tried for the first time. Queenie said the sorpotel - which she had prepared in the run-up to Christmas, in Goa - would go well with them.
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Rajan regales us on the C40.
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From Helen, the caterer, Queenie asked for East Indian chicken curry, ball meat curry and pulao. The chicken curry came in bursting our nostrils with the spicy aroma, since some of the oil had spilled over at the side onto the cloth which feebly tried to hold the
handi (vessel) in place. For dessert Queenie made jelly and cream. Christmas cake completed the tableau.
Washed down with soft drinks and beer the family lunch had a charm of its own. There were many who could not make it but we were thankful for those who did.
Rajan - the best man for my wedding - jumped on a train from Baroda at 4.30 a.m. and breezed in at midday. He was one of the first to arrive. He inaugurated my Yamaha C40 classical guitar by playing some delectable pieces which included the poignant tango
Por Una Cabeza [Click to listen.]. Later we all joined in with some medleys like 'Down by the Riverside,' and the Konkani favourites like starting with
Undra Mhojea Mama.Before they left, Queenie pressed into their hands goodies like pickles, and Shrewsbury biscuits from Pune. One of them romped home with a bottle of cashew feni.
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All pix by Melanie David taken at our place in Kharghar, Navi Mumbai on 1 Jan 2022.
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