ePaper Nov 5, 2015

6 CANADA – COMMUNITY/GTA DESI EXPRESS www.desiexpressonline.com Thursday, November 5, 2015 FREE COMMUNITY LISTINGS DESI EXPRESS will run photos of your cherished events – Weddings, Parents/Grandparents Anniversaries, Birthdays, Landmark Events in your Life – as a free community service; email two photos with brief descriptions to: editor@desiexpressonline.com Amust-readforfoodies book review By yusra asad The novel, The Hundred Foot Journey by Richard C. Morais, is a book about a young man named Hassan who is a culinary prodigy. He moves to France with his family after getting displaced from their native India. The Haji family led by ‘Papa’ settles in the vil- lage of Lumiere in South of France, where they open their own restaurant, Mai- son Mumbai. However, they face some confronta- tion and competition from Madame Mallory who runs her elite French restaurant, Le Saule Pleureur opposite to the Haji family’s which is only a hundred feet away. Madame Mallory keeps protesting against the Indi- an restaurant until Hassan’s passion for the French cui- sine proves that he is wor- thy of working under Ma- dame Mallory’s guidance. The Hundred Foot Jour- ney was the first novel by Richard Morais and was rather an extraordinary write for someone who is not of South Indian heritage and yet was able to write so brilliantly about the Indian culture, capture the essence of family, and also make the readers’ stomach rumble by description of the food. His portrayal of French delicacies were equally tan- talizing for any food lover. It was such a delight to read this book. I could not put this book down until I was at the very end. I mean, what is better than a book which is about food. A good story and descriptive details about food — two delights in one book. In other words, this book is a food fairytale and a must read for everyone, es- pecially for the foodies. — Book reviewerYusra Asad is a Grade 11 student from Heart Lake Secondary School and a member of Brampton Library’sTeen Library Council, Cyril Clark Branch.With the support of Brampton Library, Desi Express publishes this book review column every month in a bid to encourage our younger readersexplore theirliteraryandcritiquingskills. Yusra Asad INTHIS EDITION Science &Tech, P15 Fiction, P16 The Mantra – How to cook the perfect... husband! By Mohinder Chadha A few weeks back our daughters in- vited us for dinner on our 50th wedding anniversary. The surprise was that without our knowledge they’d passed on some memory photos, black and white, to Desi Express, which generated some interest from would-be couples, and from a few couples who had just cel- ebrated their first or second wedding anniversaries. Everyone called us ‘Un- cle’ and ‘Aunty’, and all asked one question, after the congratulations, “Aunty, tell us your mantra of ‘50 years, and still going strong!’” My reply was, “Learn how to cook… husband.” Now before I disclose that Mantra/recipe, I will thank all friends who sent us greetings after reading Desi Express, or came to know through our daughters’ Fa- cebook social media, etc. We especially thank Prime Minister of Canada, Gover- nor General of Canada, Pre- mier of Ontario, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and Brampton’s beloved mayor Linda Jeffrey — who all sent us greetings. Thanks all of you, very much! That made us proud Canadians. Fifty years back in India, dating was not considered respectable. Cooking was the main hobby for middle- class family girls… from where I came. Mum always said a good cook can learn how to cook… a husband. She was 101 per cent right. Too many husbands are spoilt by mismanagement (spoilt veggies rarely cook well). Some women feel proud to keep them boiling in hot water, while some let them freeze by their indo- lent indifference — and later blame that their husband is freezer-burned! A few keep them simmering in the stew, through their words, as ir- ritating ways. Some roast them without marinating, or checking if he can be roast- ed or not — after all, he may be good for curry only. Some even keep them in a pickle all their life (poor husband!). You can’t expect all hus- bands will be firm, fresh, tender, good all the time. But they can be really long- lasting, enjoyable, delicious, when properly selected, treat- ed — and cooked. Even after 50 years — and counting! In selecting a ‘Pati’ (hus- band), think how to select a ‘Patila’(cooking pot). In my case, mum-dad’s experience was useful and handy — an arranged marriage. A good ‘Patila’ should be able to stand heat, the rigors of the ladle constantly beat- ing the bottom, have a non- stick quality, with a close- fitting lid that doesn’t let steam or the cooking smell to come out. Also needed are a heavy base, and a firm handle — if the screw gets loose, it can be tightened. Don’t go only for a shining one — not every shiny item is gold.Above all, be sure to select him yourself — along with have the opinion from experienced Mum and Dad. Everyone’s tastes differ. You may like well-ripened, and some may like raw, fresh from the tree. Don’t rush — but don’t be too picky ei- ther. Never look or wait for a ‘Sale’. Pati and Patila go to- gether well, but sometimes an economically bought Patila can do better and last longer, 50 anniversaries or more. Taking care of him is most important. Never put him on high heat, or ignore while cooking. Otherwise Pati and Patila, both will burn. Fire alarm will sound, smoke- flavoured husband causes stomach-ache. Crab, lobster and chicken — all are cooked differently. Like crab and lob- ster, you have to cook him alive. No difference between vegetarian and non-vegetari- an in husband-cooking. Make a clear, steady fire out of love, stir it carefully, check and taste to agree with him. If he sputters and fizzles, do not be anxious, some husbands do this until they’re quite done. A little sugar, in the form of kisses, no vinegar, no hot pepper. Little spicy/curry powder will improve them. But it must be with great care, and love. Stir him gen- tly until he becomes tender. You can’t fail to know when he’s done. No sharp in- struments to test him, or you can have a bleeding cut. If cooked this way, you will find him very digestible, agreeable, nice to you and the children. He will keep as long as you want. Unless you become careless and set him in too cold a place, or barbecue him and forget to shut off the burner… or you lose interest in cooking. Sometimestheingredients do not come up to expecta- tions. Compromise in short- comings is key to still enjoy- ing a delicious husband. While cooking, acci- dents do happen. One can get burnt. Or a vendor could be too smart in selling you a low-quality patila as a top quality fake. No one is 100 per cent perfect. Enjoy what you cook — or get rid of it in the recycle garbage bin. Let him compost. — Mohinder Chadha recently celebrated her 50th wedding anniversary with her Other Half Raj — prompting congratulatory messages from the Prime Minister, the Governor General, Ontario’s Premier and Lieutenant Governor, and Brampton’s Mayor Linda Jeffrey, amongst others THE BETTER HALF Monsoon –‘Mandala’of sound By Shayna Kay The core members of Monsoon, saxophone brothers Jonathan and Andrew Kay along with bassist Justin Gray, have consciously adopted the tradition of Indian Classical music and have since cultivated a musical language that delicately combines sounds from India with creative jazz to create an Indian-Canadian curry full of organic home-grown jazz and delicately cultivated exotic ragas. The sound of Jazz permeates through the heart of Monsoon from the earliest pioneers to great revolutionary (and one of Monsoon’s most potent influences) John Coltrane. Moving to India to study under their Guru Pandit Shantanu Bhattacharyya to develop a traditional relationship with the Ragas was a huge step and commitment to developing their music. Monsoon’s debut album Man- dala (www.monsoonmandala.com) is the cli- mactic culmination of years of dedicated re- search to unearth a collection of sounds that truly express the heart-song of Monsoon. The album was nominated for a Juno earlier this year and is nominated in two categories at the Canadian Folk Music Awards. Visit Monsoon’s Bandcamp website to Celestial Oceans: www.monsoon-music. bandcamp.com/album/mandala. To buy their debut studio album ‘Man- dala’, visit www.monsoonmandala.com. DOUBLE HONOUR FORMISSISSAUGA ORTHODONTIST: M i s s i s s a u g a orthodontist Dr Gagan Bhalla has been recognized and awarded the title of Fellows in two prestigious International Organizations,TheInternationalCollegeofDentists(ICD)andThe Pierre Fauchard Academy (PFA) during their respective Annual Meeting and Convocation in Saint Johns, Newfoundland. This accomplishment is awarded to nominees by invitation only. Only 3.5 per cent of dentists in the country are granted Fellowships into these Colleges.

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