Curry Lovers Take Note!!

[MommC]

Right on Chiri!!

And the food you get tonight will be authentic Indian (altho not the hot, hot southern style 'cause it has to be suitable for all who attend). Mara tries to do one hot dish for those of us that like the southern Madras style or she serves hot mango chutney or hot eggplant pickles on the side!

The curried lentils I made for the DR1 reunion were moderately hot (again so everyone could eat it) but some added more hot pepper to bring it up to "steam"!
I don't cook a lot of Indian food as hubby is not that keen on it (although he does enjoy the once a month at Mara's) so the lentils are what I do best (I can make the mango chutney).

The spices used by Mara are either brought by me from Canada or brought by her from India (she was there twice this year and brought back 400 lbs of spice!!) and her cook has been trained by her or by visiting Indian or Pakistani cooks.
Trust me....there's no cream in 'em!! and the cardommon is fresh as is the tumeric, fenugreek, garam masala, curry, chili, coriander,
cloves,cumin (did I miss any???)

Now AZB if you can make all those things well for sure you best get down here and we'll run an "Indian Cooking School" for a day!! Then we can have a really big DR1 reunion with all the participants being the judge of how well we've learned the dishes!!

Cleef is right....the casino is close by and Guilia's Cafe will have the fight on, on their big screen!!

Mara may even have it on in the bar!!

 

[AZB]

I would take the challenge but it has to be about cooking Authentic indian food. If gringos are going to compete then forget it. I don't know how to make sweet, creamy indian (hahahaha) food. Its like a dominican making italian pizza.

 

[MommC]

AZB........

see my post above!!
See my post above!

You didn't answer if you can make pappadums from scratch.......

I assume you can at least make chappati (I can - learned from a pakistani chap last year who was staying at Mara's!!)
Mara has an authentic - brought from India - chappati cooker!!

 

[Chirimoya]

Thanks to all involved, it was a wonderful evening with something for everyone.... Pib has the photos.

AZB you'd be pleased to hear that it was authentic Indian food, not a drop of cream nor a raisin in sight! It was delicious and just spicy enough.

Robert, MommC and co, it was great to meet you at last and even though we were a reduced DR1 contingent it was lively and fun. A real treat for me.

Now lets see what we do about the Great Indian Cooking Challenge!

Chiri

 

[Robert]

People, you missed another great evening!
Especially the desert, dam they can move their bellies

 

[Pib]

Pib, Chirimoya, Mrs. Crazy Canuk and MommC.

Some of the patrons

This presentation sponsored by Pfyzer.

Hungry people.

Look I am tall! MommC, Pib (standing on the steps) and Chirimoya.

Sankies in their natural habitat (Behind Chirimoya). Notice how they prepare themselves to start chasing their prey.

 

[MommC]

Another evening of Greats!!

Great company, great food, great entertainment.......and sanki s too!
Of course we must mention the great fight that Jones won hands down (he really did keep 'em down!!).

It was nice to meet Chiri and a great way for those Crazy Canucks (the people from the Church of the Latter Day Golfers) to end their stay on the island!

To all who missed it........tooooooooo Baaaddddd!

Great photo's Pib!! (Looking at them I know for sure my costume wouldn't have fit!!! Time to go on a diet!! )

 

[Amber]

Great pics Pib! You guys look like you had a great time judging by Chri's smile
And belly dancers, too! I'm sorry I had to miss it
This goes to show there should be more DR1 reunions!
Amber

 

[Dominican Babe]

Thanks for the pics Pib, looks like you all had a great nite. I had a take away from the local curry house (complete with cream to suit my western tastebuds hahaha) and I was with you in spirit!

 

[Pavan]

I guess I need to move back to DR from Mexico. You guys need some good recipies and original spices.

Next time I go home I will get some killer masalas,,,,real stuff not fixed Indian stuff

 

[Pib]

How do you know it was "fixed", you didn't even tried it? The cooks were Indian, I hope they knew what Indian food is all about.

 

[MommC]

Don't worry Missing_DR........

when I have anything to do with the food it's as authentic as can be!
MARA BRINGS HER SPICE DIRECTLY FROM INDIA........or I bring it for her from the vast selection of authentic, fresh, spices from Canada.

BTW....from what I hear there will soon be an authentic Indian restaurant in Santo Domingo. I'll keep you posted on where and when as soon as I have details!!

 

[AZB]

There you go again PIB. Tell me one thing, what do you know about indian foods? I will tell you guys over and over again, the food you eat in indian restaurants situated in foreign countries (especially in DR) is fixed food. Not many people can eat the real / authentic indian dishes. There are some small ethnic restaurants in ethnic areas of england and USA where the real pakistani / indian food is served to their own local clients (indian / pakistani folks).
Please PIB, don't argue, you might know how to make great dominican tostones but when it comes to authentic indian / pakistani dishes, i suggest you listen to us. There is no such thing as curry masala (spice). Our dishes are prepared with many exotic spices which can only be bought in india / pakistan. many spices are sold in USA but the authentic spices still are sold in india / pakistan. Many of you foreigners who have been eating indian food for many years are eating fixed foods.
Even when I cook for the foreigners I make it mild spiced and often mix in some american flavor to suit your taste buds.
If you would like to eat authentic indian food, I suggest you go eat in restaurants where indian / pakistanis eat (no foreigners).
By the way PIB, you think you have been eating mexican tacos in DR...all these years? Give me a break, who the Fu@# puts in ketchup, mayo and cabbage in a freakin taco? I bet if you bite into one real mexican taco with all the hot spices you would faint.

 

[Pib]

I stand corrected.

Not only are you an expert on Indian food, even more than *other* Indians, but also you are a psychic. Sorry I dared to think you couldn't guess what we ate and what it tasted like all the way to Santiago. My apologies. Neat gift, huh?

 

[Chirimoya]

Although I haven't been to India I have eaten 'authentic' Indian food cooked by Indian friends, and have been to Indian restaurants in Brick Lane (East End of London) and in Bradford. Definitely catering to a mainly Indian clientele. Those are two of the 'ethnic' Indian areas AZB is talking about. The food served on Saturday was not far off from those.

Read the posts AZB: the spices and the chefs came from India! And perhaps you should give Pib more credit about her knowledge of international cuisine instead of making assumptions.

Chiri

 

[Chris]

There are few foods that inspire such passion as Indian Food - maybe Italian.

One time three of us got together for a big Indian cook-out. Myself (grew up in South Africa and learnt to cook Indian from the Indians), A fellow that grew up in Burma, and an American who had studied cooking Indian food for many years. We put a scrumptious meal on the table for about 40 people, but we literally fought tooth and nail for two weeks about the menu and ingredients. All of us loving every minute of the fighting and the cooking!

In our house, we have authentic indian food only when my husband is not home. When he is home, we have the stuff that is adapted for western palates. I like both!

AZB, there is space for both types of cooking. Cooking is an adventure, not something with hard and fast rules. Give the other folks a break here, would ya!

 

[Robert]

I maybe wrong, but if the food is cooked by an Indian, using Indian ingredients, then I would say that's pretty authentic. I know the cooking gas is Dominican, but does that make a difference?

 

[MommC]

Face it gang.......

AZB just doesn't want to admit that while he was stuck in Santiago we were enjoying a REAL north Indian FEAST! With ethnic surroundings, spices, and chefs!

As a note to those that were there - there is a great possibility that Mohammed (the Pakistani chap who did the sensual dance with the belly dancer that is pictured in this thread) will be taking over management of the restaurant in April. If things work out I'm sure there will be many more Indian Fiesta's and Mara is already planning her next trip to India in May to bring back more authentic ingredients.

BTW the Indian ambassador has been to one of her Fiestas and has offered to bring in anything she needs to continue them if she has difficulty bringing in the necessities on her own!!

 

[Cleef]

I will tell you guys over and over again, the food you eat in indian restaurants situated in foreign countries (especially in DR) is fixed food. Not many people can eat the real / authentic indian dishes.

BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH.

Show me, don't tell me. Mouth!

You're all talk.

 

[AZB]

Lets get one thing straight.

The food was prepared by indians with indian spices BUT FOR GRINGOS.
What I don't understand is when guys like cleef who chew on burgers all their lives and then eat indian food in DR and claim to know it all. Hahahahaha, what a joke. Problem with PIB is that she thinks she knows all about indian authentic food when she had only eaten indian food in DR or maybe in some other foreign country. Of course when you eat platanos, beans and white rice all your life and then try something with some spices (wow what a sin in dominican cooking) she thinks its authentic.
Ok, I give up.
I hope you all enjoyed the AUTHENTIC indian cooking.