“A cookery competition”. I read that in the Happenings column in the local paper. You have to submit any three out of : a Vegetarian dish, A Non-vegetarian dish, street food and a dessert. Well minimum was at least one dish. So it got me curious. I sent my name and confirmed my entry. As the day neared, so did my anxiety and worry!

I decided as it was supposed to be a dish from Northern India, and a bit closer to regions of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh which are states with a similar yet different culture, I had to choose from a variety of 1000 dishes which could whet their appetite and look wonderful to the eye. India is definitely made of 26 states and 9 Union Territories, but each of them has its own unique characteristic, culture, clothing, food, and flavors. I had done my food research on these states to impress myself ( a big risk I was taking considering its a competition) but I selected the most favored and best recipes from here and got ready an evening before checking my ingredients for the hundredth time. Yes I was definitely making two of those dishes for the First Time!

I selected Bengali Fish curry ,Veg Pulao, Nihari ( Pakistani dish of lamb stew) Litti chokhas , Kheer and Veg Pulao

I made the kheer an evening before so it turns out chilled and cool for the next day. I was up on Friday morning from 4.30 and busy in preparing my fish marinade, my kheema ( minced soya nuggets) for the pulao, soaking the rice, making the dough for the littis and then grilling them, the brinjal curry which is the chokhas to go with the littis. Coal-baked balls of wheat flour and ghee (clarified butter), served with a spicy aubergine, onion, and tomato mash( This was more like a baigan ka bhurta recipe to which I gave it a twist from my kitchen). By 9.30, I was fretting and worrying if I could put all the elements and decorate them on my plate. Thank God my Nihari was shaping up very well. But it needed so much of garnishong. I called up my sister-in-law. She told me she is coming over and not to worry. So we quickly got the garnishes ready. She also made beautiful shaped flowers out of carrots and cucumbers, the capsicum and beetroot too looking inviting as display.Then we got the required plates, bowls etc to serve on and managed to put the food on them, with the garnishes kept separately to be put at the venue. I took my electric oven to heat the pulao, carried the Bengali Fish curry in a casserole which was well equipped with a candle beneath. Yes, I carried my match sticks too. Next was the litti chokhas which had shaped so well. I just put my faith in His hands, and with a little prayer on my lips I was ready to go.

The venue was very close to home but the issue was a parking spot. I am glad my girls had accompanied me. I managed to get the things out near the doorway, one of my girls went in to find our table and they started to lug the stuff while I went in search of a parking spot. 20 minutes later I reached my table and found out I dont have a connection, but asking around I got to get an extension put up and I started to heat the pulao. Apparently their set up is that the Vegetarian dishes are put in one corner, while the Non-vegetarian dishes go to another side, the street food is set up separately and the desserts in a sweet corner. Finally after 45 minutes, we were to arrange the food, garnish it, keep bowls or plates for the judges to taste with spoons (at least 3) and were asked to leave the venue till the judges went around, scored and decided.

We waited outside and enjoyed going around the stalls trying out other food items, and enjoying the exhibition set up. The Emcees on stage were really humorous and they kept the audience busy with games for children, teenagers, men, women, and couples. Finally after a wait of 2 hours, the prizes for all the games were given, plus a raffle draw was held, bingo was played and then finally the results were announced. Yes, the wait was over !

Street food was the first category and unfortunately my litti chokhas though were very tasty got side-sweeped by the dahi puri chaats. Then came the category of Non-Vegetarian, my name was called as 1st runner up. It was a win ! And I was elated. I got another casserole of course with the candle holder attached to it. Yes the Nihari paid off. The pulao that I had made was a vegetarian one with soya nuggets minced and I stood First winning a 36 piece Tefal set. I won a ribbon too and my joy knew no bounds.

Cooking is my passion and I weave my way into people’s hearts with it. I love to put the ingredients with a lot of love and care. Even if I am making a quick-meal, and dont have some , I try to incorporate something which will give it the flavour it needs and turns out twice tasty.