food and drink

A quick note on what I have been consuming for sustenance in Kolkata.

In the mornings that I volunteer with the SMCs, I am provided with chai , bread, small bananas, and "biscuits" (crackers). For lunch, I often have egg fried rice to which I add peanuts. Egg fried rice costs 18 rupees, a small package of peanuts is 5. Often now I have dinner at a restaurant known as Fiesta that sells bhat, dahi (rice and curd) with an egg roll. Four, five, and eight rupees respectively. My favorite Indian food, available at most restaurants, is tarka , a sort of bean dish. I am also quite fond of the chillies here. Paneer butter masala is also a good bet, as is malai koorma . At Fresh n' Juicy they serve this dish with some sort of cheese, peppers, onions, peas, potatoes, and apples. Delicious. A good meal in most touristy restaurants costs about 50 rupees. I've learned that alu means "potato". Often when going to a restaurant that I don't know well, or even places I have visited before, I simply order something that sounds good off of the vegetarian section. Once I ended up getting lao chingri , which as it turns out is shrimp and pumpkin. Not too bad, but perhaps not exactly vegetarian either. My policy as an Economic Vegetarian is to avoid purchasing meat. However, good manners means that it would be rude to refuse a juicy piece of chicken tika if someone offers me a bite.

Mostly been drinking water and tea. A big cup of chai sets me back five rupees, coffee eight rupees. Soft drinks go from eight to twenty, depending on size (200-600 ml) and location. There is a local soft drink called "Thumbs Up" that is quite delicious. Lassis (a sort of yogurt smoothie) are also good and widely available. I usually drink two two liter containers of bottled water every day (15 rupees each).

Not to worry anyone too much, but three days ago I accidentally proved my toughness. I thought I grabbed my water bottle, which as it turns out belonged to one of the hotel staff and was full of tap water. After a good four or five mouthfuls, I realized that it tasted a touch too metallic. I am pleased to say that I have suffered no "problems" on account of this lapse of situational awareness.

The food I have missed most is actually American Mexican food! I would gladly pay 80 rs right now for a good cheese enchilada with rice and refried beans, maybe some guacamole on the side. And tortilla chips. Perhaps not enough Americans come here to make this idea economically viable, but I've thought about opening a restaurant near Sudder street called "Uncle O'Reilly's Authentic Mexican Food." I would probably end up eating all the profits.

Writing this post has made me extremely hungry.

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