No season lends itself better to fermented meals than summer. As modern-day technological know-how re-emphasizes the know-how inherent in fermented meals, one of the oldest kitchen techniques appears to be coming round again. I wouldn’t say I liked spending the summer season holidays in Kolkata. But those have been times while pre-children had infrequently any say in holiday plans.
So what if the humidity changed into unrelenting and the power cuts gave no concession to visitors. To my parents, bearing the sweaty summer season turned into a low rate to pay for the hurricane that was cooked up while uncles and aunts, nephews and nieces, even grandparents, accumulated beneath one roof.
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My solace in such times became a grandfather — Babuji we referred to as him. I might hurry to his room, make myself comfy on his big bedstead and beseech Babuji for a story. My grandfather cherished spinning memories and growing characters. Among my favorites were the testimonies that targeted round sure creatures involved in a festival of the type my parents have been engaged in step with my grandfather.
These critters, Babuji stated, have been relatively tiny; one couldn’t see them with the bare eye. In the humid weather, they might make their domestic meals items — rice, milk, vegetables, even espresso — where they could have dinner parties and sing and dance all night. But seemingly, they had been additionally operating while making merry. What’s extra, in keeping with Babuji, those frolickers have been for actual.
That became a bit tough to accept as accurate. One day, after my common protests, approximately adults hoodwinking youngsters had subsided, Babuji stated he might deliver proof. He took me to the kitchen, where cooked rice changed soaked in a large pot of water. This is the domicile of the characters of my stories, he said by way of manner of introduction. Another flight of fancy, I thought. The following day, I was roused out of sleep early. There were tiny bubbles within the pot, proof, consistent with my grandfather that the rice’s visitors were difficult at paintings all night time. They changed into a fantastic alternate in the grains all proper, but it becomes hard to agree that this turned into the handiwork of tiny creatures.
