I always wonder why French are so thin. Not that the Europeans, French or Italians don’t have their food with loads of olive oil or cheese thrown in it. I realise the idea is to eat your kind of food, in right mindset we focus on home grown grains and seeds and oils.

In India, everybody has access to an abundance of rich and delicious foods (that unfortunately have the side effect of making you fat) . At the same time, we know how we women and men too, as a matter of fact, are so obsessed about food and dieting. We love our culture, food, we insist on good food (read ghee laden, high calorie food) when a guest has come over. Yet the problem remains, nobody is ready to eat despite you efforts that have gone into cooking.

Watch a European cook or prepare his food and you’d be shocked at how little consideration they put into the amount of salt and butter they throw in their concoctions. Yet, in spite of eating such calorie-dense foods, French people will eat fewer total calories than us, without even thinking about it.

Maybe you’ve read the book “Eat, Pray, Love or have seen the movie. There is this dialogue that most represents this food angst that I’m talking about is from the movie Eat, Pray, Love, when in the Barber shops Italian people discuss these cultural differences.

Julia Roberts: I feel so guilty. I’ve been in Rome for three weeks and all I’ve done is learn a few Italian words and eat!”
Man on Barber chair: “You feel guilty because you’re American! You don’t know how to enjoy yourself!
Julia Roberts: I beg your pardon?
Man on Barber chair: It’s true. Americans know entertainment. But they don’t know pleasure… I’m serious. Listen to me! You want to know your problem? Americans… you work too hard, you get burned out! Then you come home and spend the whole weekend in your pajamas in front of the TV! But you don’t know pleasure… You have to be told you’ve earned it! You see a commercial that says “It’s Miller time!” and you say… “That’s right! Now I’m going to buy a six-pack! And you drink the whole thing and you wake up the next morning and you feel terrible! But… an Italian doesn’t need to be told. He walks by a sign that says “you deserve a break today!” And he says, “Yeah, I know. That’s why I’m planning on taking a break at noon… to go over to your house, and sleep with your wife!” (laughs).

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I’m sure, the quote might sound a little quite out of context, but I think you understand what I’m trying to say…

We Indians are also typically like Americans. In the stressful lives of ours, we have forgotten to enjoy anything. There is no point about obsessing over food or dieting or anything. One must not have so much guilt over food, instead, we should learn to enjoy ourselves when we actually indulge, and then forget about it. Think about food and enjoy it when it’s time to eat, and then enjoy the rest of your time not thinking about food but being where you are.

The other day I had the Opportunity to have European food at Graze, Taj Vivanta and what a leisurely time we had. The chef SelvaRaju is the head chef of all the restaurants of Taj Vivanta and his experience is wide and varied in his field. He is a master at what he does.

And here, I did not need to plan my menu but I had an amazing treat waiting for me. The chef SelvaRaju had already prepared and curated a menu for us and we just had to go on with the flow. Here’s my experience of the supper.

 

Warm shiitake, morels,porcini mushrooms ,poached in white wine topped with vanilla form

Warm shiitake, morels,porcini mushrooms ,poached in white wine topped with vanilla form

Pan seared Jhon dorry accompanied with olive mash Martini and cafier lime velouté with red wine reduction

Pan seared Jhon dorry accompanied with olive mash Martini and cafier lime velouté with red wine reduction

Ocean fresh Grilled jumbo prawns with red pepper compote,Peruvian Asparagus napped with garli and parsley butter

Ocean fresh Grilled jumbo prawns with red pepper compote,Peruvian Asparagus napped with garli and parsley butter

Oven roasted corn fed chicken accompanied with Barley risotto and Sauternes sauce

Oven roasted corn fed chicken accompanied with Barley risotto and Sauternes sauce

Grilled tiger prawn

Grilled tiger prawn

graz- food-and-grills8

Home made caramalzed white chocolate ,African olanga cake and red velvet macrons on a slow cooked peaches.

Home made caramalzed white chocolate ,African olanga cake and red velvet macrons on a slow cooked peaches.

 

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Taj Vivanta – Graze
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