Mission Venn Pongal (with Sambar Vadai)
Today, gooseberry raita (nelli pachidi) was on the lunch menu at home. I savor (good) food and it does wonderful things to my psyche. It brings a deluge of good memories – sometimes in waves through the day. When I eat good food, you will see the most loving, charitable person in me. Especially, South Indian food! You probably know by this time that there is no generalized version of “Indian” food. They are all different – each one unique in its own way and uniquely delicious as well. My weakness is South Indian food, especially the ones made at home and in the temples. On a normal weekend in the US, you will find me trying to convince my wife that a Saturday trip to the Balaji temple at Aurora, IL (about 250 miles from here, one way) was good for the family. It so happens that I am in awe of the presiding deity there, but a slave of the Venn Pongal served in the cafeteria downstairs (folks, it is not prasadam!). At the mention of Venn Pongal, my mind immediately went back...