Do you ever wake up one day and suddenly crave a certain food? And despite your best efforts you can not get enough of it? That's what happened to me last Monday. It started late in the day; I was at my daughter's gymnastics class and my friend and I walked to the East End Food Co-op which is located downstairs from the class. As we walked through the store, all of the Indian items just called to me. Basmati rice. Mmmm. Spices. Mmmm. Nothing would do but to find a way to have Indian of some sort right that very night.
The Co-op was having a sale on organic simmer sauces and I picked up two of them: a tikka masala and a korma sauce. That night, after class, I dumped a few frozen chicken breasts in the pressure cooker and poured a third of the tikka masala on top of it. Closed the whole thing up and once the pot came to pressure (what IS the term? this pressure cooking stuff is all new to me) I cooked it about 18 minutes before turning off the heat. Meanwhile, I cooked basmati rice and made roti.
We needn't discuss how authentic it may or may not have been because it tasted good and my children loved it. When the pressure cooker depressurized, I removed the lid and stirred in the rest of the tikka masala sauce. We had the chicken over rice. Once again, not exactly authentic but it tasted Indian and I thought would satisfy the craving.
It didn't. I repeated it with the korma sauce the next day. Made loads more roti too. We had another evening of eating the leftovers from both meals. Yum.
Who knew it would do nothing to satiate my craving for Indian?
It was time to go to Udipi Cafe. It's a tiny dive restaurant located off the beaten path that serves vegetarian Indian food. It is delicious. It is the place I dream about when I start to feel my mouth water for Indian. If you look up reviews, some people mention the service isn't so great--they seem to 'forget' about you--but I have to disagree. I received that service only one time there--the first time I went. After that, my service is spectacular (maybe I go there too much?) but even if it wasn't I'd go anyway because that is how much I love this place.
I went with a friend for lunch last Thursday. I left my leftovers in his car and didn't get to eat them. I was glad that he was able to share them with his partner, later--share the Udipi love!--but I still needed more.
This picture is from a different trip to Udipi; it's been on this blog before but it's the only other picture I have on hand from Udipi. On Satuday, I was out shopping near lunch. I picked up my Blackberry and dialed Udipi (it's saved in my address book) and placed a take out order.
Did you know it's completely possible to drive and eat Indian food? I don't recommend it UNLESS you are having a craving and therefore have lost all self control.
I'm still having a craving.
