Malayalee food carnival in Sunnyvale
The highway exit was jammed with malayalee families. A car came next to me and a lady brought the window down and requested "Ariyathe lane maari poyi, onnu kerikkotte.. ".. She was requesting me to let her into the car lane in malayalam.. she knew I was a malayalee..
Amruth and family had reached earlier on and had taken our tickets as well. Amruth's wife Anjana gave me the ten coupons and I got with Amruth on the food stalls line. While we were walking in, I had overheard some tamil/telugu conversations as well - nice to note extra support. All proceeds from the event would go to kerala flood relief fund.
There was generally a good feel as we were walking into the crowds. Classic community feeling.
Being part of a larger group. Felt good to note that all the phone conversations around were all in malayalam, people like us, all around. Being at home, at a place far away.
On a related note, I have always felt, that all people are the same. While waiting at our kids' swimming pool at Calphin, with many Chinese families, it is easy to note that they are just the same as you are. Everyone is just the same.
At the queue, I see beautiful looking kerala snacks. Beautifully named, evoking "grihadhurathvam". Not only did they look good and sound good, they tasted great as well. Honestly, I was a little apprehensive about how well this small cross section of malayalees would be able to prepare these pure traditional snacks. However, there was not one point to raise, even from a critical eye.
These were our selections
Vishu katta plus quail egg curry
Unnakaya
Pazham nirachathu
Kallummakaya
Chicken pottitherichathu
Meen paththiri
Chatti paththiri
Mutton biriyani
Payasam
I had moved to the second line to get biriyani. Amruth brought a tray to me. By now, hunger had started to strike, and the general aura of community love was being challenged slightly. The last two tickets were exchanged for mutton biriyanis.
Kids were playing at a nearby park. I walked up there with the two biriyanis. As the food quantities were very less, I was pleasantly surprised to note that my share of the earlier selections were saved up by Divya.
So, we sat at a park table and had a short round of authentic traditional kerala cuisine, made with love, by families around us.
Kids were playing in the park, and we were overseeing them. Divya had gone over to meet some of her friends, who were at the food stall line.
I called my college-mate Shaji to check if he might be at the event as well. This is after eighteen years. Shaji has hardly changed. Easy to talk to. As we were speaking, Shaji mentioned that Riyaz was here as well. We walked up and met Riyaz and family as well, after quite a few years as well. Riyaz introduced me to a few more of his friends.
The event was a success. Little little actions by a lot of people had made this a success. From the people who made the food to the people who had the food, everyone has played a part. Unity is strength.
Amruth and family had reached earlier on and had taken our tickets as well. Amruth's wife Anjana gave me the ten coupons and I got with Amruth on the food stalls line. While we were walking in, I had overheard some tamil/telugu conversations as well - nice to note extra support. All proceeds from the event would go to kerala flood relief fund.
There was generally a good feel as we were walking into the crowds. Classic community feeling.
Being part of a larger group. Felt good to note that all the phone conversations around were all in malayalam, people like us, all around. Being at home, at a place far away.
On a related note, I have always felt, that all people are the same. While waiting at our kids' swimming pool at Calphin, with many Chinese families, it is easy to note that they are just the same as you are. Everyone is just the same.
At the queue, I see beautiful looking kerala snacks. Beautifully named, evoking "grihadhurathvam". Not only did they look good and sound good, they tasted great as well. Honestly, I was a little apprehensive about how well this small cross section of malayalees would be able to prepare these pure traditional snacks. However, there was not one point to raise, even from a critical eye.
These were our selections
Vishu katta plus quail egg curry
Unnakaya
Pazham nirachathu
Kallummakaya
Chicken pottitherichathu
Meen paththiri
Chatti paththiri
Mutton biriyani
Payasam
I had moved to the second line to get biriyani. Amruth brought a tray to me. By now, hunger had started to strike, and the general aura of community love was being challenged slightly. The last two tickets were exchanged for mutton biriyanis.
Kids were playing at a nearby park. I walked up there with the two biriyanis. As the food quantities were very less, I was pleasantly surprised to note that my share of the earlier selections were saved up by Divya.
So, we sat at a park table and had a short round of authentic traditional kerala cuisine, made with love, by families around us.
Kids were playing in the park, and we were overseeing them. Divya had gone over to meet some of her friends, who were at the food stall line.
I called my college-mate Shaji to check if he might be at the event as well. This is after eighteen years. Shaji has hardly changed. Easy to talk to. As we were speaking, Shaji mentioned that Riyaz was here as well. We walked up and met Riyaz and family as well, after quite a few years as well. Riyaz introduced me to a few more of his friends.
The event was a success. Little little actions by a lot of people had made this a success. From the people who made the food to the people who had the food, everyone has played a part. Unity is strength.
Very good narration.
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