tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5974677.post6896367722771596174..comments2023-10-09T18:12:29.276+07:00Comments on Agelessbonding: The Elai saapadu experienceUshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00179239922869639391noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5974677.post-1572938119868879202010-07-21T20:11:56.512+07:002010-07-21T20:11:56.512+07:00After a long time I chose to respond to one of you...After a long time I chose to respond to one of your blogs because I find vintage Usha here. <br /><br />Elai saapadu is an exhilarating experience. To preserve the elai untorn till the end itself is a fine art. If you serve on a "kattai elai" instead of a 'nuni elai' to s senior man, your credential to serve would be questioned. <br /><br />Every item has a place in the elai and is to be served in the prescribed order. You disturb the order or serve at the wrong place, you would be frowned to death, if not frozen to death by fear. <br /><br />Banana leaves add succour to the savouries. It is hygienic too. <br /><br />Only those who have a cultural root and a keen sense of observation and felicity of expression, can come out with a blogpost like this. Reminds me of reading an RKN piece.Mahadevanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08659899620865902690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5974677.post-1885913356354312062010-07-09T04:20:46.663+07:002010-07-09T04:20:46.663+07:00Hey Usha,
Cute post! Oh! how i miss going to tho...Hey Usha, <br /><br />Cute post! Oh! how i miss going to those weddings since I moved to US!! <br /><br />But you know, I really have to disagree on that hurried serving thingie. I really thought caterers are getting extremely good at it these days, the last few weddings that i had been, everything was up for seconds and tasted absolutely deliiiicious! And then they serve sooo many sides these days, you hardly have place in tummy for second helpings! I love the concept of serving rasam in cups, that way you can control the rasam better! <br /><br />At my place we always used to have vazha ilai sapadu during pandigai! I loved it and miss it! <br /><br />And honestly, is it too difficult to just observe what others do and follow on in weddings for ppl from other culture? Its not like there are any rules to eating food served on banana leaves, its much less complicated than the 7 course meal of the western with fork and spoon predefined for each course! <br /><br />Just my thoughts..Subashini Srinivasagopalanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16888090775211939141noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5974677.post-19410437418244196402010-07-04T21:55:03.935+07:002010-07-04T21:55:03.935+07:00You have been tagged :)<a href="http://indianhomemaker.wordpress.com/2010/06/30/my-sins-against-gender-stereotypes/" rel="nofollow"><b>You have been tagged</b> </a>:)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5974677.post-90293073154713926822010-07-04T03:54:00.039+07:002010-07-04T03:54:00.039+07:00Umm why pizza for the oriya girl? Simple rice, dal...Umm why pizza for the oriya girl? Simple rice, dal, sabzi would have sufficed. <br />Banana leaves are used in Bong occasions too except in marriages. Caterers serve food in normal plates and there should be no hurry at all in doing that.Reemahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13491748504763527697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5974677.post-26237483168701312912010-07-04T00:08:26.532+07:002010-07-04T00:08:26.532+07:00No one has described elai sappadu's evolution ...No one has described elai sappadu's evolution better... and the trauma faced by the 'outsiders' ... <br /><br />Enjoyed this as much as the elai saappadu :DUmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12799847266284382232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5974677.post-89468066811202287692010-07-03T19:48:23.458+07:002010-07-03T19:48:23.458+07:00Did you also know that in some communities in the ...Did you also know that in some communities in the South the food is served on the leaf to only outsiders - a subtle way of telling your guest he is not of the family.voiceshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03049476901055018026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5974677.post-63736315554395858582010-07-03T17:25:35.556+07:002010-07-03T17:25:35.556+07:00Hello Usha. Delurking after a long time. You have ...Hello Usha. Delurking after a long time. You have been tagged.<br /><br />http://sandhyaryal.blogspot.com/2010/07/unwomanly-behaviour-anyone.htmlsandhyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09654489216158421654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5974677.post-88533428404486179292010-06-29T16:24:20.779+07:002010-06-29T16:24:20.779+07:00Eating from banana leaf..its awesome..I love it..
...Eating from banana leaf..its awesome..I love it..<br />Mallu I am!<br />:)Sorcererhttp://www.evilsfury.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5974677.post-42501855544654982532010-06-29T13:52:14.028+07:002010-06-29T13:52:14.028+07:00Ushaji.. I have been a silent follower of yours......Ushaji.. I have been a silent follower of yours...<br /><br />I would like you to know your viewpoint on<br /><br />http://sreeszone.blogspot.com/2010/06/haunted-when-and-how-do-we-start.htmlSreehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13082583834274490505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5974677.post-18348355147940890002010-06-29T13:35:03.527+07:002010-06-29T13:35:03.527+07:00super post maami ..vanisuper post maami ..vaniVanihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10090582243155556960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5974677.post-36184080888649858742010-06-28T16:06:30.065+07:002010-06-28T16:06:30.065+07:00Annoyed with the uncontrollable rasam, my daughter...Annoyed with the uncontrollable rasam, my daughter wanted to carry her own plate to weddings. She was 8 then.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5974677.post-559709224623672052010-06-27T23:01:05.719+07:002010-06-27T23:01:05.719+07:00I love the sound of this wedding feast, actually. ...I love the sound of this wedding feast, actually. I confess to being a a total convert to the joys of Tam food, eaten off banana leaves. :)Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10819608939555247317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5974677.post-47274545247246366142010-06-26T23:36:05.273+07:002010-06-26T23:36:05.273+07:00I love elai chapaadu :) For onam, avani avittam an...I love elai chapaadu :) For onam, avani avittam and varalakshmi nonbu I make do with the frozen elai that we get in the Indian stores here in the US, though it is nothing in comparison to eating out the fresh leaf! Have not had elai chapaadu in almost 3 years, I hope to this year!!!Shankarihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13733131166341076020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5974677.post-67775737122425215142010-06-26T13:56:00.148+07:002010-06-26T13:56:00.148+07:00Manasa: Now I would understand the hurry in servin...Manasa: Now I would understand the hurry in serving lunch at the Mutts/ temples. But at weddings it is supposed to be a leisurely feast and it is not good to force people to gobble up and get out.<br /><br />Dipali:I totally agree. I love the kerala veg food too especially their sadyas.<br /><br />Vidya: The thing is, I love to pour a lot of rasam on the rice when I eat rasam sadam. This is impossible when you eat on a leaf. So I dont enjoy rasam sadam on a leaf at all.<br /><br />PV: Thanks for the encouragement at ennapadhivugal.<br />Yes, I felt the same about C>B's book - stereotyped on both sides I thought although it is an assumption about the punjabi side of the story.<br /><br />Nrimaami:aaha, but my son tells me that he goes toa temple at Flushing where they serve elai saappadu on special days!<br /><br />Eve's: that's right. These days family don't even come around during lunch which was a must in days of yore.<br /><br />Gauri: Food more than enough for a post. i am burping!<br /><br />R's mom: Yes, the caterers seem to be in a great hurry to just finish the pandhi and use such time-saving methods.<br /><br />Artnavy: Never been to a punjabi wedding but there was a comedy show where the guy joked about mile long queues and people rushing from one queue to another in search of different dishes and then the usual complaints about how bad the food is. It is the same everywhere.<br /><br />WIAN: A few years ago we tried having elai sappadu at home. It was great except that my back broke trying to serve so many dishes.<br /><br />IHM: Thanks. I would have loved to attend the Oriya reception and get the other side of the story.<br /><br />Bala rao: I write in Tamil - not sure how elegant it is. I learnt Tamil only up to school and never practised writing it.<br /><br />SR: Thank you.<br /><br />Karuna: Thanks for such a detailed comment. I am tempted to join you sometime on a tuesday or friday. I agree totally about our approach to such ceremonies. There is less fun and more ritual and we just want to finish them as quickly as possible.<br /><br />Smithajay: we had a neighbor from kerala and the first thing they did when they shifted to the house was to plant plantain trees.and coconut trees Ina few years they had so many plantain trees and even a jack fruit tree that we used to refer to their house as 'Keralam"<br />So I guess it is easy for them to have a banana leaf meal anytime.<br /><br />Anon:How many of our cityfolk can actually sit on the floor for one whole meal and bend down and eat the food?<br /><br />Maami: Potato trick will be tried next time and results published here. :)<br />next time you are in namma bengaluru for sure!<br />My friend tells me Arusuvai arasu restaurants in Chennai serve elai sappadu any day of the week for a mere 120. Try if you are in chennai.<br /><br />Jay: :)<br /><br />Ugich:hahahha, it does become a game at times - watching them from a few meters away and catching them before they cross us while simultaneously trying to finish what is on our leaf.<br />Sure buffets are rather uneventful compared to that.<br /><br />C.A.: yes I was inducted into the process of serving a meal on a leaf a few days before the wedding.<br /><br />Sue: Totally, if it is served by family and we are given the time to relish and eat.Ushahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00179239922869639391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5974677.post-50159168708468397012010-06-25T23:11:03.856+07:002010-06-25T23:11:03.856+07:00But Usha, there is nothing quite like an elai sapp...But Usha, there is nothing quite like an elai sappadu!! :-Dhillgrandmomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01805698959846687562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5974677.post-56900116729637404442010-06-25T22:42:12.650+07:002010-06-25T22:42:12.650+07:00Brought back so many memories ....
Somehow meals ...Brought back so many memories ....<br /> Somehow meals on banana leaves has a totally different and authentic taste ... yum yum yum ....<br /> Agreed, these days the caterers rush through it ....<br /><br />We always enjoyed banana leaves meals when we went to my grandma's house for summer vacations .... later that stopped because the whole cleaning process was kind of painful :(<br /><br />You know, its not just the order of the dishes ... even the leaf itself has to be placed pointing in the right direction for the right occasion ....Cantaloupes.Amma (CA)https://www.blogger.com/profile/06507339903683786496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5974677.post-78711540446944162902010-06-24T19:10:25.028+07:002010-06-24T19:10:25.028+07:00Usha,
This post brought back childhood memories o...Usha,<br /><br />This post brought back childhood memories of wedding and thread ceremony feasts/lunches in a huge mandap eaten on banana leaves. And although we have a different menu in Maharashtra, the similarity in the desperate method of serving exists. This business of guys coming one after the other with stuff, with tilted containers, possibly tilted just a bit more above your leaf to serve. We have this dish called panchamrut, and i often marvelled at the way they went by saying "panchamrut, panchamrut, panchamrut" almost running by, and you kind of suddenly thrust your leaf in between to get a serving, or waited for a possible next round; followed by someone muttering and passing by saying "Toop,toop,toop" (ghee).... I also remember a fellow kind of giving me a look, when i disturbed his serving and running" rhythm, by suddenly requesting more cucumber koshimbir(raita).<br /><br />Buffets are not a patch on this, though ....Ugich Konitarihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15901335427613806798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5974677.post-72660880613526954452010-06-24T11:34:46.151+07:002010-06-24T11:34:46.151+07:00Wow, Usha! It's nice to actually know a fellow...Wow, Usha! It's nice to actually know a fellow Tanjorean besides me grandma!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5974677.post-90073962441591105342010-06-23T17:25:23.157+07:002010-06-23T17:25:23.157+07:00Two things to say.
I usually pick a piece of potat...Two things to say.<br />I usually pick a piece of potato and slide it under the leaf's edge facing me. This way the rasam never flows down to my lap. It has worked for me.<br />Second, I haven't had an answer why we serve meals in a breathless manner as you've aptly decsribed. A good meal is an experience to savour.Why do we slap, flick, pour, swish and serve making it a "quick" experience , so that others can sit in the next pandhi?fast fast, ok-va?<br />That is my only bug bear with elai saapadu. It's been a hundred years since I ate elai saapadu.<br />Serve me please? Feeding hungry maamis heaps punniyam.maamihttp://maami.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5974677.post-89633699458863317042010-06-23T01:07:17.391+07:002010-06-23T01:07:17.391+07:00Perfect post. We still use elai at home(well i'...Perfect post. We still use elai at home(well i'm from south indian village) whenever possible. The trick with rasam and thayir/mor is to eat sitting on the floor. Table is no good for elai. you have to gobble up(in my grandma's words "rasam odarathukku munnadi, tholupido") the rasam with your hands before it reaches the floor. keep up the good work :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5974677.post-29824455598278361642010-06-22T22:18:29.929+07:002010-06-22T22:18:29.929+07:00Awesome the food tastes on a banana leaf.. and we ...Awesome the food tastes on a banana leaf.. and we keralites still go for banana leaf spread for all special rituals - pirannal, perru vekkal, chorroonnu, 28, 56, 90...all possible !! Hey I know another Tam-Bram wedded to an Oriya gal settled in Singa.. Wow..SmitaJaynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5974677.post-61631826371181042822010-06-22T20:17:50.922+07:002010-06-22T20:17:50.922+07:00vazhayilai sappadu
I have a different opinion.
B...vazhayilai sappadu<br /><br />I have a different opinion.<br /><br />Being a vegeterian, i like marwari marriages as the hospitality, decor and endless list of menu in buffet makes me clean bold. but... its quiet understandable, they invite very few guests and they could exercise utmost care 2 anyone.<br /><br />unlike marwaris, punjabis and gujjus, our customs , the way we approach cermonies are different... shortly there is less enthusiasm and enjoyment in our celebrations.. rather its considered as an inevitable difficult task one want to finish off without any issues.<br /><br />obviously, when we are not ready to dance, enjoy ourselves, vazhayila sappadu is the best way considering nearly 1000 guests ( most of them known unknown to us).<br /><br />at the same moment i like banana leaves cut in circles or oval forms to drape over the stainless steel plate for lunch and dinner even in restauarants.... this is done in all chennai restaurants.. ofcourse uncommon with darshinis and sagars in bangalore.<br /><br />I am from kanchipuram, every tuesday and friday we have vazhayila sappadu after pooja. we dont have garden, we procure it, but it gives immense satisfaction to me.<br /><br /> i accept chetan bhagats comments about us- basically we all are aloof people, proud of doing many things without definite reasons, yet be comforatble and content with the way we are. i would like to continue the same.Karunakaran Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11257530340931913560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5974677.post-36457851584993171182010-06-22T19:07:50.063+07:002010-06-22T19:07:50.063+07:00hey.. Lovely post..
Being a South India relish m...hey.. Lovely post.. <br /><br />Being a South India relish meal on banana leaf, but like you said its not easy being otherwise.SRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00383477913143806444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5974677.post-17114656733419356152010-06-22T17:07:51.189+07:002010-06-22T17:07:51.189+07:00Very picturesque article! personally I find it qui...Very picturesque article! personally I find it quite a violation of baisc human rights too - the without fan, hot rice, rasam combination!<br /><br />Nice to know you write quite elegantly in Tamil also; I dont understand a word though! :)bala raohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03686399292777992242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5974677.post-69987678691814871202010-06-22T15:52:36.122+07:002010-06-22T15:52:36.122+07:00Lovely post. In fact I love all your descriptions ...Lovely post. In fact I love all your descriptions in all your posts... this one made me long for a delicious onam sadya...<br /><br />An Oriya reception revenge sounds like quite a possibility :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com