Food is memories

I intend that my last work shall be a cookbook composed of memories and desires.

Alexander Dumas

As we bid adieu to 2021, a year where we saw the seesaw of hope and despair in our lives, we will remember it as a year that had no parallels. Tracing the memories of the year, I remember the flavours that I tasted fir the first time this year, blueberries to sourdough, and flavours that are part of my childhood, a fiery lime pickle to a tantalising curd rice.

Food is memories.

Yesterday I was at the legendary Bharat Cafe in Thripunithura, one of the oldest restaurant in Cochin. Located near to the Poornathreyesha temple, the cafe is synonymous with old world favourites. Sadly, it was the very first time I was at the cafe, as we had never ventured beyond our kitchens when we were living at home in Thripunithura.

I was transported back in time seeing these amazing sweets of my childhood- laddoos and mysore pav, orange jilebis and milk pedas.

The just out of the oil, crunchy vadas stole my heart and went into the breakfast bag. The sight of all these delights inside these glass doors made me want to grab them all. The piping hot sambar with masala dosa was a taste that my family with relish forever.

And these beautiful bolis with pal payasam became today's beautiful memory.

I can't wait to share with you Renjini's stories of food memories in 2022.

Till then, if you get a chance, don't forget to drop in at the Bharat Cafe for pure nostalgia.

“Candy bar nostalgia puts us all on the same page.”

― Bee Wilson,

For me, it would be nothing but these golden banana chips that is pure nostalgia. Here's wishing you a year of making beautiful memory of tastes.

Let me know which food spells childhood noslagia for you in the comments,