Category — Who Knew…?

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“My people,” that is those of the Levant, have known chickpeas for thousands of years, as have the peoples of Spain and India (and I’m sure I’m leaving someone out, so please do write in and tell me who I’ve missed). But I’d never before heard of fresh chickpeas, that is, garbanzos green and young, still in their pods. I still have yet to see or taste one — not a single store in my area is carrying them. Check out what I found out about these seasonal treasures.

Lost in translation? According to the sign, this sandwich at a Starbucks-like coffee shop in Mumabi is a calzone. But it’s not shaped like a calzone, nor are its contents encased in baked pizza dough like a calzone. So….not a calzone. The sign also suggests that it is a “kothambir vadi” — a steamed fritter full of coriander and chilis. Perhaps that’s them stuffed inside. Hard to tell, though I don’t see a lot of coriander. I do see some cheese though….

It’s tough to know what Lays was thinking when they created Magic Masala Potato Chips. They hang at every news stand and every rest stop, there above the bags and boxes of far superior treats, like spicy, oily, chuklee, fried cereal chevida, and flaked rice with chilis. The Indians have the best snack food in the world. Why, oh why, would we try to colonize their palates with a potato chip? Don’t get me wrong — I love potato chips. But this is one food migration that should be moving in the opposite direction.