Bombay Brides

My creative food brain has been traveling from Chicago to Bombay for the past few days. How to satisfy the culinary cravings of stylish modern brides of Indian ancestry with the expectations of traditional Indian wedding guests? Hmmm. Reviewing the menus of local restaurants we come up empty handed. What is needed is our own “take” on fusion Indian food (have the words “Fusion Indian Food” been placed together before?). When we finally climb out of our culinary box, we start dreaming of wonderful blended food combinations (Uttapham Pizza and Indian Spiced Potato Chips with“Ketsup” Ginger Tomato Chutney anyone?) Or then, there are refreshing mango lassis where the guests (those who prefer a little alcohol with their mango) can add vodka or champagne from carafes made of ice with embedded flowers.

And then, the traditional with a “twist” which is perhaps offering authentic Indian cuisine with high style presentation~ a combination not likely to be found in Chicago or Bombay. Whereas the traditional Indian presentation would be buffet or family style, the modern Indian bride relates to a beautifully presented plated dinner.

More on that later…

Small Small Small

Guess small is the new big because all the food has shrunken into tapas size “tastes” and it’s a good thing too. Went over to Minnie’s on Halsted and Armitage , newish place~something between a retro soda fountain for adults (long brightly lit bar in front, hey, when you can choose between a chocolate malted or a dessert cocktail, how could that be a bad thing?) and in back an area where you can enjoy cocktail size sandwiches which come in hip little paper almost bento box style carry out containers. Depending on the time of day you visit, you might run into a room full of Mom’s with strollers and after school high energy kids, or adults soothing the child inside with a mini cheeseburger, BBQ pulled pork or mini/Minnie Turkey Cranberry Sandwich. Chocolate Chip Mint cookies in a bowl with ice cream~de rigeur.

Next is dessert~

Café BaBaReeba, a bit farther up on Halsted north of Armitage, has extended their tapas offerings with small dessert plates of yummy flan, chocolate cake with tres leches, and ice cream with caramel and grilled bananas to name a few.

While it might be near impossible to find a Barcelona tapas bar offering sweets, those of us who throw the search for authenticity out the window when a plate of good tasting stuff appears, will dig right in… that group of happy eaters will be joined by those of us on a diet who believe that lots of small things add up to less calories then one large entrée and dessert (and who hasn’t pondered that one?)

“Small Plates” to tame the appetite and desire for the maximum amount of different tastes in the smallest number and size of bites are showing up on our catering menus more and more… But that’s a whole other food story..to be continued…