The Food in India is SPICY!!
[Backlogged post written during my travels in India...]I’ve been in India for 5 days now and I feel like I am slowly getting the hang of it. I was thrown into everything so quickly when I was in such a travel low, which made adjusting more rocky than usual. I am not great at transitions, still processing my adventure in Asia, and jet lag was not being nice to me. I took a step back, slowed down, assessed the situation, and began to feel a little more comfortable, but it was a lot at first. That’s what happens when arriving in any new country and traveling for such an extended period— you’re never truly prepared for what your emotions are going to interpret.
That being said, the first few days were tough. Super exhausted, super nostalgic, and super intimidated. The first day, I slept most of the day— taking a long red-eye flight from Thailand was not the solution for a happy and healthy start to my trip. However, I decided to venture out around 5 pm to get some dinner.
Trying to research and study different Indian foods from the room service menu, writing down notes on what each one is, I thought it was finally time to check out my surroundings. I’m ready. Walking out the door of the hotel, I thought to myself “I lived in Vietnam for a year, I got this!” Oh no no no, I was completely wiped off my feet at the difference I felt immediately. India is honestly on a whole different level. So many more people, even more eyes staring at me, and a lot of hardship.
View from my hotel room.
After walking down the street I felt too out of my comfort zone, and very unprepared, especially in the fragile state I was in. I spotted the first restaurant and went inside. It was nice, “Fine Dining” is what it labeled on the top of the menu. Being the only westerner in the whole restaurant, I ask for a table for 1 and about 3 busboys collectively brought me to a seat.
Looking at the menu I tried to remember the notes I took earlier on the food. Well, I know I like Chana Masala... not on the menu. Shoot! Time to expand my palate. Reading the lengthy and descriptive descriptions, I settled on a specialty rice with vegetables dish, garlic naan (obviously) and grape juice (my favorite). The waiter asked if I wanted the rice with chili, I answered, “no thank you” and he gave a little smirk when writing it on his notepad, probably presuming I was going to answer that way anyways.
About 10+ waiters/staff working and only 2-3 families in the restaurant. Each time one walked by they stopped at my table, looked at me, and asked if everything was alright. To the point where yes everything was alright, but I started to ask myself if maybe I looked not alright?
The waiter brings over a tray of different spices and sauces and sets it down in front of me. Let’s remember, this is my first meal since landing in India. Not knowing much of the commonalities around eating in India, I just accepted that I was going to stick out or unintentionally do something wrong. My rice arrives, the waiter serves me and I start to eat.
It was just what I needed. But for some more flavor, I thought I would be a little spontaneous and try the spices on the tray they set down before. I’ve been practicing with my spice tolerance (through Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam) and I thought I’d give it a try.. only a minuscule amount though— I am still building that tolerance. Less is more, right? Dipping my fork into the jar, I tasted one. The first one was good and I actually could tolerate it, phew! Not bad at all! I pour it on a section of my rice and boy, was I wrong. Either the entire spice level changed within the 20 seconds after trying it, or I tasted the only drop in it without fiery spice associated with it.
It lodges to the back of my throat, and you know it’s all downhill from here. Next, starts the coughing, and it doesn’t stop. In between coughs, I’m trying to eat more rice to settle the flavor, chugging my grape juice.. anything to make it stop. Tears start streaming down my face uncontrollably.
After I figured out my spice tolerance, the food was delicious
Mind you, I’m sitting alone in a “fine dining” restaurant, the only westerner in there, and there I am crying, coughing, and now sweating. If I did not stick out before, now there is no doubt. A total scene, but I accepted defeat.
After trying to conceal the tears the best I can. I eventually get everything under control and look as nonchalantly as I can while finishing the rest of my meal, pushing the rest of the rice I doused in death spice off to the side.
This was my experience with the spice in India. I have learned my lesson and will not be “testing” any other spices for the remained of my time here. Thank you.
Checking back… from then on out I slowly but surely integrated into the “food thing” (thanks to friends letting me try the food they ordered before fully ordering it for myself). And I would say the Indian food in India was 100% up there in the food game, so much flavor, so many choices, and so inexpensive. Magnifique!
What is your favorite type of food?
Finally got my perfect meal Chana Masala, White Rice, Garlic Naan, and Iced Coffee.