SORRY, NO SNAKES AND LIZARDS FOR DINNER

Among other things, people do have the strangest of questions on their mind when it comes to food from north east (of India, just in case you got confused with the north east of China, Africa or the antipodes). In fact, I have often replied the polite enquiries of my colleagues of what I was cooking for dinner with a cold glare. I was bored of explaining time and again that Assamese food also  consisted of dal chawal, arguably the most common Indian meal.

But when I pondered over this topic deeper, I realised this lack of information was actually a lack of the availability of the food itself in other parts of the country. Rosang Café is an exception in this regard. For all those who have no clue what food from north east is like, do head to Rosang Cafe. Located near Upahar Cinema in Green Park, it brings the finest food of the seven north eastern states.

Jokes apart, despite being an Assamese, I myself have limited knowledge about the north eastern cuisines. I am desperately trying to rectify this problem by visiting Rosang frequently. While I would highly recommend the place to everyone, here are a few things to keep in mind before trying out food from north east.

#1. North eastern food is light on your taste buds and tummy. Not excited? Then try the piping hot dry fish chutney!

#2. Some of the dishes may have strong aromas, often not so pleasant if you aren't used to it. Come prepared.

#3. All the dishes are extremely healthy. Do tell your trainer about it.

#4. It’s not only about noodles and momos. What were you expecting a chocolate momo or a paneer one?

#5. Do not expect it to be spicy and oily. But count on it to be flavoursome.

#6. For God's sake don't come and ask for a roti or naan. Didn't you know the best thing on earth is rice?

#7. You think it will be like Chinese and Thai. You couldn't be more wrong. The spices, herbs and process of preparing the dishes are all different.

#8. Vegetarians are welcome too. We don’t sit at the slaughterhouse 24 x 7.

#9. The curries won’t look red; turmeric is not a favourite here. Did you say you already knew it?

#10. Taste a new vegetable like kol posola (banana stem). You’ll soon realise vegetables go beyond cauliflowers and peas.

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While trying food from north east, please do remember that they are seven states not one. This is another problem I want to deal with it. But let’s just stick to the food here. Being neighbouring states the cuisines of the north eastern states do have similarities, however, they are as varied as the seven states and the people living in them are. Thankfully, Rosang Café picks some of the best dishes from the seven states.

Go with an open mind. Do try the spicy Dry Fish Chutney, Aksa Meh a delicious chicken curry, Fried Fish in Burmese paste and Dohneiihong, a Meghalayan pork dish cooked in black seasame seeds. Yes, the names are difficult. But admit it they can’t be more difficult than that of the Thai, Mexican or French dishes.

Enjoy the hospitality of the super friendly owner, Mary. And hopefully you’ll get to understand that part of the country slightly better.

P.S. These pictures have been taken on a mobile phone by a not so great photographer. The food actually looks much better than this.

THE GIRL WHO MADE TH EKING DANCE TO HER TUNES

The Other Boleyn Girl - Review

Two sisters and as unlike each other as can be. One a shy, fair haired girl. The other bold and dark haired. One longed to be in the simplicity of the country side. The other loved the glamour of the court. Mary and Anne Boleyn make interesting characters for a novel. And their ambition to win the heart of a vain and eccentric Henry VIII makes the novel a gripping read.

The novel is told from the viewpoint of Mary who enters the court of Henry as a fourteen year old lady in waiting to Katherine, Queen of England. She catches the eye of the King, whom she learns to love even though she is already married to William Carey. However, she soon realizes that she is a mere pawn in her family’s ambitious plots. The king’s interest wanes and she is forced to step aside for her best friend 

and rival - her sister, Anne. 

Creating captivating characters 

The triumph of this novel is in Gregory’s skillful handing of her brilliant characters - the two sisters, Henry VIII, Katherine of Aragon, the Duke of Norfolk, Jane Boleyn or even George Boleyn. Each one of them sparkles in their own right. However, Anne’s mysterious character steals the show. Quick witted, temperamental, extraordinarily determined, and almost cruel in her ambition, she is one woman who knew what she wanted and made it against all odds.

At a time when the word ‘divorce’ did not exist, it is she who attempts to think the unthinkable. 

She plants the idea in the King’s mind that Katherine was not a virgin when she married him 

and therefore, he is not married to her. One is almost forced to think that Henry is a mere puppet in her hands not the King of England.

Whether Anne was still a virgin when she got married to Henry is doubtful. However, in the novel she played Henry VIII till he kept coming and then turned him away till he couldn't bear it.

When Mary is pregnant with Henry’s child her mother says, “Thank God Anne has him in her toils. She plays with him like you might tease the queen’s dog. She has him on a thread” and Anne tells Mary that she is going to “hold out till he sees that he has to make me an offer, a very great offer”.

Pace of the narrative

Despite the gripping plot and interesting characters, Gregory’s hold slackens towards the middle of the novel. The long drawn delay in the annulment of the marriage to Katherine, Anne’s bouts of temper, the successive miscarriages all seem repetitive.

Historical accuracy and creative license

The historical accuracy of a number of facts can also be doubted. Whether Mary was the younger sister or the elder is not sure. Mary is worried about sleeping with the King and says to George and Anne, “I don’t know how to do it… You know, William did it once a week or so, and that in the dark, and quickly done, and I never much liked it. I don’t know what it is I am supposed to do.” 

But in truth, Mary was not a naive maid. Before coming to Henry’s court she was in fact a mistress to the King Francis I of France.

Likewise George’s homosexuality and attraction towards Anne is also unclear.