The more sophisticated the dish, the more it hogs the spotlight. It’s unavoidable. Guests coo and admire: “You must have spent so much time making this!” We bask in their admiration, glowing because the dish was in fact an effort: many steps, much time, and perhaps some anxiety. A commitment. But if the dish succeeds,…
Category: Bengali Appetizers
Accompaniment
The Bengali meal, when allowed to showboat in all its unabated complexity, is a grandiose, multi-course affair. For very special occasions, one might be served 12 to 15 courses. But for the less spectacular, everyday meal, one would be served at least four courses, with rice holding court as the queen, without which the other…
Expect the Unexpected
I serve cheese now because it’s easy and because it’s expected. Cheese is simple. Go to store. Purchase cheese: some soft, some hard. Unwrap. Slice bread, arrange crackers, wash and slice fruit. Use apples, pears, grapes. Assemble. Done. For added fanciness, use marble serving board, add dried cherries and apricots, silver cheese knives. Still very…
Remember the Taste 