Final Thoughts

 Hey everybody, 

I wanted to dedicate my last blog post to summing up my thoughts over the course of these past few weeks. At the beginning of my "culinary journey," I was hesitant to explore Indian cooking. Food is such an important facet of Indian culture, and I was afraid to mess it up, and somehow disappoint not only my parents but myself. To get a bit more personal, I've experienced times when I've made an effort to reconnect with my roots and been met with laughter at my expense (most notably, with regard to my "Americanized" accent when trying to speak Hindi). Thus, a part of me was afraid that something similar would happen if I tried my hand at Indian food, and failed. 

In hindsight, I'm glad that I took on this challenge. I wouldn't go as far as to say that it was "transformative," but I enjoyed trying out new recipes and getting a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into the foods I've grown up eating. Likewise, as I usually don't make Indian food, I never really have a point of reference for the dishes that I do make. Thus, venturing into a cuisine that not only I, but my parents, have experience with, allowed me to recognize when I made something well, and when I should practice a bit more. 

Out of all of the dishes I made, my favorite was probably the Khaman Dhokla. It's a dish I used to view as a snack food, but after seeing all of the work that goes into making Khaman Dhokla, I've come to appreciate it for what it is: a labor of love and a delicious dish. 

So, my parting words are that if you are at all hesitant to try out a new cuisine (especially one from a culture that you identify with), I encourage you to take the leap. The worst you can do is completely mess up and make something inedible, but then what? You try again, and maybe like 6 more times, and over time, it becomes a dish that you've almost perfected. And maybe, just maybe, you'll gain even more love and appreciation for your culture, and all that it has to offer. 

- Mariam Vaid

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