September 05, 2010

For a large chunk of my young-womanhood, I lived in B’lore, a heavily residential Anglo-Indian neighborhood. Despite having Khasi (Shillong) relatives myself, I wasn’t actually aware about the area; my family paid little attention to lineage and I never heard the language spoken. Until I met my best friend and later, my bro-inlaw. They were the main source of my North-Eastern influence in the neighborhood, particularly in the area of food. My first life-changing Naga-influenced food experience was delivered courtesy of my bro-in-law’s mum, Aunt Anung, in Nagaland. But not just any meat preparation. Her meals were tastier than any spread I had eaten before. The pork was perfectly smoked and fried, served with steamed vegetables and axone (fermented soy-bean) on the side of raja-mirchi (The Naga jolokia) chutney. When paired with a bamboo mug of red tea, made a far better nightcap than a Hot chocolate with a shot of Bailey's Irish creme mixed in ever could (well, maybe not far better).

So my first lesson in great food pairings came to me on a chilly evening, in a small town of light and bright colors and late night city occupants, while I sat at the dinner table combining tastes and on the edge of every flavor of meat, vegetables, side dishes and drink. And it’s still one of my favorite moments. The crunch of the roasted pork, the snap of the fried fat, the bite of the rajamirchi-axone mixed chutney; nothing on the planet sets up the taste and texture of a meal better.

Picture Courtesy : The Naga Kitchen
But the reason for this post isn’t about the recollection of a gourmet moment. There’s one other major culinary event for which I have the Naga neighborhood to thank: it’s the opening of The Naga Kitchen. The first Naga restaurant in B’lore city that I visited on Friday and Saturday. This local joint, serves a wicked version of authentic Naga cuisine, and from the moment I bit into my first roasted pork piece, I was hooked. I don’t care who you are, or how much you struggle with ethical issues around eating meat: you’re just going to have to admit that there’s pretty much nothing as delicious as properly cooked pork.


What's better than this? Almost nothing.

So allow me to say it: it’s time to come home to Naga food at:
The Naga Kitchen
#26 A.V.S Arcade, Above F Square Garment store
Terrace Floor, Opp. Adidas Showroom
Next to Empire and Nandhini hotel
Kamanahalli Main Road
Bangalore - 84

If you’re around this side of town, do get to The Naga Kitchen and taste some of their smoked pork and your ethical dilemma will be a thing of the past. At least until hunger strikes again.


In exactly three weeks, at 9:01 a.m. on Friday, September 24, I will turn 27. If 27 is dead in woman years, does this mean I am approaching resurrection? Or has my flesh finished rotting off my bones and is my skeleton just lying here, deluding itself that there is any life left in it at all?


Sara Bareilles : King of Anything

If you haven’t figured it out yet, I was trying to branch out a bit on this track. Most of the time I get into the groove of singer/songwriter Indie kid with a jones for folk tunes music and run it until it’s dead. But on this single I was looking for a bit more. A bit of pop oomph. Welcome to Sara Bareilles, almost-gonna-make it pop rock act. But I bring you good music with a focus on the music being good. Hence, she has made the cut.

8 Pulses Say:

ku2 said...

Aaargh, Im older than you. By 6 months. Im thinking its the same in your case too but I'm still mentally 24, and still rarin to go. in the hills, 27 is officially old-maid age, which basically means i dont act my age :D
Friends tell me I miss out on a lot cos I dont eat pork, and its not due to any ethical or principle-ish reasons. I just dont eat em. But I looove the smell. and the axome (here we call em Bekang) plus raja mirchi mix, ohh gawwwdddd. Completely worth the stomach burn afterwards, innit?

iAmCha said...

Love Axone Aur Dhoka.

x.

Unknown said...

I don't eat pork too for the reason of religion. But I do substitute pork with beef, mutton or poultry if I see a good recipe.

I love meat!

Just had half of a steamed fish (because I was too lazy to defrost beef)

Anonymous said...

Hey! A Very Happy Birthday to you a lot in advance! :) (Had considered waiting till THE day, before dropping in this wish..But then I don't trust myself to remember!) And if I weren't anonymous, I woulda spilled my own age on this joyous occasion!:)

PS: Thank you. I have never tasted Naga Food. And I love the city of Bangalore. If possible, I will definitely check out that place next time I drop by there. Cheers Gal. Have fun :)

Eveline said...

@Ku2: It truly sucks to be ageing even if you mentally feel 14. It helps if you are rich, still gorgeous or otherwise richly endowed. It's life's cruel, sinister joke.
Chanting pork does, indeed, work for me…for the stomach burn too, which is all the better. :P

@imchaba: hahaha. I think I've become best friends with the chef. Brought home some smoked pork pickle today. :)

@Shadowthorne: Sorry, couldn't help myself. :)
I like veggies, but I don’t like to admit it. In fact, if I were a stronger more disciplined person, I’d be a vegetarian. I know... I live with my family who are hardcore carnivores. It’s hard when mum fries up that red meat. Ugh.

@Choco: Oh well, if my flesh rots off my bones, I'll at least have the figure I've always dreamed of. ;)
Thank you for the wishes, much in advance. Appreciate it.
If you do make a trip to B'lore please drop in a line. I'd take you to the Naga kitchen myself. :)

manuscrypts said...

a-ha! a new restaurant! and pork!! good job, you almost-27-year-old :D

Eveline said...

I have eaten at this place thrice in the past two weeks and it is outstanding. The meat is smoked to perfection and the chutneys are a great compliment to the meal. The co-owners are two of the nicest people I ever met. A great find!!

Oh and I've decided to be fifteen forever...even though I look about 85 just now after 12 hours of no sleep. :D

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