28 September 2010

Spicy memories #2: Banana leaf lunch at our wedding

© M. Zien

In February of this year (2010), my husband and I got married in a “big fat Indian wedding” held at the MGM Beach Resort, south of Chennai in India. We chose to get married in India because we wanted all of our family and friends to experience the joy, color, tumult, noise and sensory extravaganza that mark an Indian wedding. When we think back to those three days of festivities and the time immediately prior, we remember the endless shopping excursions, family parties, welcoming friends, time spent with tailors and beauticians, negotiating with photographers and of course all the mix of emotions that any bride and groom go through. One thing that we sadly don’t remember much of though is the food!

Even though there were elaborate and sumptuous Indian meals at all of our wedding events and even though we certainly ate, neither of us can remember much today in terms of what we ate and how we felt eating it. Like any bride and groom, we were too filled with joy, nervousness, stress and excitement to really sit down and enjoy the food. There was one notable exception though, and that would be the traditional banana leaf lunch served outside on the hotel grounds right after our wedding ceremony.





The banana leaf is the "plate" of choice for auspicious occasions such as weddings and meals with special guests in South India. After washing their hands (there are no utensils provided unless you ask!), people sit on benches set up under a circus-style tent known as a shamiana that provides shade from the hot sun at outdoor weddings such as ours. Once the guests are seated, an assembly line of servers will go from guest to guest, placing dish after dish on each banana leaf. Typical fare will include a snack such as the traditional vada (a traditional South Indian lentil-based donut, much like falafel), a mound of steaming white rice, a prepared rice dish such as a biriyani, chapathi, dal (split yellow lentils), rasam (a clear tomato broth), sambhar (a lentil and vegetable stew), a crispy appalam (which some of you may know as papad), a number of different vegetable dishes, raita (yogurt with vegetables), pickles and and several sweets. Everything is eaten directly off of the leaf with the right hand, which can be quite tricky for the banana leaf novice!



© O. de Morais

The servers, decked in white cotton dhotis, are very impressive and move at lightning speed, putting seconds on your leaf before you even notice or disappearing with something you may want more of before you have a chance to ask! When you are done, you are supposed to fold your leaf, which will then be disposed of by the servers. Talk about eco-friendly...the banana leaves are of course fully biodegradable! Some people in South India also believe that banana leaves are auspicious and that eating on them gives a special flavor to food. I don't know about all that, but I do know that our friends and family who came from all over the world to attend our wedding got a kick out of eating this way! Not only did they master the art of eating with their hands on the leaves the Indian way, some of them even savored the paan, which is a traditional betel leaf mouth refresher and digestive that is eaten after meals and that many people (including myself) find to be unpalatable. 



© O. de Morais

Amidst all of the colorful whirl of our wedding, my new husband and I savored the moment of sitting down in front of our banana leaves, finally breathing and relaxing a bit and at long last...eating! Thrilled by the knowledge that we had actually just gotten married, we fed each other the first bites (an Indian tradition), laughed and soaked it in all in. A spicy memory that we will never forget!

© D. Chaplin

11 comments:

  1. Gosh, who could ever forget that meal...or that wedding? It was so romantic!!

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  2. Such an incredible wedding. The food, colors and sounds are what I will always remember.

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  3. Even though Geetha and I meticulously planned all the wedding menu, I can hardly remember what I ate or what it tasted like. (But I heard everyone saying that the food was great!). I guess that's what happens when you are the parent of the bride.I am glad everyone enjoyed themselves and had lots of fun! Such a memorable wedding!

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  4. What an incredible experience! I'd never forget eating off a banana leaf if I had the opportunity. And yes, it's romantic and sensible! When I was in Dominica the merchants at the open market sold their goods on banana leaf mats. I thought it was really cool. And while visiting S. Arabia I had to eat with my hands. It took some getting used to, but I liked it. Congratulations on your marriage. You two make a handsome couple.
    :-)

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  5. Thank you so much for sharing this. Everything looks wonderful, so traditional and romantic! I wish you both all the best!

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  6. Congratulations on your wedding! Of all the cultures, I have always been most fascinated with Indian weddings, so colorful, vibrant and they always mean a good party with great food! Thanks for sharing your day!

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  7. What a beautiful post and photos! everything looks wonderful!
    Thanks for stopping by my blog and for the sweet comment :)

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  8. I absolutely enjoyed every single meal I had at your wedding, especially the Gobi Manchurian. I still dream about it.

    Love the pictures...ahhh, takes me back to India.

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  9. wow.... lovely i still can remember mine too... try my recipes book for such lunches... on http://chackoskitchen.blogspot.com/2010/08/onam-recipes-ebook-release.html

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  10. Ilda, I love gobi manchurian too...it's one of my favorites actually! The next time you're in Paris, you must come for dinner chez nous and I'll make some for you ;-)

    Susan & Abraham, thanks for the link to your recipe book...I'll check it out!

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  11. This banana leaf celebration of food is beautiful. And brings back memories of meals shared with my grandparents, on special occasions. Thank you for sharing and congratulations to you both!

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