When we live away from our native land we adapt. Foods, languages, culture, idiosyncrasies the whole lot. But when you end up clinging to food that is complex and unique to your upbringing either voluntarily or because of your family's desire to rely on it as a staple source of nutrition you seek out the needful.
So recently we discovered a Roti ( a flatbread native to India) making outfit in the nearby burbs that sells them out of their home. It was an odd advert in a local paper that caught my eye which mentioned freshly made Rotis at a competitive price of 30 cents a piece. Get as many as you need.
I called and knowing it would be a home maker with some English language skills to conduct basic transactions hopefully waited for the ph to be answered. No luck after what seemed like infinite rings so hung up. What - no voicemail?
This was consistent with how these outfits operate - customer in need calls back when desperate. So I did again and this time was rewarded by a groggy voice that seemed surprised that someone had deigned to call the number. I started down the path to announce my intention of inquiring of their enterprise and if they would kindly throw a few rotis my way. This generated a reply of - call back please when the cook is available.. Please sounded like they too valued the customer but cook not available was ominous?
This cook when she did call back turned out to be someone eager to engage in supplying said bread to this newbie. And so began the provider providee relationship. Now we have such a rapport that my call over the weekend to come grab 20 or so rotis is greeted with - kitne chahiye, how many will you need, and kabhi bhi aa jao, as in come when you will we are waiting.
It is almost mechanical and somewhat matter of fact but I find this essentially zen. There is no friction but provides much needed substance (literally) to fill the bag. We each know our role and operate in the defined protocols. I make sure to call and check their availability and of the food I seek and they promptly keep a package with my order ready. They are most courteous when they offer the food at pickup.
Latest development - they also provide excellent methi parathas.
So recently we discovered a Roti ( a flatbread native to India) making outfit in the nearby burbs that sells them out of their home. It was an odd advert in a local paper that caught my eye which mentioned freshly made Rotis at a competitive price of 30 cents a piece. Get as many as you need.
I called and knowing it would be a home maker with some English language skills to conduct basic transactions hopefully waited for the ph to be answered. No luck after what seemed like infinite rings so hung up. What - no voicemail?
This was consistent with how these outfits operate - customer in need calls back when desperate. So I did again and this time was rewarded by a groggy voice that seemed surprised that someone had deigned to call the number. I started down the path to announce my intention of inquiring of their enterprise and if they would kindly throw a few rotis my way. This generated a reply of - call back please when the cook is available.. Please sounded like they too valued the customer but cook not available was ominous?
This cook when she did call back turned out to be someone eager to engage in supplying said bread to this newbie. And so began the provider providee relationship. Now we have such a rapport that my call over the weekend to come grab 20 or so rotis is greeted with - kitne chahiye, how many will you need, and kabhi bhi aa jao, as in come when you will we are waiting.
It is almost mechanical and somewhat matter of fact but I find this essentially zen. There is no friction but provides much needed substance (literally) to fill the bag. We each know our role and operate in the defined protocols. I make sure to call and check their availability and of the food I seek and they promptly keep a package with my order ready. They are most courteous when they offer the food at pickup.
Latest development - they also provide excellent methi parathas.
not bad..the US of A under Obama is looking up..at least on one coast.
ReplyDelete