Andhra Feast in Westchester

n Indian Feast is what lures me on the Metro North from Grand Central to New Rochelle this Sunday morning. And by the way, I also get the chance to spend the afternoon with my niece Jacqui and her husband Satya. And compliment Satya’s mom, Shobha on her culinary skills (in between her teaching six-months old Ethan to count). Such patience has Shobha, and even better skills with a hot skillet.
 

New York's Grand Central Station

 
I believe I’m eating Andhra food (not any old ‘Indian’ food). Shobha has dry roasted the lentils and spices and ground them into a powder before steaming and stuffing baby eggplants. Can you smell them? (I did coming down the hall.) There’s a little bite and wonderful flavor in the soft vegetable that keeps me dipping back into the bowl for more. I could be smart and say that I’d tasted this ‘Gutti Vankaya’ dish before and that it is the best, but that would be showing off. Never heard of it, but now will never forget it.
 

Satya and his mom Shobha, with my niece Jacqui

 
Dal and rice cooked together and seasoned with ginger and curry leaves is delicious. Andhra chicken fry (Kodi Vepudi) is so good picked up with the chapati that Satya made for his uncle. I get a sense of the cloves and cardamom, but the ground coriander, garam masala, ginger, onion and garlic just meld into a wonderful ‘curry’ sensation.

Thanks guys.
 

Satya, Jacqui and Ethan with great uncle Michael

 

Click here to see some more photos of the lovely family afternoon.