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“If music be the food of love play on.”

The fires burned from morn till night in grandma’s kitchen to tickle the taste buds of the lord and master. And she certainly won his heart, with cholesterol levels down!

Today’s wife has more choices. She can swish the masalas, sauces, gravies off the supermarket shelves and go global! She can try cuisines of countries, in alphabetical order, or go for the eclectic flavours from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. A far cry from grandma who had to make do with veggies from her own backyard!

If today’s mom wants to hone her culinary skills, she can surf the net or watch those cookery shows on television. She can hop from Arabic shawarma, Chinese Dragon chicken, Thai satay, or Italian Tiramisu. And win not only her spouse’s heart but also the heart of other spouses as well!

She can even compete in cookery reality shows on television and be a ‘Pachaka Rani’ or come close to being one. And win diamonds as well as be a star in no time. If she wants to be a couch potato before the idiot box, she can avail the home delivery service of restaurants. The piping hot Szechwan noodles and the braised pork will arrive on her kitchen table in minutes. Poor grandma would be turning in her grave at not finding a space for herself during her time.

Now dad wants a change and he does not want to hassle mom. If he wants to savour appam stew, kappa meen curry or ela ada just the way his mom used to make, he can make a beeline to the nearest naadan restaurant. They would be only be too happy to cater a trip down memory lane. Or if he craves for the tangy taste of paani puri or aloo chat, he has only to breeze into that mobile bhel puri carts down the street. He can even give mom a bhel puri surprise.

Onam, Vishu or birthday celebrations, mom need not break her back. Caterers deliver a full course sadhya with plantain leaf et al. Silver or Platinum wedding anniversary? Want to give a few tips on how your marital relationship has withstood the onslaught of time? It’s again caterers to the rescue. Veg or non-veg, they arrive lock, stock and barrel and serve your guests while you prettily flash your solitaire. Does mom hear a sigh from grandma?

Food festivals are popular because they are innovative and tickle the palate with different flavours. And mom need not wash the dishes. So dining out is in. “we enjoy the sense of togetherness while eating out. The change is welcome too,” quips the Narayankutty family. Health is a fad now. “I do not want to compromise on my family’s health,” says a dutiful mom. So it’s more of greens: sprouts and salads. No more swirls of oil into that avial or fish curry. Mom has also realised that microwave cooking is much more than heating rice and dhal.

Gen now has funky food tastes. And they throw culinary conventions to the winds. They may scoff at our humble puttu kadala. But be willing to try steamed rice cakes with coconut garnish and chickpeas in sautéed coconut sauce. They may slurp over that mulligatawny soup, while the ubiquitous rasam grins from behind!

And mom knows it all.

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