Julia Child

Hey!!!
So for all you wild people who know us well, you know that lover and I love to cook, and host a dinner party. {one of the things we cannot wait to be able to do again!!} Therefore, we decided long before our trip that we must search out some cooking classes around the world. In Africa the moment did not arise, but here in India we knew we had to make it happen. Being a vegetarian, Indian food is like dream cuisine for me!! Both Jonathan and I love Indian food, and often indulge ourselves in Indian restaurants in San Francisco, but it is just one of those cuisines that we never knew how to construct ourselves.

We started doing some research and found some wonderful reviews from other travelers, that had taken a class here in Delhi from a woman named Jyoti (her website: Gourmet Desire). She hosts the classes in her home, and its super personal. The class is formulated to your liking {she can do either veg or non veg} and is super relaxed and cozy. She only hosts a couple of classes a week, and only 1 session a day. Miraculously she had time for us!! The class is a little on the pricey side, but its a gift that keeps on giving, and we just had to do it!

On the morning of our class I got all dolled up, {I did not want to show up to some woman's home looking like a weary traveler...you all know how I feel about travelers outfits by now!!!} and we set out to find a rickshaw to get us to her home. Jyoti lives about an hour out from where we are staying, in a suburb called Sheik Sari. Finding a rickshaw to take us was a little bit of drams, as the ride is so far, that unless we wanted a return ride with them, most guys did not want to take us. Finally we got a man, who was quite nice and with good English who agreed. The ride took FOREVER, and the traffic was just obscene!!! Oh, and the temp was easily 100 degrees!!! So no matter how much water I drank on the way to keep my body temp cool, by the time we arrived I was a sweaty over heated red faced mess!!!! So much for arriving as fresh and gorgeous as ever!!

Once we finally made it to Jyoti's neighborhood {about 20 mins late for our appointment...and you must know I despise being late}, We then had to wander around to find where she actually lived. We made it, and despite our lateness, and my red face, Jyoti was completely pleasant, and seemed un phased by our lateness. Well, she does live here after all, so she knows what its like to get from here to there!!

Jyoti's home was very beautiful, in a chic and simplistic manner. There were some interesting art and masks hanging on the wall, but not too many decorations. The class was held in her dining room, and on the adjacent terrace where she had a cooking station set up. Her actual kitchen was being used by her to servants, a man, and a woman who were working on finalizing touches to her baked goods. Jyoti is also a chocolatiere and a baker.

We sat down at the table which already had the full spread of all the materials and ingredients cut, chopped, and measured out, waiting for us. We sat around and chit chatted for a bit while her servants prepared us cooling sweet drinks. Jyoti is such a personable lady. I loved her immediately. She is so warm and welcoming, and just a perfect person to learn some amazing dishes from.

We began with a pamphlet each that she had for us with about 10 different recipes in them. After cooling off and going through the packet we got right to it. We spent the next couple of hours preparing and indulging in dish after phenomenal dish!! It was amazing and delectable to say the least. The spread she had planned was all North Indian style, and this was truly home cooking, the type of stuff that is passed down from grandmothers!!

Overall, the class felt more like hanging out with an old friend who was sharing tricks of the trade with you, than all impersonal, and sterile. We just laughed and cooked, and shared stories. It was perfect. And... if you can believe this, we found out that Jyoti also teaches a class at S.I.T.. This is where my sister Carolyn is studying, and has signed up for the cooking class!!!!!!! Out of all the 14 to 15 million people living in Delhi, my sister and I, here on different purposes both get to have Jyoti as a teacher!!! Unbelievable!!

Just all you wait till we come back to America!! If your lucky we will whip you up some magical Indian delicacies!!!

xoxoxoxoo
Alicia Claire