Biriyani (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biryani) Beriani...Pulav...Pilaf...and many other names. As soon as this name is uttered or seen it takes me back to sometime in mid December 1994, I think it was 16th or 17th. We were just back from our native Palani (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palani) after my cousin’s marriage. As the ritual goes, we are not supposed to have non-veg from the day marriage is fixed to almost a week after the function. In this case it was almost 100 days! So me and another cousin of mine were more than eager to end this ‘fasting’! And much to our delight our aunt prepared ‘Chicken Biriyani’!!! I still remember that day very clearly…there were lot of relatives around. We were up as usual early. I think me & my cousin went to shop for chicken and other ingredients. Came back, had our breakfast and were eagerly waiting for our aunt to dish out the Biriyani. After my grandma, this aunt of mine is the best chef in my family!
As we all sat chatting and watching TV aunt starter the preparation in open air on wood fire. Given the number of people I knew it was going to be long wait. Like a kid I would eagerly run to my aunt every 15-20 mins to check if she would require anything just to get a peep and an idea about how long would it take. 30 mins became an hour, two and three! Soon the smell of the dish was griping us all making especially me and my cousin even hungrier! I still remember aunt as a final touch added empty coconut shells for the dish to cook! Wondering why then today when I want the same on cookery shows on TV I realise it’s a done thing!
While the dish was finally ready it would another 20-30 mins for it to cool down a bit to be served. And finally it was. Me & my cousin did a high-five for the marriage, the celebration and most importantly ending the fast!
Today almost 19 years later while I fondly recollect my aunt (who sadly is no more) and the occasion I also realise that it’s one of the best Chicken Biriyanis I have ever had.
No am not a celebrity chef…not even a half decent cook. Am not a travel writer or a food critic. Over the last three decades and a little more I have had a lot of Chicken Biriyanis and dishes from its family…at home, in functions, at restaurants and food fares… Being a foodie and having stayed, travelled, lived with and worked in different parts of India I have experienced a wide variety of cuisines and dishes. But for me like a whole lot of Indians and people around the world ‘Biriyani’ as somebody said is the ‘epitome of all rice preparations’!
And this blog of mine aptly named Biriyani Trails is a celebration of that….As I continue to travel across India and the world I’ll keep sharing my experiences with ‘Biriyani’!
Hope you enjoy going through the same as much as I would bringing it to you…
