Powder Priya

 

At the age of 6 Priya started cooking, at 12 she started cooking for her family, at the age of 18 she started cooking for the entire town. But, that’s was not a big deal. Everyone from Ranipet was master chefs. The village had a purpose, to preserve, enrich and nurture the art of traditional cooking. So, from small kids to elderly people everyone cooked and taught how to cook to the villagers.

Ranipet had a population of 500 families; each family had their own secret recipe and special ingredient. Throughout the year there would be food festivals, tasting sessions, spice workshops and flea markets. The competition was intense and everyone had different styles and techniques. They constantly thrived to discover new dishes for health, taste and variety.

But, Priya was different from everyone. When others were influenced by the foreign culture, Priya stuck to her roots. When others went ahead in terms of utensils and equipment, Priya went back in time. She got stuck to her roots and got deeply connected with them. Her taste for tradition was clashing with the taste of newness others had.

 At the age of 20 she established her style, the old style. When others were able to get more customers every day, Priya just had few. When other’s made 100’s of dishes a day, Priya just made a hand full. When others cooked swiftly, Priya took her own time. But, her customers were loyal. Once they taste her food, they become a part of Priya’s family. Her food was made for people’s mood. Every bite was an experience. Though it took a long time, it was always worth the wait.

She was not popular and she was not on demand like others. But she had one thing the other never had. She had customer satisfaction. She made a difference in her customer’s life.

When it came to her process, it was a journey. In Priya’s kitchen, the order had to be given the previous night. She never took more than 10 customers. Her kitchen was always empty. The next day, early in the morning, she wanders through the forest, river bed and mountains for fresh Ingredients. She cooked on natural fire, made and sharpened her own knifes, made and maintained her own pots and even carved her own spatulas.

That’s how authentic she was. At the end when all her effort comes together, miracle happens every time someone tastes it. They let out a smile of satisfaction. Just like an artist who observes his masterpiece, she observed her customer’s reaction every day. 

Priya was satisfied with this minimal life style and she never participated in any of the other competitions and workshops. 

On a calm breezy evening, Priya was sharpening her knives on a black stone. One of her customers approached her to place an order.

Priya – Hello ma’am

Customer – The usual lunch for tomorrow

Priya – Why are you sad?

Customer – Haven’t you heard the news?

Priya – What happened ma’am?

Customer – Ranipet has 500 families, in that the top 2 are the Sami family and Bala family.

Priya – What happened to the?

Customer – They lost.

Priya was not bothered about the details, she just acted along. She just gave a sigh and replied –

What? How ma’am? Where?

Customer – They were lost in the annual cooking summit held by the government in Chennai.

Priya – Oh, is that so bad?

Customer got surprised by her reaction. Looking at her customer’s surprised look, Priya responded with a blank expression.

Customer – For the past 10 years, our village have have never lost. But, this time they have lost to a foreigner.

Priya – I understand ma’am. I am sure the Bala and Sami family members will make it through next year.

Customer – It’s not that Priya. It’s a big Problem for Ranipet. Gradually we will lose customers. Think about the image of Ranipet. This is the land of cooking. It got a black mark. Who will fix it now?

Priya – Ma’am, I am sure there will be some solution. But, don’t worry. Let’s not get sad on it. Let me fix your mood right now.

Customer – But, you always cook the next day right?

Priya winks to her customer and says – Just for you.

She quickly goes back to a nearby garden, picks up some mint leaves, opens a special box and takes few spoons of power from it and makes a delicious soup. Once the customer had a sip and closed her eyes and lets out a smile.

Priya – This is what I want ma’am. Others may cook tasty food but the tastes are restricted to the taste buds. I want to make something that will linger for life time. I cook for your smile and satisfaction ma’am.

If I can fix your problem with my cooking, then you can fix your life.  

Customer – Priya, you are really good. Better than others. But, do you know why you haven’t become great?

Priya gets confused listening to her words and remains silent.

Customer – Good food and good thoughts are meant to be shared with the rest of the world. Just imagine, what if you can share your food with the rest of the world?

Not just Ranipet’s image, we can fix the any problem.

Priya, let’s out a subtle smile and gets lost in her thoughts. She gets back to sharpen her knifes.

 

The next day a big food truck came inside Ranipet. People from around approached the truck to see what was happening there. The side panels of the truck automatically opened up to reveal two Chinese men. They had huge woks, electronic equipment and advanced gadgets. One of the Chinese cooks pressed a button and two speakers popped out of the truck and started playing Chinese music. Quickly, they started chopping, dicing and cooking. The villagers got mesmerized by their way they were cooking and gathered around them.

Suddenly, a person from the Bala family and Sami family pierced through the crowd and got shocked looking at the horror of their own villagers trying out food from the people who defeated them. In shame, the chef from the Bala and Sami family removed their aprons which had the family names on it.

One of the Chinese chefs came out and stood in front of them and started smiling.

Chinese chef – Ready for round 2?

 Both the chefs from the Sami and Bala family gave a furious look at the Chinese chef.

 

Suddenly the sound of bullock cart broke the tension between them. It was Priya. She parked the cart in front of the food truck. The Chinese Chefs and the Chefs from Bala and Sami family looked at her with a strange look.

Priya, got down and unwrapped the sheet on the bullock cart. It had fresh plants, fire wood and big wooden trunks. Priya approached the chefs of the Bala and Sami family for help.

Priya – Can you help me please?

Bala family’s chef – What are going to do?

Priya – Cook

Bala family’s chef – Are you going to cook with these? 

Priya responds with a smile and starts unloading the truck. After an hour, her entire setup looked like a garden. This was something new for everyone. The Chinese chefs got surprised looking her. But, when she placed the fire wood and tried to make a fire, they laughed. Looking at this the chefs of Bala’s and Sami’s family joined her. They helped her and started following her instructions. When she opened one of her wooden trunks there were imperfect, handmade plates, bowls and spoons. The Ranipet chefs got surprised looking at them.

On one side the villagers were enjoying the hot and spicy Chinese food, but on the other side Priya was cooking and making everything from scratch. Villagers took small peeks to check on her, but they were totally engrossed with the Chinese cuisine.

Priya’s set up was empty and there were no customers.

But, after sometime her old customer from the other day walked in with a smile and she had brought her entire family with her. Gradually the news spread throughout the village and all her old customers came to her set up. Suddenly the Ranipet Chefs joined the cooking process. One of the chefs brought a mixer and showed it Priya, Priya, kept it aside and gave him a stone grinder. The other chef brought an electronic blender, but Priya replaced it with a wooden log and asked him to blend the liquid mix with that.

After couple of hours, Priyas kitchen grew and her customers grew. More people from the village help her to cook and more customers started ordering food from her. There was a big difference. The customers from the Chinese stall had an after taste of spice and hotness. They ate, paid and left the premise.

But people stayed around Priya’s stall. Even when most of the customers had to stand, they were happy and had a smile on their face. Some were having a happy conversation, some were just silent and enjoyed the ambience and few even started performing around her stall. Priya, brought out everyone’s natural self. A happy community got build up around her. 

The Chinese chefs got more curious. They got down from their truck and approached Priya’s set up. A lot of questions popped up in their mind.

Chinese chef – How are you doing this? You don’t even have enough gadgets? 

Priya smiles and says – Would you like to taste?

Priya picks up two dried up coconut shells, pours some broth in it and hands it over to the Chinese chefs.

The Chinese chefs look at each other with a puzzled look and take a sip of the broth. Suddenly, their eyes open wide, one of the chef start swirling his tongue. For few seconds they hold still in silence. Then swiftly they finish up the remaining broth and lets out a subtle smile. Priya, responds to them with her cute smile. Then the chefs from the Sami’s and Bala’s family smile at each other looking at Priya.

Chinese chef – Do you know why we won? It was because of our 5 spice ingredients.

What is your secret Ingredient Priya? Why are you cooking in the old style?

Priya, opens one of her wooden trunks and picks up a small box. She pours some more broth in their coconut shell and adds few spoons of her special powder in it. The Chinese chef tasted it again and gave the same satisfied reaction.

Priya – What you experienced now is the taste of our tradition. It’s the magic of 3 spices. It’s known as Tirukatakam. It has Sukku, Milagu and thippili or in English, Peppercorns, dry ginger and long pepper.

These ingredients are grown in my backyard and the powder is hand made. Making it in the authentic way retains the essence of the spices and cooking in olden way retains my ideals and the love of cooking.

Chinese chef – Why don’t you participate in the competitions?

Priya smiles and replies– One of my wise customers said, good food and good thoughts are meant to be shared with others. So I like to make a difference in their life and not compete.

The Chinese men laughed and from that day they called her by the name Powder Priya. They often visited her and learned the old ways of her traditional cooking. Also, Ranipet got its lost image and a new master chef who promoted the authentic and traditional ways of cooking.