A father being
busy replying to his whatsapp messages, a child playing games on phone, the grandmother
watching her favourite TV serial and the mother wondering who does she speak
to, and all this happens when they are sitting around the dining table for a so
called meal together what is supposedly to be a family time. And even when this
dining table is not at home, but in a fancy restaurant where they have stepped
out as a family to enjoy, the scene doesn’t changes much. In the name of family
time and having a meal together, everyone is still busy in his or her own
world.
To bring about a change in this scenario, ‘Thaal’ strongly
promotes community and family eating in order to bond over food. You aren’t
allowed to use your mobile phones when you are indulging in the scrumptious
food with your family from that big thaal.
Recreating the typical Bohra family scenes, Rumana Roowala, not
just brought the Bohra cuisine into limelight but is also trying hard to push
the entire concept of being with your family and getting to know each other
while dining together.
Bohra Muslims, who
are said to have migrated originally from Yemen to Gujarat, are firm believers
in the maxim: “The family that eats together, stays together.” The entire Bohra
family dines out of one platter called the thaal and it typically accommodates
4-8 people. Each dish is placed in the centre of the thaal and every member
pulls his or her share. Bohras have a no-wastage policy. Not a single grain of
rice is left on the plate when it is taken away.
Although the big
Thaal that is meant to be shared between 4-6 or 8 peoplealways has to be
pre-booked with a minimum of 3 hours notice, thaal isn’t just about food, its
an experience. The menu changes everyday and otherwise the restaurant serves an
al-a-carte menu. During the lunch hours, a smaller version of the thaal, called
thali is also available.
Going by the
traditional rituals, your meals in a thaal begin with washing of hands in a age
old manner, where in the waiter brings you water and tissues and you cleanse
your hands without having to get up followed with applying of ‘itr’.
Serving of salt,
which is meant to neutralize your taste buds, then follows it. You are supposed
to take a pinch of it and keep it on your tongue.
In a Bohra family the
first course of the meal is a dessert. Kalamra, which is a dessert made with
slightly sweetened curd, rice and lots of dry fruits, garnished with
pomegranate seeds, is the first dessert you get. This is followed by a salad
called chana-batata, made with chickpeas, potatoes, and fried onions and tossed
in a nice tangy tamarind dressing.
The starters include
Keema Samosa, Bohra Cutlets and Moong Dal Samosa, and then another dessert
called Malido is served, which is made with crushed wheat, jaggery and dry
fruits. The main course is fixed for each day and has dishes like Dal Gosht,
Mutton Khichda, Keema Chichdi and Kaari Chawal. On Sundays, the special thaal
also includes their signature Kache Gosht Ki Biryani. Imli ki Kulfi and Paan
Chocolate are served to finish the meal.
The food at thaal is
definitely worth trying. Fresh meats, Kesar flown in only from Iraq, and every
masala and basic ingredient being prepared in-house is something thaal swears
by.
So
head out to Thaal and don’t just eat, but bond with your family and friends
over a traditional and flavorful meal.
