Menu on Toleration Day.

May 1.22.

Hello!! How you doin’? What are your plans for today, Labour Day?

Today, being Sunday, means it’s a holiday tomorrow, Moanday.

Niiiice, because tomorrow is Eid. The end of Ramadan for this year. I would love to invite you and your family and friends over. 

It’s a simple affair, no fancy food. I’m a regular, run-of-the-mill kinda cook, a disgrace to my ancestors who gave exotic dishes to the world. But I promise you, my dishes will be delish, you will want to chatay...lick...the platter clean. Only good manners will hold you back.

Oh, one second, before I forget. To avoid offending anyone who accompanies you, lemme send out a li’l warning. 

Vegans and meat-eaters will meet. 

Other cultures will be present too, other colours and beliefs. Inevitably, someone will be eating with their fingers, then chataying said fingers. 

There will be ideas and opinions that some might object to. 

To them I say: turn away your ears, beloved guest, ignore the offending views. Gyaff...chat...and laugh with those you love.

At this table, toleration ain’t a botheration. 

Okay...what’s the menu?

For those who don’t eat meat, there is:

Channa with cubes of potatoes tossed in garlic, onion, tumeric and Mr. Mattai’s garam masala 

Red beans stew with tomatoes and shado beni (or, as Simone, my former Brazilian neighbour, used to say, chicoria).

There will be enough of the veggie food for the meat eaters too. I’ve discovered that they love to dig into the vegetarian dishes.

For the meat eaters:

Baked chicken packed with nuff stuffing…plenty stuffing

Mutton curry...the meat is so tender, it’s falling off the bone.

For everyone there is:

Callaloo dobe-down....simmered...in a leeetle bit of coconut milk (not everyone can digest a heavy serving of coconut milk)

Pumpkin, Guyana-style

Cripsy green beans stir-fried with carrots, loaded with finely chopped garlic

Roti

Naan bread

Rice

Avocado - chunks of it, buttery, cool from the fridge

Salad - lettuce, tomatoes, young bora seed, carambola, olives, cucumber, sweet pepper, choice of dressing.

Drinks:

Bitter-sweet mauby

Ginger beer (zero-alcohol)

Ice-water with a spritz o’ lemon juice

Dessert:

Fruit salad with papaya, water melon, bananas, pineapple, mangoes. Feel free to add yoghurt

Vermicelli cake, rich ‘n’ creamy

Mittai, the soft, chunky kind.

With dessert, you can have coffee or tea.

Best coffee I’ve ever had in my entire life was at the home of a Brazilian ambassador in Guyana. He served us in small cups; the coffee was thick, sweet, black. 

Tea...I like milky, with elaichi, but you can have yours with lemon, honey, sugar.

What food do you serve on a special day?

And here’s a politically incorrect question: how do you deal with a guest you can’t stomach? (Pardon de pun.)

See you soon...the Sunday after next. Plenty love, neena. 

P.S. Feel free to share this feast with your friends and family. 

They can subscribe right here to enjoy this travel-free ride to my lovely native land. Thank you.