“Cooking as a challenge to cooking as a therapy”- Team Salem

 Hey there! I’m Harini, your rookie blogger, and I’m serving up my first post with a generous helping of food, fun, and some profound wisdom. Strap in, and let’s dive into the Team Salem cooking chronicles!

Picture this: during my training days in Mumbai, I conveyed to my fellow trainees that the foremost task upon reaching the project location was to locate a fantastic restaurant. But reality hit harder than a burnt pizza crust. Team Salem found solace in the JSW Salem plant’s guest house cuisine – good but not quite the warm hug of home. Fast forward 15 days, and on 29.10.2023, we upgraded our living situation. 

Hello, new town! More hustle, more bustle, and definitely more restaurants. The temptation was real, but we decided: no more takeout! Enter the cooking era, starting our culinary adventures on my birthday, 30.10.2023. First dish on the menu? Sevai Upma. Surprisingly, it was a hit! Cooking with an induction cooktop tested our patience (it’s slower than a sloth on a Sunday), but victory was ours!

As the days rolled on, we faced kitchen chaos – cue the day my dad visited. Salt was my arch-nemesis that day, turning our chutney into a salty disaster. Lesson learned! From then on, I handled salt like a pro. We ventured into new dishes, discovering my love for Mushroom Biryani, Brinjal Thokku, Pepper Chicken Fry, and Rava Kichadi. A symphony of songs playing in the background, we realised cooking together was not just about food; it was a full-blown experience. Back home, I’d roll my eyes at the thought of cooking, lacking the patience. But guess what? I’ve unearthed the artist in me – a budding chef!

Now, cooking isn’t just a task; it’s therapy. After exhausting field visits, our remedy is dosa therapy. Picture this: chilling in the kitchen, swapping stories, and venting with my awesome co-fellows. It’s like a delicious group therapy session.

I learnt many new dishes from my co-fellows. Finally, my culinary skills improved. Thus, the fellowship gives me another advantage. Now, cue the wisdom from Thirukkural, 

“அற்றது அறிந்து கடைப்பிடித்து மாறல்ல 

துய்க்க துவரப் பசித்து.” 

Translation: 

(First) assure yourself that your food has been digested and never fail to eat, when very hungry, whatever is not disagreeable (to you).

We are trying to follow his words .Moreover , I’ve become a culinary maestro thanks to my co-fellows. Thanks to the JSWF fellowship, I’ve not only broadened my horizons but also upgraded my kitchen game. Stay tuned for more adventures – this is just the beginning!