Good Eats

Exotic Mexican Salad - when I saw that as restaurant dish on Zomato, I got super excited. What's not to like - beans, fresh peppers, onions, tomatoes and the like, sans any of the omnipresent sauce that's in many Indian dishes. My mouth had been craving the satisfying bite into a crisp vegetable and my ears missed the sound of the wet crunch from every bite (I've come to realize that food texture and the right mouthfeel is very important to me). 

So I placed the order. Though I was a little disappointed that it turned out to be more of an 'everything' salsa 😑, I still ate it. I had gotten spoiled by the fresh veggie dishes available in Noida (just outside of Delhi) with absolutely no problems.

Well, a few days later my digestive tract said it was unhappy with me and was very expressive in its protests. 'What did I eat? I've been cooking all my own food', I thought. Then I remembered the Exotic Mexican Salad. It's funny because I never considered Mexican food as something exotic. In the US, we have access to so many different kinds of food from different countries and cultures, especially if you live in a major metropolitan area. 

I now completely understand why people from different ethnicities have grocery stores that cater to them, like stores that sell foods specifically catered to East Asian, Eastern European, West African, Latino, and yes, even Indian supermarkets. (I've talked to two different people at Patel Brothers who drove 2+ hours just to go to that store). If there was an 'American' store in Jodhpur, you'd best believe that I'd be a frequent shopper. (There is a chain in Jodhpur that does sell some  brands found in the US).

I also now understand why many who immigrate to the US will sometimes grow their own vegetables, because stores don't always have what you need (what I wouldn't do for a yellow or white onion right now, y'all).  Food is very important. When you're in a new land where everything is different & outside of your control, and you have to rely on others, one of the few things that you (mostly) can control is what you put in your mouth. That's why food can take on an even greater role in what makes you feel like you and what makes you feel at home.

I'm working on being open to trying new foods and ways of cooking, but also exploring how I can make foods I'm used to with what's available to me. Once I get a pressure cooker, I can't wait to make Leia's Beans, a bean salad I made with my youngest niece over the summer (she was very happy to make it, but never really ate it herself).

In the meantime though, I'll wait till I'm back in the States for another Exotic Mexican Salad 🥗.

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Yes, you can eat fresh vegetables in India if it's peeled. If you go to restaurants that cater to tourists, they are usually following high food safety standards and should be okay.  Other than that, if the veggies are peeled, boiled or cooked there should be no problem. 

Even in the US, we encounter food poisoning, maybe just not as often. Be a prepared traveler with antibiotics and antidiarrheals to take as directed by your doctor.