With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
A Vegetarian Wedding Feast from LA's First Indian Pop-up, Jan. 29
By Carren Jao/Special to LAist
Indian weddings are extravagant celebrations. Unlike most Western white wedding affairs, these celebrations are marked a rainbow of color, elaborate decorations and sumptuous food.
In the latest run of The Un-Curry Table, Los Angeles’ first Indian pop-up, chef Kaumudi Marathe recreates some of that festive atmosphere by serving an authentic Marathi wedding feast at Glendale’s Recess.
So, what to expect? No curries or samosas, that’s for sure. Chef Kaumudi is on a mission to introduce us to a different type of Indian cooking: Marathi. “The kind of Indian food that people eat is so boring and stereotypical and so limited,” says chef Kaumudi, “India is a whole continent, there’s a whole world out there that—like my food—nobody knows anything about.”
Support for LAist comes from
Marathi cuisine hails from Maharashtra along India’s west coast. Unlike the rich, nutty sauces of the Punjab region many of us are used to, Marathi food is more refined, hardly spicy at all, but full of flavor coming from a careful mix of spices. “It’s very, for the most part, healthy—very lightly cooked.”
By no means a freshman effort, The Un-Curry Table has already hurdled four previous runs in November and December where chef Kaumudi updated Marathi cuisine and added a California twist. But this month, chef Kaumudi goes back to her roots by creating a purely authentic Marathi Indian wedding feast for her guests. “I’ll serve food the way the wedding feast is traditionally served.”
Guests can look forward to communal seating; servers frequently replenishing your large plate (possibly made out of banana leaf); an elaborate vegetarian meal (Indian weddings are religious affairs. Thus, no meat.); and dessert as part of the main course.
I only got a taste of Kaumudi’s dishes, but if that nibble were representative of what she had in store, then I’d say she’s already making good headway on her mission to champion Marathi cuisine. “I think [Indian food] has to be re-classified as many, many dishes, and not just one. It is very complex. It is haute cuisine, the way French food is.”
The Un-Curry Table pop-up at at Recess is Saturday January 29th, 2011, with seatings at 6:30 and 8:15 p.m. $35 per person.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 and went on to kill 12 people and destroy more than 6,800 homes and buildings. -
People moving to Los Angeles are regularly baffled by the region’s refrigerator-less apartments. They’ll soon be a thing of the past. -
Experts say students shouldn't readily forgo federal aid. But a California-only program may be a good alternative in some cases. -
Distrito Catorce’s Guillermo Piñon says the team no longer reflects his community. A new mural will honor local leaders instead. -
The program is for customers in communities that may not be able to afford turf removal or water-saving upgrades. -
More than half of sales through September have been to corporate developers. Grassroots community efforts continue to work to combat the trend.
Best of LAist