When Tate opened the door of the Bengal Tiger Indian restaurant, wafts of turmeric and coriander delighted his senses. He spied his mother sitting in one of the booths squinting at the menu.
Tate slid into the booth and said, ” Okay what’s up?”
“What kind of a greeting is that? Can’t a mother merely desire to have a late lunch with her only son?”
“Mother, you invited me using your Queen of Hearts command voice. Factoring in my love for Indian food which you don’t share, my suspicions are definitely activated that you have something up your designer dress sleeve which involves me and I’m not going to like it.”
” Tate Edward don’t be silly,” his mother said picking up her menu once again. “One never knows what to order in places like this. All I want is a simple salad.”
“Your cover is blown now,” said Tate. “You used my full name, which is reserved for situations I don’t normally relish.”
A waitress dressed in a turquoise and silver sari gracefully glided over to the booth with a pad in her hand. “What would you like to order?”
” I’ll have a Kalyani Black Label to drink, and an order of Saag Paneer and garlic naan,” said Tate.
“That is a very good choice sir, because we make our own paneer,” said the waitress. ” Ma.am?”
“I just want a simple salad. Is that possible in a place like this?”
The waitress raised one eyebrow before answering, “In a place like this we have a green salad of baby mustard greens, peas and asparagus with a light dressing of lemon, olive oil and garlic. Would that suit you?”
“That will do. Thank you.”
When the beer arrived Tate took a long sip and said, “Okay lay it on me whatever it is. So I can say no and get it over with before our food arrives.”
His mother fidgeted with her fork for a minute and then said, ” You know I’m the chair woman of the big annual fund raiser for the children’s hospital.”
“Yes,” said Tate. ” I dutifully purchased two tickets and gave them to my secretary. You know I dislike functions like that.”
“This year we are having a bachelor auction.”
“That underscores another reason why I wouldn’t go. I feel sorry for those poor suckers who got roped into doing a gig like that. What guy in his right mind would want to be paraded around and sold to some hoity toity half looped woman? Those guys are either desperate or suffered some unholy pressure.”
His mother said nothing, merely looked at him beseechingly.
“Oh no,” said Tate. “No, no, no and no again. Out of the question. Completely, utterly out of the question.”
“I’m desperate. Margaret Beechum’s son fell and broke his ankle.”
“Yeah on purpose, so he wouldn’t have to do it,” said Tate.
“The function starts in six hours. I’m at the end of the road to find a replacement. What is the problem with spending one evening on a date with someone for a good cause? Think of the children and not your fragile ego.”
“That’s a low blow, Mom. But he knew she was reminding him of what a important life saving role the hospital had played in regard to his nephew.”
“Okay,” Tate said dropping his head into his hands. “But don’t expect me to pay for lunch. I have to draw a line in the sand somewhere in our relationship.”
You definitely want to check out Amy’s post. She really did make the paneer—-can you believe it. The photos and the instructions are most excellent.
http://savorymomentsblog.
”
Amy (Savory Moments) says
Just a simple salad at an Indian restaurant that makes homemade Paneer?! She’s crazy haha!
Thanks for the kind words – making Paneer is pretty fun (and delicious)!
Carol says
Yep, you picked up on what I was trying to convey. And what Tate knows too. Mom has NO appreciation for Indian
food. She was definitely up to something!
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl says
Haha, I loved that story. Also you had me giggling at ” Queen of Hearts command voice”.
Carol says
Thank you Pamela. It’s an extra delicious story because it’s loosely based on a true one.
Allie | Baking a Moment says
Love this! You have such a talent for weaving delicious recipes into your stories, Carol!
Carol says
Thank you. It is SO much fun. Maybe you might be interested in ‘playing along’ with me some time. You certainly have some delicious
recipes to stimulate the story part of my brain. Smiles——
John@Kitchen Riffs says
Really, really funny. Thanks.
Carol says
I suspect you might identify with my reluctant hero’s situation. Ha!
addie | culicurious says
This must be heading somewhere fun…. 🙂 I already like this mother character – sneaky!!
Carol says
Mom is certainly multi-faceted! Not liking Indian food doesn’t get her any points in my book. But
she is doing good work chairing a fund raiser for children’s hospital.
addie | culicurious says
Clearly she’s a complex woman 😉
Carol says
Aren’t we all.
marcie says
Moms can be so conniving! (not me). 🙂 Love the story, and homemade paneer is amazing!
Carol says
My sons see right through me these days. So my manipulation skills are atrophying. Ha!
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says
You have to write a book!! Love your sense of humor 😀
Carol says
Thank you. Right now I am having MAJOR blast with combining two of my passions—writing and food.
Stacy | Wicked Good Kitchen says
Hahaha! Moms! Carol, I thoroughly enjoyed reading part 2. You really hooked me with, “Queen of Hearts command voice.” LOL! I would have sworn (sworn!) that Nora Ephron wrote that line of dialogue. 🙂 (Loved/love her!) Anyway, this brand of humor is aces in my book. I hope you continue your food writing in this style from time to time (the more the better for me!) as you move forward with your blog. You are very talented, m’lady. And, I look forward to more serials from you. Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful weekend!
Carol says
Thank you Stacy. I love writing in serial form and framing it around food. Food is actually a ‘character’ in our lives and a character in every story. Just not a mentioned character. This is the 3rd serial I’ve done. I did an 8 or 9 part one this past early fall. Your encouragement went straight to my heart. Again thank you.
Christin@SpicySouthernKitchen says
Not liking Indian food doesn’t get her any points in my book either. I’m all about the Indian food! Amy’s paneer looks magnificent!
Carol says
You and I have a seat on the same aero plane about that.