JOIN USTo get a taste of the charming old world of Whitefield, a culinary event called ‘Chronicles of Whitefield’, was organised by Vivanta by Taj, Whitefield, recently.
The executive head chef, Arzooman Irani’s interest in cuisines and time travel culminated in the event.
Curious to know about Whitefield, he had asked the residents about its past and how well the place has adjusted through the changes. However, he was unable to find concrete answers.
“During my research, I chanced upon the Middletons couple, who welcomed me warmly and handed me down a recipe, which was written over a 100 years ago by the lady’s grandfather Harry Blake. He was one of the original settlers of Whitefield. We have cooked the cuisines from the book today and this is our tribute to the Anglo-Indian settlement,” he said.
The home-style, four-course vintage menu included delightful dishes and beverages such as ginger wine, ‘mulligatawny soup’, chicken-pepper soup, Harry’s fish curry, ‘pulli’ beef, coconut pudding and mango marmalade.
“All the items are made from simple, local ingredients but involve foreign cooking techniques. It is an amalgamation of classic and modern recipes.” he says.
Irani views the change in the area as positive and negative. “We have better roads and better infrastructure today, which is important in a globalised economy but we still have to be aware of our colonial history. This is one such event that will help peek into that past.”
The evening started with a presentation on the history of Whitefield and photographs of its colonial buildings. The highlight was the unveiling of the recipe book. The ace mixologist Pedro introduced a host of cocktails that stood testimony to the colonial hangover the residents were reeling under.
The Tango room was packed with people, savouring the authentic meal and colonial remanents. Sydney Smith, a member of the Whitefield Club, said that this small town has undergone a massive change.
“The area has exploded and though we have got lots of facilities like shopping malls, better roads and bigger infrastructure, the progress is not properly organised. We miss the old heritage and atmosphere.”
Girija, another member, said that the idea of presenting the exotic cuisines was indeed a trip down the bygone era. However, the strongest emotions about change came from an old couple, Maggi and Glen, who spoke of their frustration amidst the claustrophobia in Whitefield.
“Our memories of Whitefield is of a lovely little, quaint town — a pensioner’s paradise. We were a close-knit community, where everyone knew and helped each other.
The current rate of development is taking place upwards where people are interested in building multi-storeys and skyscrapers, and not outwards.
This progress is very hotch-potch.” Glen shares the same sentiments as he angrily remembers a church being razed down to widen a road. “We were a knitted community who we could call on at anytime. Now, it is only the financial bonds that have value and not friendships.”
The evening ended with a band playing songs that were an ode to the Anglo-Indian community, the best being the classic, ‘Country Roads, Take Me Home’.