Good Morning, dear readers! A Sunday in January was invariably spent at the club attending a games do. Some people played, some watched, some spent their time catching up with friends, and everyone enjoyed the delicious lunch and tea that the memsaabs served up! Thank you, Gumi Malhotra, for inviting us all to your club today! - Gowri
Club days provided planters the much needed break to play a round of golf, a few sets of tennis, a swim if you were lucky enough to have a functional pool in the club, and a hearty high tea which culminated in higher spirits at the bar.There was a roster system in place whereby each member hosted the tea on games day. If it was a Saturday club night, a garden would give the dinner. During the AGM, a lady catering member was appointed who saw to the equal distribution of duties during the winter club meets. For instance, “ Her husband plays golf, she can do the breakfast for the golfers”!
I came to the gardens without any culinary prowess and once got a catering slip along with a printed recipe for dahi bhallas! A subtle nudge to do the right thing in the right way! I wish I had kept that note, the recipe was good.
Another example of the grace of a lady member was when I made a chocolate pudding that ran out in minutes! Instead of a chide she said, “It was so good Gumi, everyone took three and four helpings”!
Tea ladies were a supportive force for each other but that extra ‘jhaal’ to the catering conversation did go like this, “ The non veg was given to her and not to me!” ( which might mean less confidence in her ability), “I’m always given the Kali daal” and the most whispered, “That did not look like 3kg chicken”!
Come Club day and all these muttering were put aside, the tables were done up with blooms fresh from the garden, bright checked table cloths and laden with the most delicious food. The gracious ladies in their finery and pretty smiles displaying none of the harried hurried moments of backstage kitchen drama!
Meet the writer: Gumi Malhotra
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| Gumi Malhotra |
Hello chai people, here’s another attempt to pen down one of the million memories I carry with me. We came away twelve years ago with our hearts full ( not so much the pocket) of such nuggets. We live in Bangalore now and what started as a hobby in the gardens has become my calling. I paint pet portraits. The happiest days spent in tea were in the Jali kamra with my paints, the boys occupied with make believe cars and a steady stream of tea flowing from the kitchen. Cheers!
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My name is Gowri Mohanakrishnan and I'm a tea planter's wife. I started this blog because one of the things that I wouldn't want us to lose in a fast changing world is the tea story - a story always told with great seriousness, no matter how funny - always true (always) - maybe a tall tale, maybe long, short, impossible, scary, funny or exciting but never dull. You will find yourself transported to another world!
This is the link to all the stories on this blog: https://teastorytellers.blogspot.com/
Be sure to add it to your list of favourites! Happy reading!! Cheers to the spirit of Indian tea!