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Cider, coconuts and infamy
Robert Rees
Robert is almost at the end of his Indian idyll


Last updated: 10 December 2003 0941 GMT
lineRobert Rees finds that everyone has suddenly heard of Gloucestershire. But it's not the kind of county fame he was hoping for.
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» Read Robert's eighth diary entry

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Diary entry - December 07, 2003

Sunday lunch in Bangalore!

The Gloucestershire produce has still not arrived - but I have been told that if we make contact with the 'right man' it should be with me on Tuesday. Oh really!

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Wow they came in droves for Sunday lunch. Creeping and crawling from all the cracks and crevices of Bangalore in order to indulge in the likes of classically cooked roast dinners and one or two things prepared with a twist.quote
Robert Rees

However, the word is out in Bangalore - the English Chef is in town. Wow they came in droves for Sunday lunch. Creeping and crawling from all the cracks and crevices of Bangalore in order to indulge in the likes of classically cooked roast dinners and one or two things prepared with a twist.

It was like the story of the Pied Piper - a constant stream of guests that quite frankly I wasn’t prepared for. Thanks to the excellent efforts of Yogi and Monoj (my two chefs) we got through it, kept the punters entertained and presented food to be proud of.

The two Chefs are a great laugh. Indian names have meanings so deep and powerful that I feel quite inadequate with my boring Rob. King of the heart and his friend, named after a distant province, are worth their weight in gold leaf.

Record takings

On talking with the Food and Beverage staff it looks like today has been a record taking for the hotel. I know that this was also the case in Delhi on two days during my festival there. That must signal to those involved in food production that here is a market for British ingredients that needs exploiting.

If it's not the Indians then certainly the amazingly high numbers of expats are demanding a little taste of home. The expats here are extremely affluent and often command positions of authority.

There is no denying the fact that they will certainly pay a premium for the produce we sell at Farmers Markets in Gloucestershire. Currently we ship bottle loads of whiskey out here - I feel we should begin to deliver more.

Indu and Alakander from the High Commission are after Cider. The Indian woman’s attitude to work and socializing is changing. They do not want whiskey or kingfisher beer- they want to try ciders, presses and other crisp drinks.

Despite a stomach that is going through all kinds of acrobatics at the moment I have continued to do the polite thing and taste many Indian items. Some are great others foul.

Coconuts

Here in Bangalore they have a lot of coconut water. Yes - water, not milk. It is produced from the natural rainwater and tree sap that surrounds the inside of the coconut as it starts to grow. The coconuts are then picked early before they get their hard outer skin and the water is drained off for drinking.

I am told it cools the body on hot days and settles the stomach (hence my indulgence). It has a subtle sweetness and delicate coconut flavor. In the evenings it is mixed with a shot of gin or vodka.

quote
Everyone I have speak to here now knows Gloucestershire. They are all saying: "Gloucestershire - I know it. Isn’t that where the terrorist suspect has just been found - it can't be very safe."
quote
Robert Rees

Bangalore has a more balanced year-round climate than Delhi and is therefore excellent for fruit and vegetable production. However, when I walked into the big refrigerator I didn’t realize there would be so much I had never seen before. There were squashes of the weirdest shapes and colors including a snake squash that was particularly interesting.

The vegetables come in all shapes and sizes including some that you wouldn’t wish to come across on a dark night. They have thorns, spikes, pungent aromas and I am sure I even heard something growling at me.

Despite Bangalore being the Silicon Valley of India it is still proud of its food heritage and style. They use far hotter spices with the addition of coconut clearly differentiating it from the north with its stark but equally exciting cuisine.

So I think that is to be my busiest weekend over with. I estimate only 2000 or so meals to go in the next six days.

Media spin

Everyone I have speak to here now knows Gloucestershire. They are all saying: "Gloucestershire - I know it. Isn’t that where the terrorist suspect has just been found - it can't be very safe."

Strange how the world media can put a spin on things!

I describe the Five Valleys and our beautiful county to reassure them but the world has gone crazy and we are so quick to judge and presume.

My time here has taught me so much about myself and others that I hope to return a better man.

by Robert Rees

» Read Robert's first diary entry
» Read Robert's second diary entry

» Read Robert's third diary entry

» Read Robert's fourth diary entry
» Read Robert's fifth diary entry
» Read Robert's sixth diary entry
» Read Robert's seventh diary entry
» Read Robert's eighth diary entry

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