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Mr Todiwala's Bombay

9th November 2013 By Urvashi Roe Leave a Comment

I have a love hate relationship with Bombay.  (Yes I know I should say Mumbai but it’s always going to be Bombay to me).  The first time I visited I was terrified!  I was eight years old and there was simply too much hustle and bustle for my little head to cope with.  The second time I was sick so I really don’t remember much but it was a visit in my early thirties that made me love this place.  My memories are filled with traffic and noise and temples on street corners.  I can still see the street hawkers, rickshaws and grand British architecture.  Most of all I can smell the pau bhaji and taste the mango kulfi on Juhu Beach Road.  Everywhere there are people selling food, cooking food and eating food.  It’s just one of those places where you want to pop into someone’s kitchen and take a seat.

So I was really happy when I was sent this book.  Reading it is like being transported back to Bombay.  Back in time almost but also it’s been a chance to get to know Cyrus Todiwala a little better.  I’ve met him a few times now and he’s passionate, hard working and absolutely humble about his success.  He is also a real advocate not only of Indian food but of the restaurant and catering profession supporting many, many causes here in the UK to help the aspiring ones get a step on the ladder.

Mr Todiwala's Bombay

Image courtesy Hardie Grant

I loved his memories of childhood, tales of catering college and most of all his enterprising spirit.  In Bombay there is an entrepreneurial spirit like no where I’ve ever experienced before.  Wheeling and dealing is spontaneous and there is an idea around every corner.  I could almost see Cyrus walking around looking at the orange juice sellers eyeing up the thrown away peel, stroking his beard and having the ah -ha moment to make and sell candied peel.  There is no wastage in India least of all Bombay.

You will learn a lot about India, Indian culture and most of all the mish mash of food that is so unique to Bombay.  Cyrus incorporates recipes from his family but also the many different types of neighbours that live side by side with little dispute.  You will not have heard of many of these dishes.  Don’t expect kormas and bhunas or sag aloo and aloo tikki.  This is not your average restaurant food.

The book itself is easy to follow though I did find the writing rather small.  The photography is stunning and I am so envious of Helen Cathcart to have the opportunity to shoot the wonderful street scenes.  She has a fabulous eye that makes this as much a travel journal as a recipe book.

Image source: Charlotte Heal : www.charlotteheal.com

The recipes are divided into Snacks, Seafood, Meat and Poultry, Vegetables, Street Food, Breads and Rice, Pickles and Chutneys, Desserts and Drinks.  I found something new in each one and I have been cooking Indian food for over 20 years.   I made Bhareli Bhindi which is Okra stuffed with coconut and spices as I am a huge fan of this vegetable and always looking for different ways to cook it. I had this with a light salad and a glass of white wine for supper.  Indian food doesn’t always have to be a massive three course affair.

Stuffed Okra with Coconut

Stuffed Okra with Coconut

I had a lot of the stuffing left so I used it up in tomatoes the next day.

Tomatoes with coconut and masala stuffing

Tomatoes Stuffed with leftover coconut masala

Pooris are one of my favourite foods ever.  On the overnight train from Bombay to Rajkot, my paternal grandfather’s village, we always picked the carriage that would pull up in Ahmedabad next to the poori stall.  There is nothing better than poori, chai and pickles for breakfast.  Poori are a fried chappati of sorts and the dough varies enormously.  I use turmeric and ajowan seeds in my traditional Gujarati version but Cyrus shares his wife Pervin’s recipe which has neither but green chillies, fresh coriander, crushed pomegranate seeds and cumin instead.

Masala Poori Puri

Crispy Pooris – the perfect breakfast

There are many more recipes I would like to try.  Gajjar Achar – Carrot Pickle, Parsee Semolina Pudding – Doodh No Rawo, Bombay Caramel Pudding which has the wonderful name of Lagan Nu Cushtarr as it’s part and parcel of a Parsee wedding.

There are more recipes from my fellow foodies below as this book has travelled the UK this week.  Do pop by and take a look.

And you can also win a copy.  To enter simply send an email to stephanievizard@hardiegrant.co.uk by tomorrow, Sunday 10th November, UK residents only.  Thank you to Hardie Grant for my complementary copy.

Related articles
  • The Spice Scribe – Mr Todiwala’s brand new book: Bombay, or bust?
  • Belleau Kitchen – Bombay Cauliflower and Broccolli
  • Rachel Phipps – Indian Spiced Potatoes
  • NR11 Cookbook Corner – 60 seconds with Cyrus and Spiced Onion Fritters
  • Salad and Sequins – Masala Lassi

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Filed Under: Books Tagged With: baking, bombay, Cyrus Todiwala, food, Indian cuisine, Mumbai, okra, recipes

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. jo hutchinson says

    9th November 2013 at 11:31 am

    great recipes, thank you for sharing

    Reply
    • Urvashi Roe says

      9th November 2013 at 11:45 am

      Pleasure. Thanks for stopping by 🙂

      Reply
  2. Ann Koplow says

    9th November 2013 at 12:42 pm

    Wonderful post. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Urvashi Roe says

      9th November 2013 at 1:52 pm

      A pleasure 🙂

      Reply
  3. Sally says

    9th November 2013 at 6:13 pm

    Firmly on my wish list. I’m taking the plunge and finally going to India in the new year. Not Bombay (Mumbai) but this has stoked the excitement.

    Reply
    • Urvashi Roe says

      9th November 2013 at 7:02 pm

      So exciting. Where are you going?

      Reply
  4. Dom says

    9th November 2013 at 8:39 pm

    Excellent roundup for the tour. Well done. Gorgeous gorgeous okra and fab and personal review.

    Reply
    • Urvashi Roe says

      9th November 2013 at 8:42 pm

      Thank you lovely x

      Reply
  5. thespicescribe says

    10th November 2013 at 7:37 pm

    Love Helen’s photography too – but judging by your snaps here, you might just be the one getting a call from Cyrus yourself next time round… ; )

    Reply
    • Urvashi Roe says

      10th November 2013 at 7:38 pm

      Oh you so flatter me my lovely! That would be a dream come true! xx

      Reply
  6. andreamynard says

    10th November 2013 at 8:40 pm

    Lovely review, the book sounds brilliant. Have only visited Kerala in India (absolutely loved it, the food was wonderful) but this looks amazing as do those Pooris.

    Reply
    • Urvashi Roe says

      10th November 2013 at 8:43 pm

      Oh I love love love Kerala. I must write up my experiences. So many photos and so much opportunity to learn about food and how precious it all is

      Reply
  7. thegardendeli says

    10th November 2013 at 9:51 pm

    I tried pooris for the first time this week – with coriander chutney and a fiery hot sauce that looked like water, very deceiving! They were fabulous though, and the kids loved them too… although my daughter asked not to have too much of the sauce after she’d tried it once! The book sounds like a treasure trove of interesting recipes – I’ll be looking out for it next time I’m at the book shop.

    Reply
    • Urvashi Roe says

      10th November 2013 at 10:07 pm

      Oh I do love poori. I love the way they puff up when you dunk them in the oil! Try them with plain yoghurt that has some salt and red chilli powder. That’s my childhood breakfast.

      Reply

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Hi I'm Urvashi!

I love food. This blog is a little glimpse into my foodie world which is an escape from two teenage girls, a busy job and my little cafe.

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