A beautiful journey that commenced in 2010 with a novice cook sharing a recipe for 'Dalma' on her blog crosses the first major milestone. On 27th November 2023, my debut book "Beyond Dalma: A Holistic Foray Into Odia Food" was launched online on Amazon and Notion Press. It attempts to capture the 'recipes of the soil' that are woven into the tapestry of various festivals and fasts that dot the calendar year. For those familiar with the Odia saying 'Bara masa te tera parba', this book very succinctly depicts the Odia months, and interrelates them with the accompanying seasonal transitions and eating habits.
Links - https://amzn.eu/d/c1a485m , https://notionpress.com/read/beyond-dalma, https://shorturl.at/cwCNQ
Here is the blurb of the book -
The
food on our plates has always been inextricably linked to the agricultural
cycle. The numerous festivals and rituals that crop up on the Odia calendar (or
Panji) with unfailing regularity, inevitably extend clues to eat what’s best in
the season. This book takes one through the never-ending cycle of pray, eat and
repeat while delving into the intricacies of the interrelationships between the
agrarian calendar, the festivals observed in the various parts of the state of
Odisha and the changing seasons.
Beyond
Dalma attempts to focus on the similarities
rather than the diversities of the Odia cuisine which itself is an interesting
amalgamation of various micro-cuisines that have evolved independently, shaped
by diverse stimuli for the better part of history. At the same time, one cannot
discount that dynamic exchanges among various micro-culinary traditions have
always occurred due to a multitude of reasons ranging from trade to migrations
to even marriages. The resulting culinary legacy is one that can be best
described as a curious interplay between heterogeneity and homogeneity. The
recipes are carefully selected keeping the focus on the seasonal aspects of the
cuisine rather than emphasizing the regional aspects. However, a mild
proclivity towards Western Odisha may be discernible at times as the author has
spent a substantial part of her life in that region.
The
recipes are curated based on local and seasonal produce, and designed to help
one adhere to a sustainable, low-carbon footprint lifestyle that is
harmoniously aligned with mother nature’s basket rather than the supermarket
shelves.
Happy reading !!
