What Amazon,
Flipkart and a few others have done to online shopping, Swiggy, Zomato, Uber
eats and others have done for the way we order, ready to eat food. A
service very popular among the younger
generation. No problem entertaining
guests who make sudden visits or
even invited visits during meal times; with cuisines of their choice- Chinese, Punjabi, South Indian, Continental or even a`Combo`. All supplied at
your doorstep within 30 to 45 minutes of ordering online.
The
other day we got a call that a few relatives were dropping in to see my resident grandson.It was nearing dinner time. As a person who believes in entertaining
guests to home cooked meals, I was wondering what to do. My son told me. `
Don`t worry, Appa. I will order food on Swiggy. Instead of wasting our time in
the kitchen, we can spend it talking to the guests`. When I was concerned about
laying the table and getting the serving bowls ready, he assured me that all
the items come packed neatly in ready to serve containers. All that we have to
keep on the table are dinner plates, spoons
, forks and a few serving spoons. It is
that simple .
My
mind travelled back to the times when I would
host friends for dinner at home.
My wife was good at cooking meals
for even 20 to 30 people. On the day of the dinner the preparations would start
from early morning. We would plan the menu based on which I would buy the
vegetables and other items. It was my
responsibility to lay the table, get all the crockeries and other items cleaned
and arranged neatly on the table- generally keep the house ready for receiving
the guests while my wife would be busy in the kitchen. When it was dinner time,
I would also help in filling up the cooked items in serving bowls and ensure
refills regularly as the dinner progressed. I was not an MCP like most of the
husbands of my time were but a 50:50 partner who believed in extending whatever
help I could to my wife. Though it was
physically challenging, I used to enjoy what I was doing. At the end of
the evening when guests left after thoroughly enjoying a delicious home cooked
meal and praised us for the love and affection with which it was served, our day was made. My wife, who would
initially grumble about having to cook for so many people would be happy at the
end of the day because of the appreciation she received from the guests. We felt that all the hard
work had paid off.
As
we were growing older and our physical energy diminishing, we tried ordering
food from outside but we were not
satisfied. We felt that our personal touch was lacking. We tried combining a
few home cooked items with some items bought from outside. Since the passing
away of my wife a few years ago, this is what I do whenever I decide to host
High tea or dinner for friends. I
ensure a couple of home cooked items on
the table during such get-togethers. This makes the guests happy. I feel happy
when I see them happy. The satisfaction that one gets in serving home cooked
meals can never be matched by the impersonal act of hosting guests for meals
using Swiggy or any such service.
The stressed out younger generation with its
own priorities may not agree with me.
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