Oi Chilli Chicken!

I love Chinese food. I do not know how the addiction began but Chinese food makes me salivate almost similar in the way I salivate when I see... ummm forget it. Lets just keep it to "it makes me salivate". I love all types of Chinese food, right from food prepared in posh, swanky over-priced restaurants to the roadside "laal-dabbas" run mostly always by Nepali guys (I don't know if it increases the authenticity of the claim that the food is Chinese). There have been times when I have been told that a particular restaurant serves authentic Chinese food but I have no way of verifying that. The only way I could do that is either

• Visit China and eat Chinese food there (ofcourse there it would be just food :P )
• Tag along with a group of Chinese who certifies that the food served is authentic Chinese

Unfortunately none of the above 2 has happened yet. It has obviously been told repeatedly that the version we get here is heavily Indianized to suit our taste but seriously speaking, I have no complaints.

It is a funny coincidence that most of my Bong friends love Chinese food. It is a possibility that its an anamoly in my group of friends but if you are reading this, then just think about it. Does your Bong friend's eyes light up everytime you say Chilli Chicken? Does his words come with a "slurrrp" sound when you tell him that you plan to go for a Triple Schezwan? Have you noticed his involuntary smile when you decide to order Chinese? I think its a fact that a majority of Bongs love Chinese food except maybe 8 or 9 guys who became a PETA member and turned vegetarian and then realized Chinese food no longer tastes that great.

I am not sure why this liking for Chinese food has developed among Bongs. Maybe its the proximity, maybe its the Chinese influx or maybe its the deep connection we have with the Reds. It was a great idea to be inspired by the Chinese and import their food and communism (ok ok I agree there were various other sources of influence for communism to enter the hearts and minds of Bongs). Now I personally do not have anything against communism, but then again we Indians like to Indianize any sort of import. I think we should have kept the Indianization limited to the food and left the Communism alone. Take a look at West Bengal and you'll know what it has done to the state. (Supporters of Communism can take my case, I have no objection whatsoever) The food though has definitely been a hit!

I remember, during our college days, I used to indulge a lot in the "Laal-Dabba" Chinese. And I used to make Nicholas and Sameer accompany me. Fortunately for them, these dabbas opened up only in the evenings. There was a high probability that I would have made them eat the same thing for lunch too. Later on after careful discussions, we assigned a particular day in the week for Chinese food. I think it was saturdays. And of course, celebrations naturally meant more of it :D

If the Bongs ever decided to attack the Chinese I am sure that the only thing they would bring back from there would be more recipes. Spoils of war, you may say. Anything else would be morally just wrong! But then such is the initmate relation of a Bong and his food, specially Chinese.