Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: How to Eat Gulab Jamun

The consequences of COVID Pandemic – Lockdowns, Curfews, Stay-Home due to COVID Phobia, Fear of Eating Out – even fear of going out to crowded places etc – all this has put an end to my food walks for over one year since March 2020.

And just when we thought that things were becoming normal again – the Second Wave of COVID has engulfed us – with even stricter lockdowns, curfews and restrictions.

So – the only thing I can do is to reminisce about my delicious food walks in my imagination – and relive them in my mind's eye – like this one – in Mumbai – 21 years ago...

How to Eat Gulab Jamun by Vikram Karve

Every time I embark on a Food-Walk (which happens almost every evening) – I search for good food.

For the last few days I am searching for a good Gulab Jamun.

But – sadly – I have not found even one place in Pune where you get top class Gulab Jamuns.

I am craving for a succulent juicy Gulab Jamun.

So – let me delve deep into my Foodie Archives – and pull out for you this Mouthwatering Gulab Jamun Memory.

This is probably my first Foodie Blog Post and features in my book of Foodie Adventures APPETITE FOR A STROLL

I wrote story this 21 years ago – in the year 2000 – after relishing some delicious Gulab Jamuns.

Read on and Enjoy Your Gulab Jamun.

Gulab Jamun

HOW TO EAT GULAB JAMUN

Musings on The Art of Eating

By
VIKRAM KARVE

I spent six the best years of my life – from 2000 to 2006 – in Mumbai.

I lived in a wonderful building called Empress Court opposite the Oval near Churchgate.

Every evening I went on long walks – mostly on Marine Drive to Chowpatty and back – and sometimes towards Colaba.

The highlight of my Colaba Causeway walk was a visit to “Kailash Parbat” for their succulent Gulab Jamuns.

I wrote this mouthwatering foodie memoir in the year 2000 – immediately after I returned after relishing Gulab Jamuns at Kailash Parbat in Colaba in Mumbai – while the taste of the delicious delicacy still lingered on my tongue.

Even now – I can visualize those delicious soft succulent juicy tempting hot Gulab Jamuns and my mouth waters in anticipation.

Sadly – I am in Pune– and hence I will have to relish those sumptuous Gulab Jamuns in my imagination.

So – Dear Reader – let me recall one of my first lip smacking blog posts – a mouthwatering Mumbai memory – written more than 21 years ago on: HOW TO EAT A GULAB JAMUN

ART OF EATING

The Art of Eating comprises 3 cardinal steps:

1. First – you come to know about good food

You hear from someone about a a good foodie place and its signature dish – you read about it somewhere – or come across it while browsing the internet – or from TV – or while watching a foodie show on TV – or read a food review on the media – or from a foodie group on the social media – or even from a menu card dropped in your home along with your newspaper.

2. Next – you go there and observe people eating

Yes – you go to the foodie place and observe foodies relishing the delectable cuisine you have heard about so much – and you see the way they are eating and enjoying themselves.

You watch the heavenly expression of divine pleasure on their faces.

This tempts you to taste and savor the cuisine yourself.

3. Then – you actually order the food and eat it

Yes – you order the dish of your dreams – which you have been yearning for so much – and delicately put a piece of the yummy food in your mouth – and experience the pleasures of eating the delicacy – firsthand.

HOW TO EAT GULAB JAMUN

One evening I suddenly feel an urge – a craving – a desperate sort of yearning – for my favourite sweet – GULAB JAMUN.

I believe that if you want to be happy – you must fulfill any feasible and viable desire – at once – here and now.

So – I put on my walking shoes – I cross the Oval as the Rajabai Tower Clock is striking 6 o’clock.

I turn right at the Mumbai University gate – and then I turn left – and I walk towards Kalaghoda.

At Kalaghoda – I turn right towards Colaba Causeway – which is a Foodies Delight – and soon – I reach my destination – Kailash Parbat – at the southern end of Colaba Causeway.

I have heard from my friends that Kailash Parbat is the best place in Mumbai for Gulab Jamuns.

I have enjoyed delectable Gulab Jamuns at many places in India – at Panchkuian Road in Delhi (on the way from CP to Karol Bagh) – at the inimitable Pehelwan Halwai/Doodhwala at the end of Lanka in Banaras (Varanasi) – and even in a place called Dumka – in the back of the beyond – located – in what is now Jharkhand (then Bihar).

Now – among the people eating Gulab Jamun at Kailash Parbat – I see a veteran – a true connoisseur – relishing delicious piping hot soft succulent juicy Gulab Jamuns with such satisfaction – that I go to the counter – and order a plate of Gulab Jamuns myself.

I look endearingly at the hot mouth-watering Gulab Jamuns dunked in a liberal amount of thick syrup.

Sadly – I do not take a picture – since there were no smartphones those days – but – I will post a few pictures of Gulab Jamuns from the internet below – for you to drool over.

The Gulab Jamuns are nice – juicy soft and hot.

Gulab Jamuns must be eaten hot.

The Gulab Jamuns are very soft and juicy.

I spoon a small luscious piece of the Gulab Jamun – and I place it delicately on my tongue.

I close my eyes to enhance the quality of the gustatory experience.

Whenever you want to enjoy good food – just close your eyes – focus all your attention on your tongue – and notice the feeling.

I just leave that succulent Gulab Jamun piece on my tongue for a while – and let the hot sweet viscous syrup permeate deep into my taste-buds.

Then – I gently roll my tongue – and the Gulab Jamun disintegrates.

You must never chew Gulab Jamun.

You must just keep the Gulab Jamun on your tongue – and let it melt in your mouth.

The delicious Gulab Jamun dissolves and melts in my mouth – releasing its delicious cardamom tinged flavor – and its soothing rose fragrance within me.

I eat slowly – deliberately – eyes closed – savoring every moment – relishing the divine taste – prolonging the heavenly experience its epicurean delight of the highest order.

As I walk back home in state of supreme bliss – the lingering taste of the delicious Gulab Jamun remains within me for a long long time.

Even now as I write this – I can almost sense the delicious taste and enchanting fragrance of the heavenly Gulab Jamun.

And my mouth begins to water...!!!

But alas – I am in Pune right now – and I am yearning and craving for a hot syrupy juicy succulent heavenly sweet Gulab Jamun.

Dear Reader:

Do tell us about your favorite Gulab Jamun – where you get it – and how you eat it.

Wish you Happy Gulab Jamun Eating...!!!

VIKRAM KARVE

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