“Wherever I travel, food is my ambassador. It opens difficult doors and helps me make lifelong friendships,” says Karen Anand, food writer and restaurant consultant.
Sustaining that warmth of friendship, the Glenburn Culture Club presents an exclusive sit-down dinner curated by Karen Anand, featuring recipes inspired by her recent book Masala Memsahib. Mark your calendars for the event on Friday, September 8, at 7pm, to be hosted at the discreet and elegant Glenburn Penthouse residence atop Kanak Towers on Russel Street.
Released in November 2022, Anand’s book Masala Memsahib is an easy guide through the flavours of India for anyone ready to experiment. In the prologue, she muses, “Masala Memsahib is a collection of my favourite home-style recipes from India, steeped in tradition, some hidden secrets and some twists — they span my journeys through this vast country over the last 35 years. Some of the recipes have been shared with me by great chefs and friends, others by homemakers, some were written on the back of a napkin, others over messaging apps and most were verbal.”
The sit-down dinner at the Glenburn Penthouse promises a six-course affair, catering to both vegetarians and non-vegetarians. Anand, who humorously dubs herself a “fiend with the frying pan”, will touch down in the city to put together the “inspired Indian food” experience for a limited number of guests.
Karen Anand’s version of the Gujarati Makai nu Shaak
The spread includes Anand’s version of the Gujarati Makai nu Shaak, chunky cobs of corn swimming in a pool of silky-smooth coconut curry, served with rice. Also gracing the menu is the Fresh Shiitake Mushrooms in Goa curry sauce and Pork Jeere Meere - braised pork belly seasoned with cumin and pepper. The latter recipe was generously shared for the book by Corinne Miranda, a former Air India crew member who once managed a Goan home-style eatery in Candolim. “The distinctive flavour of this dish is attributed to the unique Goan chillies and pepper,” shares Karen.
“I’ve abstained from including any Kolkata dishes because I feel people would like a taste of something diverse and different, spanning Gujarat (the Fajeto) to Kerala (Mutton Pepper Fry),” she explains. Though the Betel Leaf Appetiser comes close, given Kolkata’s love for paan. It comes with a tamarind and nolen gur chutney.
Betel Leaf Appetiser with a tamarind and nolen gur chutney, and (right) Kerala Mutton Pepper Fry
“I think Glenburn is a beautiful place and lends itself to this kind of elegant sit-down experience with inspired Indian food,” said Karen, who also conducts culinary tours, the next one set to happen in Uzbekistan and the ancient Silk Route in October.
“We are thrilled to have Karen grace the Glenburn Culture Club, providing a culinary window into her travels. Glenburn’s strong association with both travel and food makes this collab a perfect match,” said Husna-Tara Prakash, the owner of Glenburn Hospitality, credited with having been instrumental in creating the idea of the Glenburn Culture Club.
Finally, bridging the narrative with Glenburn’s tea estate heritage, the grand finale (read dessert!) will be the Glenburn White Tea Panna Cotta.
Pocket pinch: Dinner with a signed copy of the book (Rs 5,500), only dinner (Rs 4,500)
Reservation: To book a table, call Subhankar (+91 9088711001)
