Only for my awesome Indians

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m South Indian and know a large group of aunties and uncles who are also immigrants from South India. Most of them drink alcohol. Aunties love margaritas, sangria and wine (though some only like sweet wines, some only red etc) and uncles love whiskey. Most of them like chaat, and standard North Indian fare like dal makhani and butter paneer. Some of them don’t like garlic so I’d use it sparingly so that it doesn’t dominate. Many of them don’t eat mushrooms.
I’ve been to many of their parties and have noticed that most of them don’t know how to make good chai either as South Indians are primarily coffee drinkers.

Yes!
Aunties drinking margaritas make me laugh.

Where can you get good South Indian coffee around the DMV?

Only in people’s homes as far as I know! You need the traditional metal filter for it to be just right, as well as two stainless steel tumblers to hand-froth the milk. I brew my own using Colombian whole bean coffee that I get at Costco. I grind it fresh for each batch and use whole milk. I don’t add sugar because I don’t like it (heresy I know!) but it’s awesome! Good coffee is easy to come by in this area, but the brewing method makes all the difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree with others - find out about food restrictions and otherwise do what you're good at. Agree on avoiding too much garlic.

What are you talking about? Garlic and ginger are the basis of most South Indian cooking.

Ginger, yes, but not garlic. Many orthodox South Indians don’t eat onion or garlic.

I am a South Indian. I have no idea what an "orthodox South Indian" is. Garlic is common in all foods except desserts.

+1 . That comment made my eye roll, tbh. If you’re that orthodox, you shouldn’t leave India IMHO.?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m South Indian and know a large group of aunties and uncles who are also immigrants from South India. Most of them drink alcohol. Aunties love margaritas, sangria and wine (though some only like sweet wines, some only red etc) and uncles love whiskey. Most of them like chaat, and standard North Indian fare like dal makhani and butter paneer. Some of them don’t like garlic so I’d use it sparingly so that it doesn’t dominate. Many of them don’t eat mushrooms.
I’ve been to many of their parties and have noticed that most of them don’t know how to make good chai either as South Indians are primarily coffee drinkers.

Yes!
Aunties drinking margaritas make me laugh.

Where can you get good South Indian coffee around the DMV?

Only in people’s homes as far as I know! You need the traditional metal filter for it to be just right, as well as two stainless steel tumblers to hand-froth the milk. I brew my own using Colombian whole bean coffee that I get at Costco. I grind it fresh for each batch and use whole milk. I don’t add sugar because I don’t like it (heresy I know!) but it’s awesome! Good coffee is easy to come by in this area, but the brewing method makes all the difference.

OP just get Nescafé or Bru Instant Coffee from the local Indian store.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m South Indian and know a large group of aunties and uncles who are also immigrants from South India. Most of them drink alcohol. Aunties love margaritas, sangria and wine (though some only like sweet wines, some only red etc) and uncles love whiskey. Most of them like chaat, and standard North Indian fare like dal makhani and butter paneer. Some of them don’t like garlic so I’d use it sparingly so that it doesn’t dominate. Many of them don’t eat mushrooms.
I’ve been to many of their parties and have noticed that most of them don’t know how to make good chai either as South Indians are primarily coffee drinkers.

Yes!
Aunties drinking margaritas make me laugh.

Where can you get good South Indian coffee around the DMV?

Only in people’s homes as far as I know! You need the traditional metal filter for it to be just right, as well as two stainless steel tumblers to hand-froth the milk. I brew my own using Colombian whole bean coffee that I get at Costco. I grind it fresh for each batch and use whole milk. I don’t add sugar because I don’t like it (heresy I know!) but it’s awesome! Good coffee is easy to come by in this area, but the brewing method makes all the difference.

Sounds amazing.

[Anonymous]

I have the stainless steel coffee filters and a set of stainless steel coffee tumblers and bowls for serving. Any decent coffee powder will do. My Indian parents prefer Bru or Cotha's coffee powder. Add coffee powder and boiling hot water to the filter, collect the decoction, mix with very hot milk and sugar and serve in the traditional steel tumbler set. Yum.

[Anonymous]

Kirkland’s columbian roast from Costco in an expresso machine makes for an amazing decoction. We’ve been drinking that for 20 years and it rivals any Indian coffee with or without chicory.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree with others - find out about food restrictions and otherwise do what you're good at. Agree on avoiding too much garlic.

What are you talking about? Garlic and ginger are the basis of most South Indian cooking.

Ginger, yes, but not garlic. Many orthodox South Indians don’t eat onion or garlic.

I am a South Indian. I have no idea what an "orthodox South Indian" is. Garlic is common in all foods except desserts.

+1 . That comment made my eye roll, tbh. If you’re that orthodox, you shouldn’t leave India IMHO.?

I googled orthodox south indian and found a site talking about marriages between Hindus and Jews (or as we call them HinJews).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have the stainless steel coffee filters and a set of stainless steel coffee tumblers and bowls for serving. Any decent coffee powder will do. My Indian parents prefer Bru or Cotha's coffee powder. Add coffee powder and boiling hot water to the filter, collect the decoction, mix with very hot milk and sugar and serve in the traditional steel tumbler set. Yum.

From a South Indian here ... go to Starbucks and order Measto ... it comes close (not there yet) !!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Other than any vegetarian requirement which you already have taken care of, make whatever you are good at. I am South Indian, and don’t expect South Indian food when we get invited. Nothing wrong with offering alcohol. We drink but also know lots that don’t. Nobody will be offended. Also to previous poster, I am from Kerala and people there thrive on chai and not coffee . OP, just offer whatever you like/are comfortable with and don’t stress yourself out

Reviving this thread for help!
This is great advice above.

Here are the things I'm good at cooking:

Lasagna
Chicken pot pie
Many Greek dishes like moussaka and spanakopita
Many soups and stews including butternut squash, barley, lentil
Seasonal things for spring like asparagus with hollandaise

What should I cook? Is a strawberry dessert a good idea?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No to the alcohol

Make whatever North Indian dishes you usually do - Rotis and panneer/okra or bell pepper/potato sabzis are popular in the South. Make some chaat.

When I go to a North Indian friend's house, I would rather eat whatever is their traditional food than the same old food that I know to make.

Lol, most drink alcohol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree with others - find out about food restrictions and otherwise do what you're good at. Agree on avoiding too much garlic.

What are you talking about? Garlic and ginger are the basis of most South Indian cooking.

Ginger, yes, but not garlic. Many orthodox South Indians don’t eat onion or garlic.

AKA Brahmins

[Anonymous]

Booze: Johnny Walker Red for the men.

Coffee: make regular coffee. Add hot/boiled milk 50/50. Pour between two containers to cool somewhat and make the foam. Serve in what you’ve got. Add sugar in advance or let people add their own.

[Anonymous]

My family is South Indian. Family in India does not eat onion/garlic but those here do. I have only met a handful of people here who adhere to that. They would mention it or decline the invite so I don’t think you need to worry about that.

My family considers eggs to be nonveg, which might be different than how you think of it. But you mention that the father eats chicken. Families with a mix of veg and no vegetarians are usually more flexible, in my experience, but might be something to consider.

We drink more of the coffee mentioned above than chai. My family does not drink alcohol but my in laws do. It varies, and I don’t think anyone would be offended if you ask. Maybe have a non-alcoholic option available as well.

The traditional South Indians I know are always excited to find a new vegetarian dish they can eat from a different culture. So some of the examples you give above would be hits wit the people I know. They also love Mexican and Italian foods. They would also be touched, I’m sure, if you tried to make traditional dishes for them.

Good luck and have fun! Sounds like you’re trying to make a good impression.

[Anonymous]

Indians, like most everyone else in America, eat widely and enjoy all cuisines. Each individual has their own personal tastes and preferences...just like everyone else. Aside from your guests being vegetarian, you can treat your friends like any other vegetarian friend you may have over. Some of us enjoy wine, beer, cocktails, others don’t. Just like everyone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm of South Indian descent. They're not going to expect you to have South Indian food for them. So you don't need to make chai, but you can offer tea or coffee or alcohol, just as you would to any other guest. They can choose to accept or not. Making sure you have good vegetarian options (and just not some tiny vegetable side that you think is an entree) is key.

+1. Do not try to make South Indian food if you aren’t already good at it. Remember to get fennel seeds and other mouth fresheners for after dinner.