There were several establishments near our house in Indiranagar from where we would regularly order-in. Since we never visited those places, it was hard to recall the names after so many years. One of them was a Bengali restaurant and irrespective of our main course, we always ordered Bhetki Paturi for appetizers. How outrageous that we haven't had this luscious preparation since moving out of Bangalore in 2011! I decided to make Bhetki Paturi as my first dish for 2023. Ordered Bhetki fillets, watched recipes on Youtube and plucked banana leaves from our society park. The husband and I spent the better part of an hour, carefully wrapping a dozen marinated fish chunks with banana leaves, and securing each with a piece of string before placing them in the steamer. As we proudly set the fish before Pari, she looked at the platter very curiously and suspiciously - 'Mumma, shall I eat the banana leaf before the fish or alongside?' That is when we realised that the poor kid doesn't remember eating Bhetki Paturi at all! What looks like yesterday to us is so far back in the past for her that it is as good as never. I lovingly unwrapped the paturi, carved a small piece of bhetki and offered to her. The ensuing grunts of approval and satisfaction told me that she is unlikely to forget the experience any time soon.
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