Kung Pao Chicken: A Cat's Favourite
There is a photo which is very famous in our family. Because sometimes a photo is not just a photo but bearer of a legend. So, this happened way before I was born. My uncle and aunt stopped by a Chinese restaurant in Bombay, where they lived. This place had a reputation for avant-garde dishes. After going through the list of jaw-dropping dishes they decided to order Ma Po Tofu and Kung Pao Chicken. Both historically important dishes for the Chinese. After placing their order they patiently waited to be served. They waited and waited. And then waited some more.
Finally, my aunt remarked, “I wonder what’s taking so long for them,” and my uncle sighed. Before my uncle could even reply back to my aunt, the kitchen door popped open a bit and a cat came streaking out howling and roaring like a tiger followed immediately by the Chinese cook waving a big knife.
Of course, nothing is ever the way it seems. In truth, there had simply been a delay in preparing the food, because the staff cat grabbed a piece of chicken that was being prepared. It fell on the floor and the cat took off with it followed by the cook.
The cook was kind enough to pose with the cat in his arms, the big knife in his hand, and my aunt and uncle on either side of him for a photo. A legendary photo that still hangs our walls. You can also bring the legendary flavours of Ma Po Tofu and Kung Pao Chicken to your home without the cat part off course if you write to our Chef Varun Arora varun.arora@meyerindia.in
