Indian Cooking Classes at Govinda's

Indian Cooking Classes at Govinda's

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Posted 2012-10-10 by Anna Boumphreyfollow
Has planning and preparing your evening meals become a bit of a chore rather than a celebration of culinary delights? Creating interesting and flavoursome meals every night that pleases the tastebuds takes time and effort. However, there is no reason it can't be done. Whilst there is certainly a place for your usual favourite dishes; I think it's important to keep things interesting and discover what other culinary delicacies are out there. If the thought of last night's dinner makes you a little queasy, it might be time to shake things up and excite your tastebuds with something unexpectedly new and different. If you're prepared to be a little adventurous and venture into the unknown; here is a way to have you cooking up a storm in no time at all.



Govinda's Restaurant is a vegetarian Indian restaurant that brings a new dimension to eating out in Brisbane. It offers you the chance to explore this unusual culinary combination by means of their cooking classes and demonstrations. These cooking lessons provide insights into the exciting and mystical world of Indian cuisine while offering you the chance to have a great time; get healthier; learn some new skills; and perhaps most importantly to taste some delectable delicacies. Cooking with Ranchor , the owner is entertaining, informative and generally a lot of fun. I assure you an unexpectedly enjoyable evening that will leave you feeling both motivated and enthused to embark on your own cooking adventure.



Ranchor is an engaging character who offers a wealth of knowledge on both Indian cuisine and its culture. As he so aptly said on the night, "I have a habit of judging a culture by its cuisine." If this is the case then India is a lively, exciting and exotic place shrouded in mystery. And after my experience I can't wait to discover more. The demonstration that I chose to attend was called the "Festival Food of India". However, every class is different so you can pick a topic that interests you and go along on that day. Classes run at Govinda's every Saturday evening from 5:30 – 7:30 pm and cost $49 per person. No matter which class you choose, you are sure to be impressed and inspired by the experience.



For the first hour and a half we were teased and enticed by the visual preparation of the food and the tantalising wafts of various exotic ingredients and spices. After carefully observing the preparation of the assorted dishes and learning about different methods of food preparation; your patience is ultimately rewarded. You are then invited to share in the culinary experience and sample the dishes. Believe me, it is worth the wait. I have to admit, I do love vegetarian food, and therefore this activity was always going to appeal to me. However, to all you meat lovers out there the unusual and intricate flavours of this style of cooking will make you appreciate vegetables in a way that typical Australian cuisine doesn't allow.



The official dishes of the evening that I was fortunate enough to sample included Pushpana Festival Royal Rice; Aloo, Matar, Paneer Subjee (vegetables in red sauce); and Gabi, Matar Samosas (vegetable turnovers). The end result was an explosion of flavours, textures and colours. The interesting thing was that despite the intensity of the dishes you were still able to appreciate and enjoy the subtle nuances of each ingredient. Furthermore, the combinations of ingredients and spices were vibrant, eclectic and abundant. With so many elements in each dish, you would expect them to be overpowering. However, they all seemed to work in harmony to create a perfect fusion of dynamic flavours. This harmonious incongruity was what created an unforgettable and unique dining experience.



I for one have never really ventured into the world of Indian cooking due to the fact that it has always seemed so foreign and far too complicated for my basic cooking abilities. However, Ranchor deconstructs the recipes and presents the material in such a way as to make Indian food accessible and easy enough for anyone to attempt in the comfort of their own kitchen. He even supplies you with some of the ingredients you will need for the recipes. A selection of exotic spices is available for purchase should you feel inspired to extend your cooking abilities and try to replicate some of his dishes. At $1 a bag it really is hard to resist stocking up. Ranchor even has a cookbook you can buy for reference when exploring the true tastes of India in your own home.



The experience really is a great starting point for anyone wanting to experiment with different cuisines. You will be offered lots of little useful tips for using and cooking with the different ingredients. This was extremely helpful for me personally as there were many ingredients, spices and combinations of flavours that I hadn't tried previously. Asafoetida anyone? However, it wasn't just learning how to cook the dishes on the night that made this activity worthwhile. Throughout the demonstration we were given insights into Indian culture and the philosophy behind this cooking style. The knowledge I acquired throughout the evening has given me a new perspective on this cuisine; as well as an appreciation for the role and significance of the foods we consume.



More specifically, I found this unified style of cooking to be both ritualistic and functional. It was ritualistic in the sense that certain foods are consumed at times appropriate to the corresponding activities, celebrations or seasons. Furthermore, the ingredients of each dish were selected due to their specific properties and health benefits. Ranchor believes that, "Cooking is holistic. It has to do with colour, sound, appeal and flavour." After my experience with him at Govinda's I couldn't agree more. Witnessing the ritual of food preparation from start to finish has given me the understanding, awareness, interest and confidence to pursue this style of cooking in my own home. I encourage you to go on a vegetarian Indian cooking safari with Ranchor. It has the potential to expand your culinary knowledge and skills in ways that you may not already have imagined.

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105458 - 2023-06-12 11:54:41

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