An Evening With Chitra!

Most Gracious ILites,
We are just back home after spending a delightful evening with Mrs. Chitra and her family.
She sent her car to pick us up early in the evening. As we three, my wife, my daughter and I, stepped into her well-appointed, elegantly decorated and neatly kept flat we were offered a welcome drink, a Madurai special - jil jil jighardhanda with ice cream. We started to talk, first of Madras' inclemently hot weather, then of Indusladies, of recipes, of colleges and courses and everything under the sun. Soon we were joined by Chitra's daughter and her two teenage daughters. A few minutes later Chitra's husband who had gone our for his evening walk joined us.
We had the surprisingly pleasant honour of wishing the great couple Mrs.Chitra and Mr.Viswanathan on their wedding anniversary.
Soon Chitra's son and his family walked in. Chitra's son-in-law joined at last.
As were talking Chitra told me about an IL member, Bhugan, living next door. We called her from the balcony and she came along to chat for a while. She brought a sweet gift for me - toffees.
Mrs. Chitra and Mr.Viswanathan cut the cake brought in by their grand daughters.
At about a quarter to eight dinner was announced. I was taken back in seeing the spread in the dinner table. Colourfully decorated, tastefully arranged the dishes were simply out of the world. And whatever this great lady said and wrote in IL were true.
For a moment I thought that the digital photographs she has been posting on the site came up with life begging us to eat.
Now I wont be doing justice to that well-cooked dinner unless I mention all the items. There was aloo paratha soft and stuffed which was supported by an elegant panneer makhni. Then was the traditional Chettinattu vellai paniyaram with the kara chutney playing the supporting role. Ama vadai soaked in rasam followed suit. Curd rice, thayir sadam, with all its ingredients - mango pieces, mustard, coriander et al - and this time the Oscar winning support role was played by Onion Vatha kuzhambu. ("Drop down whatever you are eating and load your plate with curd rice and vatha kuzhambu" was Chitra's son-in-law's comments)
The dinner culminated in a four-course dessert consisting of Apple Firni (Chitra, thanks for the correction), date halwa, an extremely delicious pineapple pudding and a mango cake pudding.
Vidya, I did take an extra helping of all the desserts in your name and honour.
Another item which caught the eyes first and then the tastebuds and finally the heart was the grape pickles.
They say that the proof of the pudding (as well as paranthas, curd rice, rasa vadas, paniyarams et al) is in the eating. We had a very pleasant confirmation of the adage this evening.
Chitra, May you and your family be blessed with long life, health, happiness, peace and prosperity for all time to come.
regards,
sridhar

Dear Mrs Chithra,

Here is wishing you and uncle a very,very Happy Wedding Anniversary. It was wonderful to read Varalotti's report and now you have all of your wards in IL joining in the celebrations.

May more happiness follow.

Love
Vidya

hello sridhar,

chithra had told about your visit.
i was thinking what chithra would have prepared for you and family, very happy to know. thanks .
so u reached home after the dinner! thought you will post this tomorrow..
happy wedding anniversary chithra!

Dear Sridhar,
We, all members of my family thoroughly enjoyed your company with Indhu & Preethi. That we should have a get together on our wedding anniversary is Providential coincidence.
You have missed out mixed vegetable sevai & Boondi-pomegranate raita !
The photo of the general spread is posted below.
Thankig you again,
Love & regards,
Chithra.

chithra,
i am seriously thinking of a visit to there...
oh, that picture....

Dear Chitra,
It happens. When you have too much to eat, too many to choose from, you tend to miss out on some items. Of course I did have two helpings of the seva and the raitha. I am sorry I missed them out in my overenthusiasm.
Thanks for posting the photo which will make a thousand plus ILites plan their visit to your house. Good luck.
sridhar

HI Periamma!

BEfore i could ask you how Varalottis dinner went on, i saw his snippet in the site!!!!
Mouthwatering dishes!!! yummy... seems like you guys had a rolling time!

Have a great anniversary!

Purnima

Dear Chitvish,

CONGRATULATIONS ON THE 45TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY!

Our sincere prayers to the Lord to shower all his blessings on you and your husband for a longer & healthier life and celebrate more such wedding anniversaries.

Looks like you have treated Varalotti's family with your ("kaimanam") exotic recipes. I wish I was in Chennai to join the treat , you make it more tempting with the photo of the mouth-watering dishes!!

Varalotti,

Glad to read about the treat you had at Chitvish's place. Chettinadu vellai paniyaram & kara chutney is the topper in the tempting list for me.

Also, very happy to know that IndusLadies was also amongst your talks during the wonderful evening.

BTW, why haven't you mentioned the name of the ILite living in the next door of Chitvish? It would have been nice to know her.

Kind Regards,

Shakthi
On behalf of 'The IndusLadies Team'

Dear Sakthi,
thanks for the wonderful post. Soon after I posted I found out that I have omitted her name. Immediately I edited my post to include her name. The name of the sweet lady is Bhugan (Mrs.Bhuvana Ganesh) who is Chitra's next door neighbour.
regards,
sridhar

Dear Mrs CV and Mr. V,

Wishing you a very happy anniversary. Looking at all those elegant dishes, wish i were there tooo to celebrate with you.

Love
Vandhana