i’m seduced by sparkles

I understand why Indians get married in India, regardless of whom they marry. Indian weddings are so pretty (and this is just an engagement)…

This looks like a wonderland, full of dreamy possibilities… like, how could something that starts by sparkling with so many pretty lights and that is fragrant with clouds of soft flowers possibly go wrong? Well, obviously, a million ways, but reality is suspended when you enter a world of Christmas lights and flowers, at least for me. While in Bombay, I went to this kid’s engagement with my parents. He is marrying one of my distant cousins. The engagement was held at the Willingdon Club and as soon as we walked in, we were surrounded by 50 relatives.

[that's my mom, on her cell]

It was actually kind of enjoyable, a fancy family reunion. But for the longest time, I couldn’t find any other kids, so I made friends with the bar. Two glasses of wine on an empty stomach is enough to make me a social, smiling daughter :).

The Willingdon Club is a hot location for the engagements and weddings of Bombay’s elite. Apparently, you need to book a year in advance at certain locations for a December engagement/wedding. Unfortunately, the food at the Willingdon Club was pretty awful. If I get married, I want the food to be fantastic at all my events. Glitter is fun, but it fades. The flavors of food, on the other hand, linger on…

[can you spot the cat?]

Uninspired Punjabi fare dominated the offerings, though they did have some Continental food (baked pasta…eh) and a chaat bar which was apparently quite good, but I’m not a fan of pani puri, and by the time we were done schmoozing, all that was left of the ragda pattis were a few lonely chickpeas in a giant pan.

Pictured above is one dessert I love. I’m a sucker for jalebis. These weren’t great, but they were more edible than the main courses. The starring dessert however, was this strange …Could it Be Pudding? Could it be Mousse? …pan of chocolate, surrounded by absurdly round scoops of vanilla ice cream.

I didn’t quite know what to make of it.