Cookout at Agent J's

A week ago, we had the most amazing roundup of foodies for potluck. But with a difference - rather than get stuff pre-cooked from home, we would gather round, and cook together. With Agent J's well-stocked and conveniently-located apartment and his ever-willingness to host a jamboree, we all showed up there, lugging around ingredients at different levels of pre-cooking prepapration. I had gotten up early and made the dessert - kheer- and triple-packed it (can you imagine bumping over city roads in an ancient cab with kheer leaking out of its container? Not I!) so all I had to do once I landed at J's was to snaps pics of everyone else hard at work. Tee hee hee. :-D


Masterchef NJ showed up late, and with loads of green chillies mint and coriander. Some crossed wires between him and Agent J meant that the 1 kg chicken required for NJ's superlative biryani , which was supposed to be marinated, was still clucking about somewhere.

A quick call to Mangalore Girl and Bong Babe (who were running even more late!) ensured that the chicken would be picked up enroute.

MG and BB showed up with a huge hamper of food - marinated chicken for MG's non-tandoor Tandoori Chicken, fresh prawns, pomfret fish and pastries from Bakehouse.
These pastries, along with the Chicken Bites I'd picked up from Prabhat Poultry on my way to J's bachelor pad kept us going till lunch was served at - get - this 4 PM! Oh, and MG's prawn starters too.



Allie (of the chicken biryani fame) and AK47 also showed up on the heels of the girls, so it was soon a full house. MG and BB wrapped up their chicken and Fish in Mustard Curry pretty quick, leaving NJ to toil over a hot stove for the piece de resistance of the meal - the incredibly flavoursome (and incredibly complicated!) biryani.





While we waited for the biryani to cook 'on dum' we sprawled in front of the TV and had a gala time watching the evergreen Hindi movie Sholay on DVD. The best part was Agent J's own risque interpretation of the scenes being played! :P

All in all, a wonderful day packed to the rafters with food, fun and friends....may we have lots more!!

PS: Recipes - coming soon, if all contributors give 'em! ;)