Interview Date: 09/04/2022
*** To keep the authenticity of the interviews, everything was transcribed/translated exactly or very close to what they said, so there may be a few grammatical errors. Please be understanding about it, and we hope you enjoy getting a glimpse of the interviewee’s thoughts and experiences!***
- Could you tell us your name, ethnicity, and place of origin?
- Name: Maritta Dsouza
- Ethnicity: Indian
- Place/Country of Origin: India
- Could you explain your culture, and what it means to you?
So we grew up in a small town on the coast and fish was our staple food. We grew up eating a lot of fish, vegetables, and meat. We grew up in a community with a mix of religions: Catholics, Hindus, and Muslims. So when we went to school, we were influenced by all these religions/cultures, and people from different communities.
- Were you born into a catholic household?
Yes.
- How is the tea that you made differ from the other traditional tea that’s made in India?
We make very simple tea, and we use leaves that are loose and dried out and not tea bags. We like to boil it and have it with sugar and milk. Tea is also something we offer to guests who visit. Generally, tea is preferred over other drinks, unless, in the summer, cooler drinks are preferred.
- Why did you decide to make this dish?
Basically, I thought I’d make something authentic that’s particular to our culture, specifically to Karnataka.
- For instance, bafat pork is a traditional simple dish, which doesn’t need a whole bunch of ingredients. It’s easy to make and it has been there for many generations. Nowadays, there may be different variations of making pork such as East Asian fusion recipes like pork Manchurian, etc. But this is a dish popular in our region. When you first learn to cook, your mom or family teaches this recipe to you. This dish will be present for all special occasions like weddings. This dish is common only among the Roman Catholics in Karnataka because Hindus/Muslims don’t generally eat pork.
- Chicken: This recipe was taught to me by my sister’s mother-in-law, who is also my aunt. She is said to be a really good cook in our family. You know how in olden times, families gathered together and helped each other cook food for occasions/gatherings? So my sister’s mother-in-law is the “chief chef.” Haha. So one day as a teenager I learned this recipe from her. She never really used exact measurements, it was mainly based on approximates.
- Dosa: Neer dosa is a specialty of Mangalore. Neer means water. Hence the name neer dosa. In Konkani, we call it “panpale” though. This dish is not specific to any certain religious group though.
- Do you have a specific or treasured memory of this dish or relating to this dish?
Kind of. My sister’s mother-in-law taught me to make this, and when I made it once, she tried it and said that it was really good. So that was a happy memory for me. Also, my sister’s husband complimented it when I made the dish once. And we laughed about how I had learned it from his mother.
- Is this representative of a typical meal you have, or is it more for special occasions?
Special occasions because now that people need everything to be quick. This process takes time and hence is maybe not something people would make on a daily basis. The time has definitely been cut short by using bafat powder instead of making it from scratch.
- What does a typical meal look like?
Rice, fish, chicken, vegetables.
- Are there specific cooking techniques or tools for preparing food that have a special meaning to your community? If so, why and what is the history associated with it?
We do use some tools actually with certain dishes.
- Mortar and pestle to pound spices or to make ginger garlic paste.
- We also have a grater to grate coconut.
- Then we have something we call “tondor” which we use when to steam certain dishes like idlis (steamed rice cakes).
- We also use pressure cookers.
Some of these appliances or tools are very difficult to bring with you when you immigrate. For instance, we have this appliance to make something called sevige, which is a kind of rice noodle.
image source: https://www.ruchiruchiaduge.com/2011/11/semige-ottu-shyavige.html, http://vegrecipesofkarnataka.com/235-ottu-shavige-akki-shavige-idiyappam-semettu-nool-puttu.php
Also, in the olden days, we used stone to grind stuff and now we use an electronic mixer. (the image of the large grinding stone is attached below)
Image source: - How has American culture influenced your cultural habits and traditions?
American culture also has various cultural/traditional dishes like the ones they make for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and I try to make those. American culture emphasizes easy cooking and canned foods. So we generally use canned beans or such alternatives to make the cooking process easier. For instance, in the olden days, our parents would probably make the bafat powder from scratch, but now we just use premade bafat powder.
- Your husband and you are from the same community but is there any difference between the food from both of your cultures?
Nope.
- Was the food that you made something that was passed down from generation to generation or something you learned on your own?
Passed down by family.
- Do you know the historical context behind the dishes you made today?
Not really, these dishes are just something that has always been there.
- Does every family have the same way of cooking these dishes or does each family have different ways to make them?
The initial recipe can be the same, but each family might try to change the recipe according to their taste. Nonetheless, the ingredients stay the same.
- What was your journey to the USA like?
I grew up in India and lived there for more than 25 years. Then I moved to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) because my husband was working there. We had our daughter and when we were a young family, we wanted to explore the world. So when I got the opportunity to apply to come to the United States, I applied. However, we only got a response after 12 years. So we lived in the UAE for about 16 years, and then we moved here to the US in 2019.
- Do you like it here or miss home?
I like it here now, after 3 years, but it was difficult to adjust when we first moved.
- What are some ways that you had to adjust?
Because we came from a busy city, Tulsa seemed a bit too quiet and things closed pretty soon in the evenings, and life in the UAE basically starts at 7:00 pm, but everything here closes at that time. Also, we were not used to the snow and the harsh cold weather since Dubai is a hot and dry country. You soon learn how to dress for the cold and you adjust to the weather.
- Do you have any words of wisdom?
Always be good. Kind to all. Choose right from wrong. Chase your dreams.