Eating Out

In the New York Times today there is a very interesting article about dining out and cooking in India (there have been quite a few articles in the Times lately about India/South Asia). I think it plays on gender roles as well as serving as an example of how things are changing generationally in India.

This is particularly funny because the whole Sharma clan and I went out to eat last night as part of a "going away" thing for me. Dr. Sharma is always talking about how he doesn't like to go out because he finds the food to be bad and thinks its a waste of money. Usually, Piyush, Kavita and the kids go and leave the other Dr. Sharma and his wife at home, so having the whole group go out to eat was very special. In my conversations with Kavita I know she enjoys going out for a few reasons: 1) it is one of the very small ways she leaves the house without having to run an errand or do a chore, 2) it means she doesn't have to cook dinner and as much as she likes to cook everyone needs a break once in a while, and 3) it gives her a reason to dress up and feel special, and in a way escape the in-laws for a night and enjoy her husband and kids on her own.

Anyway, read the article!