Anything BUT A Fork

Growing up we began eating with our hands. Primarily out of necessity because our motor skills lacked and holding utensils wasn’t a thing so our hands were the only option. But many cultures believe the hands are the best way a meal should be consumed. Taking the fuss out and putting the fun back in by getting rid of the need for utensils and embracing our natural inclination to physically engage with our food.

This month’s tasty adventure took us to India and Ghana to get more acquainted with the tradition of using our original utensils to enjoy our meals. But before we got to the table we had to take a dive into a little bit of history, science, and human nature. Typically in this day and age we humans multitask like there’s no tomorrow, we’re doing 5 things at once and believe we’re mastering each one. That couldn’t be further from the truth. If you’re anything like me while you’re eating you are doing something else at the same time. Reading a book, surfing the internet, trying to find the perfect show to compliment your dish, or scrolling on social media. Having your hands as utensils stops all that extra movement and distraction from happening. You have no choice but to stop all the extra and focus on your meal and those you may be sharing it with, you can stop and smell the spices and enjoy the people around you sharing space and time with you as well.

I was surprised to find out that there were actual health benefits to eating with your hands! Being connected to your meals and food in that way helps you regulate your portions and how much food you're actually consuming. You get to literally feel the amount of food you’re eating and not overeat. Also as we know there are good and bad bacteria. The bad bacteria of course make us sick but the good bacteria can help us fight back when it matters most and overpower the bad bacteria. Your hands expose you to good bacteria that live on the surface of your skin which help combat infections on the inside of the body. There are also some tips to know when bringing your hands into the mix, similarly to how shaking hands with your left hand is frowned upon, eating with your left hand is also not the way to go. Your left hand serves a supporting role or the hand on napkin patrol, eating with your hands can get a bit messy at times but it brings us back to our childlike enjoyment when eating our food

Culturally in India, the Ayurvedic teachings tell us that each finger is connected to one of the 5 elements and when eating with your hands you’re combining all those elements into the eating experience. Eating with your hands is a sign of respect in India, you’re deeply connecting with the food and inadvertently the people who prepared it as well. Our exploration into the tradition and foot culture in India led me to Swadist, in downtown Jersey City a few minutes away from the Journal Square Path station. The restaurant has an expansive menu with a mix of traditional North Indian cuisine and some traditional Chinese dishes. I ordered the raj kachori chaat for an appetizer and I really went off of vibes and asked no questions about what I was ordering so I was shocked when the dish came out. It was a gorgeous display of color and was almost too pretty to eat! When I decided to dig in I was hit with another wave of surprise when the dish was cold, it was like having beautiful refreshing Indian nachos. The cool fresh yogurt with the mint chutney paired so well with the warm spices on the lentils and moong dal. The beautifully constructed vessel made from semolina flour and white flour was puffed to perfection. It had the perfect crunch and stability to scoop up all the goodies waiting inside of the puff.

My entree was the most popular dish, the Baby Goat Masala, and baby, she did not disappoint. I like my food with a little spice so I asked for a little extra heat to be added to my dish and instead of ordering naan, my usual tasty aide when eating Indian cuisine, I ordered the paratha which is similar to naan but unleavened so a little less fluff but just as buttery and good! The goat in the spicy masala was so juicy and tender the pieces were melt-in-your-mouth good. The cardamom, ginger, and cinnamon added such warmth to the meat that made the meal taste and feel like a welcoming hug on the tastebuds. The added spice gave the dish that extra kick on the back end that I love and still let the other flavors of the dish shine through. Every inch of the meat was covered in sauce and the fluffy white basmati rice soaked up all the rich flavors of the sauce as well. The meal was amazing all around. They gave a HEALTHY portion so I was ecstatic to keep the party going at home with my leftovers which tasted even better after the flavors had more time to wed.

Next, my taste buds led me to Accra, a Ghanaian restaurant a few steps away from the NJ Transit station on 125th. The restaurant is quaint and to the point. The food is buffet style and customers can immediately see and smell the tasty morsels they have to offer. As a first-timer, I had no clue what was what, and when I was greeted by the ladies behind the counter my southern twang gave my foreigner status away immediately! The ladies were so kind and welcoming and walked me through a tasting of every soup and stew they had on display which was so appreciated and unexpected! It was a tough choice everything was so delicious, even the peanut soup was extremely flavorful and if you know me you know I hate peanut butter and peanut anything, (thanks Mom) but this was nothing like what I was imagining. I ended up getting the pepper soup and spinach stew with fufu and chicken.

The pepper soup had such a rich depth of flavor though the name may make you think it was spice central, but it had so much more savory and warm flavors. When I took my first bite it was like my stomach was being coated in rich warm goodness and every bite after! They placed the chicken pepper soup and spinach stew in a bowl together and after ordering I was nervous that the options may not mix well but the flavors melded together so perfectly. The pepper soup was a perfect complement to the flavors in the spinach stew. The spinach stew had such an interesting and inviting flavor. After having it once I kept going back for more and more. The spinach is mixed perfectly with the egusi melon seeds, egg, and onion so the flavor is well-balanced, savory, complex, and exquisitely elevated when paired with the pepper soup. The fufu reminded me of mashed potatoes with a little more integrity, the flavor was mild and the texture was perfect to scoop up and hold the flavor of both the spinach stew and pepper soup. I was stuffed halfway through the meal which means I had seconds for dinner! Always a plus.

Eating with my hands was such a fulfilling experience, I feel like my food tastes better and I’m fully immersed in the meal and moment. I’m forced (in the best way) to be still for a moment and just enjoy the time I have either to myself or in connection with others around a meal. I encourage all of you to try some food that requires you to roll your sleeves up but as always, stay tasty!