Acrobatic Cooks

Amidst the usual chanting of the conductor, my eyes focused on a physical work out by the cooks outside the street café. Several pairs of arms moved in perfect synchronisation it seemed, in turning out a variety of dishes within a couple of minutes. Be it cracking an egg and spilling the contents into the sizzling hopper, or chopping kottu roti at simultaneous movements the agility in which those deft limbs moved were indeed remarkable to watch. At the Beverage counter workout number 2 was in progress. Piping hot tea was poured from outstretched hands back and forth each time spilling into receiving ends of a steel mug and glass. When the workout ceased there stood a glass with an inch thick layer of foam sitting on top. Adjacent to the session of stretching tea, a splitting noise of thambili (king coconut) carving the opening to place in mouth and drink the water. The arm holding the knife flew so swiftly yet so precisely that one smack made a neat rectangular cut on the top. Dessert counter was conducting workout number 3 with pineapple being stabbed with sharp knives at frequent movements in and out, skinned, slicked and garnished with chillie powder to balance the sour flavour. Swift, yet so precise in positioning that leaves no room for any miss. It certainly was like watching acrobats cook the only difference being this wasn’t a circus !!