Traditionally, the meal begins with a pinch of salt on the tongue, followed by a sweet dish, such as a peach soufflé. This would be followed with savory dishes, such as fried chicken, then another sweet dish like halwa, and then another savory dish, like leg of lamb served with a special naan. This leads to the main course, perhaps her mutton curry with rice, served with a salad, pickles and chutney.
Masuma comes from the Bohra community, known throughout India for their unique style of eating. You will eat from a thaal, a communal steel platter that serves 8 people. You will be seated on cushions on the ground, and share in Bohra dishes served over several courses from a common thal.
This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
Masuma lives on the waterfront of beautiful area of Bandra, a suburb of Mumbai. Unobscured by any buildings, she has an amazing seaside view from her 5th floor apartment in Bandstand. Masuma’s family is open-minded and loves to experience other cultures, leading to great conversation. She is a multi-faceted person who keeps her on her toes throughout the day. She often starts her day by teaching yoga classes from her home, and in the evenings she teaches English and math to children with economic disadvantages. The rest of her day is filled with other charity work. Along with other women, Masuma started the Care Foundation Trust, an organization with the aim to educate children and help uplift families in need around Mumbai. And of course in between all this, you will find Masuma in her kitchen cooking up amazing food!
