On Trust, Taste and a Packet of Bafat
There comes a time in your life where you know you have met the one. The apple of your eye. The one that makes fireworks explode and the wind blow like every 90s-2010s rom-com ever (like it’s a basement?? Where is the wind coming from?). For me, it was not a person. It was a 100g packet of spices. And I am not even slightly embarrassed. What is this “Bafat” in the title, you ask? Let me explain. Bafat is a spice blend that Mangalorean and Goan mummies have always had in their kitchens, and it is without question, a non-negotiable. This is yet another thing we share – along with our Portuguese-influenced surnames and our language, Konkani. The taste of Bafat is a result of the unique combination of Indian and Portuguese flavours. That part of history not only determined our religion but also influenced our cuisine. We, Mangalorean Catholics, used a specific mix of dried and ground chilli peppers, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, mustard seeds, black peppercorn, turmeric, c...
