Ghar Ki Murgi

9th June 2025

Nisha entered the house stomping. Kedar had no idea why. He still tried to strike up a conversation, patiently.
K - "The food was good na?"
N - "Hmm"
K - "Especially the dal. So subtle. Just a homely taste and the tadka..."
N - "Wait. Last week, I made the same dal at home. I follow the chef of that restaurant on Instagram, I made the same recipe. While you gulped it spoon by spoon and licked it till the last drop, you did not have a word to say about it. Just because you had it at home made by me? You had it in the restaurant and paid for it and suddenly it became, "Oh so delicious..?!" Have you complimented my cooking skills once in the last 13 years? Do you know what the problem is? You expect homely taste in restaurants and your home meals to be a carnival of flavors. To some extent, I feel like blaming the content creators for their hook lines, such as "Make restaurant-style food at home," and then setting the expectations of getting restaurant-like food at home. So unfair."
Kedar was quiet. He knew it was his fault.



But, who appreciates the ones who cook at home? At the time there is an epidemic, or someone is ill, it is so natural and obvious to recommend having home-cooked meals. But what about the hands that make it? Any mention? Any appreciation?
There is a saying in Hindi, "Ghar ki murgi dal barabar", and I would say even home cooks crave bahar ki murgi once in a while, to break the monotonous routine. That not being a viable and economical option is a well-known fact. Whether home-cooked or ordered from outside, let us celebrate each meal we eat, isn't it a blessing enough?
This is your reminder to appreciate your home cook, be it your wife, mother, or the house help you have hired. Be it that aunty who provides you dabba service, send her a note of appreciation. Effort being noticed, valued, and acknowledged is the biggest motivation for anyone to do the things they do daily, in a better way.

This post is a part of #BlogchatterFoodfest