The dinner I would like to come home to

Director,Ranka Jewellers

The thought of coming home to a steamy bowlful of tomato soup made by my mother or sweet corn soup made by my wife takes away all the weariness of my day. My mother also makes the best pani puris in the world,I can eat about fifty of them at a time and that’s just for starters. Her Dal Khidchi,with dollops of ghee is another favourite,but what tops my list is her fresh fruit salad. My meal at my parents home is incomplete without a generous serving of fresh fruit salad made with oranges,grapes,apples,bananas,condensed milk and loads of TLC (tender loving care).

Koko

Guitarist for Agnee,Pune based band

I was born in a household where anything non vegetarian was a strict no-no,but I would go over to my neighbours home and relish the delicious mutton curry made by Dholia ji. I am a true Maharashtrian when it comes to food. I love the way my mother cooks ‘Chincha Gulachi Aamti’,aamti made with tamarind and jaggery. She also makes a great ‘kadduchi bhaji’ with lauki. Both these dishes can be eaten with rice and chapati but it’s only complete with ‘phodlela kanda’,which as any Maharashtrian will know,is crushed onion,not chopped. This would be a dream meal to return home to on a Saturday,with some buttermilk to wash it all down.

Raghu Ram

Producer of Roadies and Splitsvilla

Being a simpleton south Indian,a wholesome meal for me must consist of rice. I am a dal chawal person,and I believe that a little pickle works wonders for the simple meal. We have a cook at home who usually prepares our meals,but once in a while my wife gets into the mood of whipping up a nice vegetarian treat for me. I love the cabbage ki sabzi she makes,which is served with dal and rice of course. I like all kinds of spicy pickles,though we never make it at home but get the commercial bottled variety.

Ajinkya Firodia

Managing Director of Kinetic Engineering Ltd

I usually prefer eating at home than going out,unless its a special occasion. I like to eat simple meals at dinner; you know the adage – ‘Eat breakfast like a king,lunch like a rich man and dinner like a pauper’. What I would really like to go home and find on the table is roti and sabzi,with either bhindi or paneer matar. My wife uses organic vegetables these days and that makes a huge difference; everything tastes healthier,cheweier and fresher.

Arata Izumi

Striker for Pune Football Club

There is nothing I like more than eating dal and rice made by my wife,Shweta. Footballers like eating light and dal and rice is easy on the stomach and it tastes great. It’s not too heavy on the spices and my wife makes it very well. Every time I eat it,I feel like I’ve come home. My wife is Maharashtrian so I’ve been exposed to a lot of local food but what I like the most is the sweet,Modak. A modak will complete my perfect meal and I can’t wait for the Ganesh festival to begin.

Girish Kulkarni

National award-winning Marathi actor

I love traditional Maharashtrian cuisine and prefer it to other cuisines any day. On Saturdays,I play badminton so I’m very hungry when I get home. Instead of experimenting with something new or exotic,I like a traditional bhakri with bhaji,usually spinach or fenugreek. Along with that,I like lasuni chatni – a dry chutney with garlic – or mirchi kharda,which is battered and fried chilli and garlic. A buttermilk to top it off will make this my ideal Saturday meal!