Chicago Foodways: Jains Dinner on July 21st @ 1 PM

A meal according to Jains: Vegetarians among Vegetarians

Arranged by
Colleen Taylor Sen, Ph.D.

Saturday, July 21st, 2007
1 PM
Village Hut
130 E. Army Trail Rd.
Glendale Heights, IL 60139
(630) 893-5800 (FOR RESERVATIONS SEE BELOW)
Cost: $23.

Please reserve by July 18th

The only religion in the world that is unconditionally vegetarian is Jainism, one of the eight religions of India. Jainism developed what is now northern India in the 6th century BCE and today has several million adherents. The cardinal rule of Jainism is ahimsa, translated as noninjury or nonviolence, which was adopted by Mahatma Gandhi.

Jains not only do not eat meat, fish, or eggs; they also avoid a myriad of other foods, including those whose production kills the entire plant, harms microscopic organisms, or destroys the germs of future life. As a result, most Jains avoid honey, fruits and vegetables with many little seeds (e.g., eggplant, figs), underground roots (potatoes, carrots, etc.), mushrooms, garlic, onions and alcohol. Nonetheless, Jain meals can be extremely delicious, since over the centuries cooks have learned to make the most of grains and vegetables.

This meal will feature typical Jain dishes from the western Indian state of Gujarat, home to many Jains. Rajan Chokshi, owner of Village Hut restaurant, will discuss the dishes. This is a sample menu:

Appetizers

Khandvi
Dhokla
Leelva Kachori, pigeon peas

Vegetables

Stuffed Okra
Shev Tomatoes
Turya Patra
Urad dal

Accompaniments

Millet flour bread (bajri rotla)
Wheat Paratha
Buttermilk
Kichiri, split moong dal and rice
Kari (yogurt and gram flour)
Pickle
Papad
Walnut mohanthal
Sweets

Dr. Colleen Taylor Sen is the author of Food Culture in India and many articles on Indian food. She is a regular contributor to the Oxford Food Symposia.

To make reservations or if you have any questions, then please either PM Cathy2 or e-mail chicago.foodways.roundtable@gmail.com. Please include your name, telephone number and the number of people in your party.

FYI, I'm writing and co-producing a segment called "Eating Jain" for WBEZ; we will be taping right before and probably during part of the lunch at Village Hut.

Just sent an email to you about this

My pix of lunch were, as usual, preposterously sucky (waiting for Peter and C2 to post their no doubt superior shots), but after lunch we stopped by B.A.P.S., a Hindu community temple complex (not to be confused with movie of same name) down the road from Village Hut. It was hallucinogenic.

I like the idea of Halle Berry trying to scam a dying millionaire Indian (played by Martin Landau) only to fall in love with him.

The temple looks kind of like Landau's home from the movie, except much whiter and rounder.

Yes, I've seen it. Stop judging me.

The broadcast of "Eating Jain," our segment on Jain culinary traditions, is scheduled to be broadcast this coming Friday, July 27th, on WBEZ's 848, which can be found on 91.5 FM, at 9:00AM and 8:00PM.

You can listen in real time or download anytime at http://www.chicagopublicradio.org/Programs.aspx

Pictures of the meal can be found here.