T:TT AM + POOSSLQ = <3

POOSSLQ and I had a great day yesterday. This post is dedicated to him. As everyone knows, he isn't jussst my POOSSLQ, I adore him.

We attended the Annual Sikh Film Festival at the Asia Society & Museum. Specifically, we wanted to catch the Documentary Film Section. This was also my first time being at the Asia Society & Museum which, if you haven't been, you should check out. I plan on going back sometime to see the museum itself. Yesterday we didn't get to visit the rest of the museum or see the current exhibit, Art and China's Revolution, or go to my favorite place in any museum, the gift shop.

Before I get to the film screening, I wanted to mention our particularly great commute to the Museum. As everyone knows, the trains on the weekend are a HOT MESS. Service changes and re-routing in addition to the usual ass-stink and inexplicable delays. Waiting for the 6 Uptown with us was a young gentleman and his daughter. POOSSLQ complemented this young gentleman on having the cleanest black sweater either of us have ever seen. While they discussed the latest in men's wear and clothing care, I chatted with his daughter about possibilities for her Halloween costume. She wants to be Dora or a ghost. Both are great choices and she has quite a decision to make. They were on their way to the Met and we got off first, but our short time together was great. We talked politics, fashion, costumes and art. Too bad neither of us thought to get his contact information. Meetings like this restore my faith in NYC, the MTA, and in people. You can't underestimate the power of good vibes and good peoples. A nice start to a great day.

First stop at the Museum was the Restaurant, another favorite place in any museum. I have my priorities. The Garden Court Cafe was perfect for pre-film screening nosh. POOSSLQ had the turkey burger with wasabi ketchup and I had the special salmon burger. DEEELISH. POOSSLQ (PQ, for short) thought he spotted an old friend from his United Sikh Association Days at NYU in the mid-90s. Sure enough, it was her! Now she is a successful immigration attorney with her own solo-practice, a husband and two little kids. They enjoyed catching up and she sweet talked us tickets into the sold-out Documentary portion of the Film Festival.

My almost 5 years of domestic partnership with PQ has exposed me to so many amazing things. Amongst them, a glimpse of Punjabi culture. PQ's immediate family is Punjabi-Sikh by way of Chicago.



The Sikh community in America is as diverse as any other, but faces particular challenges within their world-wide communities as a result of political turmoil in India, the Middle East and 9/11 in America which has often made the Sikhs feel like outcasts and mistakenly viewed as terrorists. The films featured in the Documentary Session were Pahelwani - History, Tradition and Art of Punjabi Wrestling, Sikhs in America, The Sky Below, and A Dream in Doubt. Not to be a corn-bag but, I laughed. I cried. I learned. Sikhs in America has won an Emmy award. A Dream in Doubt, the final film, was particularly moving. Sarah Singh, spent two years traveling alone in India & Pakistan served as Director/Producer/Screenwriter/DP/Editor/Music Composer for her amazing work, The Sky Below. All of these films, filmmakers, and film subjects BLEW me away.

[Another wonderful photographer I have come across in the past is Fiona Aboud. This is a link to one small part of her portfolio, Sikhs in America.]

The audience was also amazing. It was full of many Punjabis, Sardar-jis, and other 'friends' of the Sikh community. Now that I have been introduced to the Punjabi-Sikhs, I can't help but feel a connection as a member of the Jewish community. I am not the only one who has sensed this similarity. There are many others within both communities who feel a sense of connectedness to one another.

Later that night, of course, I had a craving for Punjabi Cuisine. Once we saw the sign for Dhaba Indian Restaurant in 'Curry Hill', we were SOLD. Not only was the food reasonably priced, delicious and the service and decor great -- there were many items on the menu that neither PQ nor I have seen elsewhere that were SUPERBLY done. We started with AMRITSARI ALOO TIKKI CHAAT (Shallow fried potatoes, chickpea masala, onions and chutneys). We shared METHI CHICKEN (Chicken curry, fresh fenugreek leaves and coriander), SHALGAM SAAG
(Mashed turnips, mild spinach puree), CHILI ONION NAAN and BOONDI RAITA
(Yogurt, besan crunchies, cucumber, carrots and cumin). UGHHHHHH! So good. (LEFTOVERS!!!)

NOTHING can compare to PQ's moms. She is one of the best cooks ever. No joke.

AND SO, in conclusion, I am attaching a short version of one of the first Indian recipes I learned to make. I woke up craving this and made some first thing this morning.