Trying Meat After Growing up as a Vegetarian

Photo by Abhishek Chavarkar via Shutterstock.com

I grew up in a strict South Indian vegetarian family and always knew that meat wasn’t allowed in the house. But, that didn’t stop me from exploring all the amazing foods out there. The older I got, the more I discovered new dishes I never heard of and began sampling dishes at restaurants and friend’s houses. I learned to love Mangalorean-style fish and honeyed chicken wings. The more I let myself explore different cuisines, eating meat wasn’t something I “would only do outside,” but rather something I couldn’t wait to explore.

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Meat

Growing up
In a strict vegetarian family
No one
Eats meat
No one but me
I mean

I love
How it melts in your mouth
The flavors
Blended in
With the texture of fishes
And birds

Honey glazed
On chicken wings
With a side of rice

Fish marinated
In masala
Served hot
With chapati and rice

Simmering hot pot
At Jeng Chi
Fish floundering around
In the sambar

An there are so many more
I want to try
Lobster
Crab
Sea urchins
And better mutton

As long as my grandparents don’t know

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