Puri story-HuTina’s Thought For Food

Tina Hussain's thought for food

I begin my day

Tina With a small thank you prayer to god, a kiss on my forehead from Hussain and a small piece of anything sweet (like a piece of Cadbury chocolate or Parle biscuits), but this sweet has to be had without brushing. I've followed this ever since I was a kid.

Hussain Two-three glasses of water followed by a cup of tea. If I'm going to the gym, I probably have a banana before leaving. Earlier, I would drink a glass of protein shake when I came back but I have stopped doing that now. Now I have chawanprash, honey and a cup of milk.

Tina I don't eat anything except fruits till 12 noon. So its only fruits and fruit juices for breakfast. I'm not a health freak like Hussain at all.

Hussain I have lots of fruits, a bowl of chicken salad and if I am still hungry I have some more fruits.

My lunch

Tina Roti with a vegetable. I don't eat rice. I dont like onions I need my pickle (yummmm) with my meal.

Hussain I eat a tandoori chicken, full or half, depending on how hungry I am accompanied by dal, roti and some gravy. On most days, I'm shooting, so I only carry my mom's rotis with me because I just can't do without them, they are very soft.

In the evenings I binge on

Tina Anything I can lay my hands on 'coz this is the time I feel most hungry. So it's bhel or McDonald burgers — it's party time for me in the evening.

Hussain I generally have toast with tea if I'm hungry or at times I have pani-puri and sev puri. I am a major foodie, I'm constantly eating. I can have chicken for breakfast. If I'm at a hotel, I just feast on the sausages and cold meats. If I'm on a holiday then I have a real heavy breakfast. I can really eat in the mornings if I am not working.

For dinner

Tina Dal roti and chicken (staying with Hussain it becomes impossible to avoid chicken for dinner).

Hussain Meat, though we eat red meat occasionally, a lot of chicken again with rotis. I love sea-food too especially fish, prawns, crabs. Come to think of it, I love any kind of meat.

I'm allergic to

Tina Fish and most sea food other than medium sized prawns.
Hussain I can't be allergic to food.

The one thing I hate in food

Tina Fish, Sea food.

Hussain Karela and baingan.

One food that has childhood memories for me

Tina Gur ki Roti. My mother would indulge me with gur ki roti everytime I didn't like to eat what she had already cooked.

Hussain Malida karke ek dish hai, it's roti with a dash of meetha. And kaliya — it's made in our native place and is red meat, which is shredded, marinated and dried. It has no odour and you can eat it anytime. All you have to do it is fry and an instant meal is ready. I can eat it everyday.

A must in my meal

Tina I work with my mother so she carries my food for me and I insist on pickle.

Hussain I generally carry some fruit salad with me. Eating an early dinner is a healthy habit that I must inculcate.

My favourite cook in the family

Tina My mother without a doubt. As a kid I would badger her to make food like my friend's mother or my my nani, but today I think she cooks the tastiest food. Nowadays, when I eat at a friend's place I call her to compliment her saying mom today I ate the most pathetic dish, you cook so much better. She generally responds with, "Ek maa hi toh hai" and I retort with, "Haan ek maa se kaam chala loongi. Aur nahee chahiye (laughs)."

Hussain My mom. She makes excellent kebabs, cutlets, kaliya, malida etc.

One dish that I cook really well

Tina Ragda patties. In fact, this is the only dish I've taught my mother to make. But now I've learnt to make pani puri from her.

Hussain I am a very bad cook. My mom would always shoo me away from the kitchen, but I would help her make the rotis.

One dish that looks most appetising

Tina Pani puri. Even if you wake me up in the middle of my sleep to eat pani puri, I'll jump up.

Hussain Chicken.

My favourite restaurants in Mumbai

Tina Urban Tadka, Chawla's Dhaba Mangi Ferra, Shatranj, Dominos, Smokin' Joes.

Hussain I really enjoy eating out. I like the food at Legacy Of China and Mainland China. I order tikkas from Kareems. I enjoy street food as much as the fare at a five-star hotel. Earlier, I ate a lot of paya at Mohammad Ali road. During Ramzan, I would drive down and binge on payas, nali niharis, tikkas and kebabs. The meat there is so soft that you really enjoy it.

Our idea of a romantic meal
Tina-Hussain By the sea with very few people around. There should be soft music, slow English numbers playing in the background. Lots of candles and balloons and drapes. Maybe a chilled drink in our hands, slow dancing and lovely medium spicy chicken and prawns to eat. Desserts have to be part of this romantic evening spent in each others arms.

My favourite dessert
Tina Gajar ka halwa made by my mom.

Hussain I love sweets but I have a small portion and force feed the rest to others. My favourite desserts are gulab jamun, and walnut brownies with hot chocolate. I like to see ice cream in my fridge at all times.