(Note: all the pictures in this post, including the individual small ones, link to larger images in Flickr; just click on the smaller images you see here.)
Recently, in a post on the The St. Pete Shuffle, I mentioned that I’d missed their India Night last year. Fortunately they gave another one last night. It was a solid hit. The line for authentic, home-cooked Indian food was the entire length of the main building and stayed that way for at least 90 minutes. I overheard others in the line mentioning that they, too, had missed it last year and were glad to finally get to come to one. Word gets around about a good thing and this is definitely a good thing.
The event was presented as a joint effort between the St. Pete Shuffle and V.I.C.A.S.- Volunteers of India Culture & Art Society, which is a member of SPIFFS – St. Petersburg International Folkfair Society. You may have seen the two earlier Inkwatu articles on SPIFFS’ 2008 Folk Fair and their 2nd Annual Asian Pacific Rim Festival.
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Both the St. Pete Shuffle and SPIFFS have their home at the historic St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club, so it’s a natural fit for them to have special events together. I’ve attended another St. Pete Shuffle/SPIFFS event which was their Turkish Night, earlier this year. Once again, terrific food, a success that I hope they repeat. I’m a great fan of ethnic foods which I believe have the power to heal divisions and help forge our melting pot culture into the strong, diverse mix that it is.
According to St. Pete Shuffle organizer, Chris Kelly, the menu last night included “Chicken Curry, Biryani Chicken Rice, Idli/Sambhar with Chutney, Rice cakes and Spicy Lentil Soups, Samosas, Gulab Jamun, Mango Lassi and Lemonades.” I had the biryani chicken rice, a samosa, the rice cakes with lentil soup, gulab jamun (the best I’ve ever had), and mango lassi (also the best I’ve ever had).
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In addition to the food last night, the event also featured fashion and dance, with a presentation of classical and modern Indian dance following the meal. There was also to have been a “Bollywood dance Lesson” which I missed. Throughout the evening, magnificent jewelry and handbags worked in various metals and beading were available for purchase. The women running the affair modeled everyday and traditional festive Indian apparel. A mehndi artist was available to create temporary henna tattoos.
Please mark your calendars and plan to attend the SPIFFS 34th Annual International Folk Fair in March! Student Days are March 25-27, general public March 27-29 (27th 3pm-9pm, 28th 10am-10pm, 29th 12noon-6pm) at Vinoy Park (Bayshore Blvd. & 7th Avenue Northeast). SPIFFS advertises that the fair events will include “Ethnic cuisines, cultural avenues, ethnic displays, arts & crafts, Grand parade of Nations, International Beer Garden, Live Music, & more…”
I’ll see you there!
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for this article on this colorful event at shuffle court. In deed it was great fun, wonderful food and very affordable under current economic times
Thank you for all wonderfull coverage on our events an members. We appreciate the wonderful words and images. I invite you to join us at the Spiffs 2009 International Folk Fair.
Thank you.
Thank you for the very positive comments. We thoroughly enjoy presenting our culture. Hopefully, we can do it again in a few months.
Uma Lekhram-Vicas co-founder