Vegan Masala Dosas in Cornwall

There are several things that can cheer a Cornish spring up no end.  One is a spot of lovely sunshine, which we have recently enjoyed.  Another are the fields upon fields of daffodils swaying in the wind like rippling waves under a golden sunset. One thing that particularly put a smile on our faces this spring was the discovery and sampling of a masala dosa in Cornwall.  Not the usual Cornish fare admittedly, being a traditional Southern Indian dish, but one that sits among our favorite foods ever!  

A dosa is basically a pancake or crepe that is made from a fermented batter of rice and black gram (urad dal).  This can be stuffed with various fillings, but a masala dosa, the most popular, is one that is stuffed with a spicy potato filling.  It is often served with a coconut chutney and a little side dish of sambar (vegetable stew) and is more often a traditional breakfast dish.  We've had plenty of these in India but sadly they are not that easy to find in the UK. Veggie Perrins, just across the border in Plymouth, have served them on special nights, and even further afield they are a main feature on Krishnas Inn menu in Bristol. Imagine our delight therefore to have them available not only in Cornwall but at my very place of work!  It also happens to be on a day when Phil works half day so he too can partake of these delights (and makes the trip over from Truro after work to do so).

Achar, formerly known as The Salvador Thali Cafe, is an Indian street food stall, and the brainchild of chef extraordinaire Terry McClintock.  It brings the full flavour of vegetarian Indian food to the heart of Cornwall, with vegan choices always on offer, including the aforementioned masala dosa.   Achar makes regular stops on Fridays at the Falmouth University Penryn Campus (by the way, the first hour of parking at Penryn Campus is free so plenty of time to nip in for a treat if you are passing).  You will find Terry's colourful stall just outside The Stannary (main refectory area) in the heart of the campus. 

Achar also pops up regularly at various venues in the Falmouth area.  You can check for updates of where and when to find them on the Achar Facebook page or alternatively give Terry a call or text on 07946 555632 (I did the other day and he got right back to me super quick!).

By the way, despite their generous size, we still can't seem to resist going back for masala dosa seconds!  Basically we thoroughly recommend them. Terry and his side kick are also a blast to chat to as you watch, with salivating wonder, the skillful preparation of your dosas. Go check them out.

The Comedy of Carnage

Comedians are masters of searching out and observing the hypocrisy and irony in life; turning it back on society in a more digestible and entertaining manner.  Given the surge in veganism in recent years, it is therefore no surprise that there is currently a ripple of veganism surging through the comedy industry. 

Vegetarianism and veganism has had its fair share of being negatively mocked in the comedic sense, but it seems the tide may be turning.  Not only have vegans (Sarah Pascoe, Romesh Ranganathan and Simon Amstell included) joined the ranks of the mainstay of British comedy performers, bringing with them their own more positive and thought provoking comedic observations of being a vegan, but the industry as a whole seems to be sitting up and paying attention.  I did think however that we were still a way off of hearing anything beyond the odd comment or discussion on a comedy game show, or a story in a stand up show.  Then came along Simon Amstell's film, Carnage.

A short film on mainstream TV, looking at veganism, would have been amazing enough.  An hour long mockumentary, with well known actors and celebrities produced by the BBC is nothing short of astonishing.  Okay so they haven't been brave enough to put it on anything but the BBC iPlayer yet, but they have at least advertised it on the main BBC channels. 

Carnage looks at a world 50 years into the future; a world turned vegan and horrified at its carnist past.  This is however, no run of the mill, usually brutal exploration into the reasons why the masses should turn to veganism.  Simon Amstell has still honoured the very essence of veganism but wrapped it up extremely well in layer upon layer of humour, entertainment, and fascinating facts for both vegans and non vegans alike.  He is like a child who has very skillfully hidden his vegetables under the meat on the dinner plate; or in this case, should it be the other way round?

We had laugh out loud moments (yes us vegans do have a sense of humour!) mixed in with moments of being pulled along in wild imaginings that such a world could eventually exist.  I was also delighted, as cringe worthy as some of it was, to see the inclusion of the historical aspect to veganism.  I also felt a sense of pride and hope; pride in that veganism has come so very far in the 30 years Phil and I have been vegan, and hope that Carnage represents and accelerates the more recent surge in vegan interest into even more of an awakening.

It is easy for us vegans to wax (soya not beeswax!) lyrical about something that hits the vegan nail on the head, especially if it does it in a ground breaking, entertaining, and accessible way; but will it work?  After all, it must have been the intention of Simon Amstell, as a vegan himself, to go way beyond the entertainment level and send out those far reaching vegan ripples.  I find it extremely hard to believe that it won't reach out to the non vegan viewer and at least plant a seed.  In fact I would be astonished if it doesn't but then I am already astonished how people will very easily deny the facts that are already in front of many (take for instance the man in the film who said that cows would explode if they weren't milked; whether that was staged for the film or not I have personally heard someone say this!).  I will read the reviews and listen to the feedback with much interest and hope.

Carnage is available now on BBC iPlayer and remains so for over a year apparently.  If you would like a non vegan's review then check out Mark Kermode's take on Carnage. 

A Shock to the Health System

I've been very quiet on the blogging front as I've had other priorities; pretty massive ones. You see both of my parents are really sick.  Mum has been dealing with pancreatic and liver cancer for the past four years and dad was recently diagnosed with leukemia and was rushed to hospital in an extremely serious and life threatening state.  I've just returned from Kent, where they live, and despite a few days of rest at home I am still feeling relatively shell shocked.  The worry, multiple hospital and medical visits, helping them work out every day practicalities and putting support services in place have played their part in the mental exhaustion and stress, but there is more to it than that.  I'm in shock about how all this could have happened.

When you are young you don't really think much about your parents not being around, and in fact it hadn't really hit me until relatively recently.  Mum will be 75 this year and despite her long struggle with cancer, it wasn't that long ago that she was still out walking along the cliff tops of Cornwall or in their local woodlands at a fair pace.  The fact that she is still with us four years on from diagnosis and major surgery is a credit to her.  Most people last about 18 months with her diagnosis.  As for dad, who will be 81 this year, he's not long stopped getting on the house roof to adjust tiles and climbing trees with chain saws.  To see and try to come to terms with both of them in their current state is the most upsetting and exhausting thing of all.  None of us expected this.

Whilst I was in Kent, the newest film from the creators of the award-winning documentary Cowspiracy was pre-released. What The Health exposes the collusion and corruption in government and big business that is costing us trillions, and keeping us sick.  As contributors to the crowd funding of this film, we got access to see the pre-release for free. Having witnessed my parents being pumped full of prescription drugs and being at the mercy of the medical profession, the timing of What The Health couldn't have been any more apt, shocking, moving, and personally influential at the same time.

Now I am by no means knocking the 'on the ground' NHS or medical profession in this country (we are very very fortunate to have such a system).  In terms of the care my parents have received, it has been extremely good. Neither am I holding my parents responsible for how things have turned out, or for continuing along the pathway of medical care they are currently on.  It is what it is and, despite offering various suggestions for potential improvements, their generation is unquestioningly dedicated to and trusting in the medical industry.  Most of us ultimately are to a certain extent, as much as some of us try and resist it

But I'm confused and I'm angry.  I'm angry that the world over we have a medical industry that seems to put profit before health, that teaches and promotes treatment over prevention, that prescribes drugs to combat the ill effects of other drugs and that is sponsored by profit seeking companies.  I'm confused by the way that many health care professionals go along with what the medical industry dictates.  I'm confused by the way that many medical charities concentrate their efforts on treatments and seemingly ignore prevention.  I'm scared by the amount of people, young and old, I've seen in the oncology departments I have had the displeasure of passing through recently. And I'm scared that these people have so much trust in what is being done to them without question.  Blind fear and denial has many of us sleep walking to our deaths.  Sure a lot of health advances have been made, but that doesn't mean that there is not something uncomfortably wrong with the 'following the money' course the mainstream medical industry seems to be increasingly deluded on.  

Part of the reason for being vegan is to do the best I can to try and prevent harm to myself as much as to other beings and the environment.  Prevention; surely we all want that right?  Well no actually, an awful lot of people don't seem to, or rather are taught not to.  Instead we are taught that your only chance is to take this expensive drug or give money to that charity who will then use that money to try and research a drug which will 'wave a magic wand' and cure the evil of disease.  Well, I feel a lot of dis-ease about the two 'elephants' called 'Prevention' and 'Nutrition' that sit in the room of the medical industry and charities but still continue to be ignored.  What The Health puts a spot light on those 'elephants' and more importantly the industry that chooses to ignore them.

Seeing my parents as they now are, and seeing What the Health has not only enforced my reasons for being vegan, but it has also made me think even more about whether I am doing enough to keep myself as healthy as possible.  Ask yourself why we have a health system that is neither teaching or encouraging people to take responsibility for themselves? How can that be happening on any level let alone on such a massive scale?  Nobody is completely immune from health issues but I'm determined to do my level best to stay out of a system whose end game is profit.  Even if I do end up in the system, I want to make damn sure I keep my eyes wide open to make sure my end game is not their profit. There may well be alternatives out there that are ignored purely because there is no profit to be made.

Please, if you get the chance, vegan or not, take a look at What The Health.  Ask yourself, who has the biggest stake in your continued good health and who gets to profit the most out of a sick population?  At the very least think about the issues being tackled here.  It is surely food for thought right?