Hi Everyone, Like many people, when I travel overseas, I like to shop for electronic gadgets, fine jewellery, clothing and shoes. But in addition to all of that, top on my list is a visit to a kitchen store or any store that stocks and sells specialty cooking tools and equipment. That was certainly the case on my last visit to Guyana.
I had to go to Auto Supplies. No, really, I needed to. I had to get a replacement screw for one of my pressure cooker covers. And yes, I wanted to ogle at the range of cookers and pans, just in case I saw something I had to have. While I was tempted by the sale prices on the stainless steel pressure cookers, I had to restrain myself because I had already organized to bring back certain things that were very close to LIAT’s 50-pound baggage limit. But I just couldn’t leave empty handed. Last year when I had visited, the Futura 13-inch tawah had caught my eye. I couldn’t get it then, well, because I had bought two pressure cookers to bring back with me, and the LIAT weight-thing again, you know.
Now you may want to ask, if I needed the 13-inch tawah or if it was a matter of wanting the tawah. Since I have already bought the tawah and lest I be judged, I would say that I needed the tawah. Here are two very valid reasons, in no particular order.
A few years ago I wanted to treat some of my graduating students to Guyanese Dhal Puri. Working with my prized 10-inch cast iron tawah it took me a long time to finish cooking the 40 Dhal Puri. I ended up arriving at the get-together later than expected but everything turned out well. Since then I kept thinking – I need to get another tawah so that I can work twice as fast!
Closely related, is the second reason I needed to get another tawah. Whenever I am entertaining and roti or any type of flat bread is on the menu, I like to serve it hot, right off the stove. The reason is that I want my guests to enjoy the breads at their optimum in terms of texture, temperature and flavour. What this means is that I insist that they start the meal without me sitting at the table because I want to cook and bring the roti/flat bread right from the tawah to their plates. I figured that if I had 2 tawah(s), then I could finish cooking the roti/flat breads faster and be sitting with everyone shortly after the meal begins. You see? I have good and valid reasons.
I also figured that if I was going to get another tawah that I’d get one a little larger than my first one; this would facilitate me making larger roti/flat breads, thus cutting down on the quantity to be made and shortening the time spent cooking. Here’s another reason I wanted a larger tawah. Have you ever found yourself rolling the dough larger than the tawah and then scrambling to pull it in from the edges? A larger cooking surface takes care of that, easily.
My first tawah is a 10-inch heavy cast iron tawah that my mom had specially cut and made for me from one of the sugar estates. I consider it among my prized possessions. I love it because it conducts heat well, does not burn my roti, flat breads or pancakes.
The new tawah I bought – 13-inch non-stick Futura – is a pleasure to cook with. It fits nicely on my stovetop and the heavy gauge material used for the Futura line of pot and pans, ensures that the pan heats evenly and retains the heat temperature throughout cooking. One of the things that you can get weary of is wide pots and pans that the heat focuses only in the centre, so it is wonderful to have a pan that heats evenly all round – from the centre to the edges – ensuring consistent cooking. Since I bought the pan I have made several things to test the surface – roti (various types), pancakes, French toast, regular toast and I’ve also cooked eggs on my tawah. I was really impressed with the toasting of bread. No matter which part of the pan the bread was – in the centre or outer edge, they all browned well without me having to move the slices around to ‘hot spots’. Clean up? Very easy, most of the times I simply wipe the surface with a kitchen paper towel.
I am very happy and pleased with my purchase; it’s a best buy.
Cynthia
