It was both my mums and my birthday last month and I was thoroughly spoilt.

Being Bengali one of the traditions my mum does is to make 5 fried items as part of my birthday dinner.

This is known as ‘panch bhaja’ literally translating to ‘five fried’

The number five is considered lucky and auspicious in Hinduism, and Panch Bhaja is prepared to invoke blessings and good fortune. It is a traditional meal made at weddings, birthdays and first rice ceremonies known as Annaprasan.

A more detailed explanation, the number 5 refers  to:

• Five elements: earth (prithvi) water (Jala) air (Vayu) space (Akash)
• Five colours (red, blue, yellow, white, black)
• Five faces of Shiva
• Five senses
• Five organs

As well as this my mum also made Payesh or rice pudding and my favourite dishes for dinner 🙂

These were:

Prawn curry

Daal (lentils)

Chana (cottage cheese)

Kheer komola (mandarin and cream dessert)

We then visited Biviano’s over the weekend for a birthday lunch

Our menu included

• Burrata
• Zucchini flowers
• Roasted capsicum
• Tempura prawns
• Spaghetti Oglio
• Lamb Shanks
• Risotto
• Roasted Cauliflower
• Ice cream cake for dessert

The following week we celebrated my mums birthday with a sixtieth birthday party at home. The menu included

• Prawn dumpling
• Peking duck
• Tempura prawn
• Salt and Pepper Eggplant
• Soft shell crab
• Khao san noodle
• Thai fried rice
• Mousse cake

It was a great week and I was so thankful to spend it with all my loved ones 🙂

With love,

Luna x