Comments on: Lamb biryani

By: Aubrey

Aubrey — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 09:38:24 +0000

I quite agree with your point Ms. Connie. I am not an experienced cook, but when I do get cooking advices from other people who’s not my grandma or my mom ( of course their way of cooking will be different from my grandma’s/mom’s) I try to substitute or add what I was used to. Like with ginisang munggo, some of my friends think I’m weird for putting sampalok mix to add a bit of sour taste but that was how I knew ginisang munggo was cooked. My husband actually told me one that a few of my dishes tasted different from his mom’s but not in a bad way. He said said that the way I cooked some dishes were actually tasted the way he wanted it to be.
I love your site Ms. Connie. Ignore those who do not understand. PEACE !!!

By: Connie

Connie — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 01:56:35 +0000

Thank you, Joan. I hope Banjolina reads your comment and choke on her statement about open-mindedness.

Hayaan mo na sya, Rose. There will always be people na makapintas na lang o maka-kontra na lang. Purists think they have the ONLY say in everything.

By: Rose

Rose — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 22:03:24 +0000

Late again, as usual… but nowhere on this recipe does Connie said that it’s “authentic” or anything, so surely the substitution isn’t a big deal since she’s also put the original ingredient in there.

By: joan

joan — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 15:05:01 +0000

i agree to ms.connie that there will be no two cooks will cook in exactly the same way.so if ms.connie wants to add coriander leaves and eatit1s wants to add coriander,each of them has no right to say that what the other one has done is not right or it cant be done.i believe that each cook has its own taste,preference and idea as well,so i think that eatit1s is wrong to say that ms.connie is wrong or it cant be done,it is a matter of respect..

to eatit1s,if you dont prefer coriander leaves as what ms.connie has done,just dont do it and substitute what you prefer,but never said it can’t be..because it is ms.connie’s choice.much better if you say..i cook it with coriander instead of coriander leaves and it tastes much better..”as it must sound personal opinion…and i do believe ms.connie would understand your personal opinion..but it is a big NO NO to insist for something or to correct that it cannot be…

as what ms.connie told,and as what i observed too,ms.connie always prefer that each cook add,subtract and substitute to suit their own taste…she never insist to use for something nor say it cant be…

eatit1s,hope you would closed your argument and just respect ms.connie’s preference…just cook the way you want to and never argument what is can and cannot be…just accepting one’s fault will do.

more power to ms.connie and belated happy bday,

i learned an exchange of ideas from both of you..thanks anyway…

ms.connie,as what everything i said,do i sound one-sided?

By: Connie

Connie — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 01:01:07 +0000

eatit1s, LOL so you’re not only dictating what can and cannot be included, you also have to dictate what word should be used to describe what was done.

Re “I think, perhaps, what you are meaning to say is that the 1/2 tsp. coriander doesn’t make much difference to the recipe…”

No, dear, it’s because they’re not always available.

“…adding coriander leaves tastes nice, too?”

yes, just perfect for me and my family.

should i point out the inconsistencies in your comments? you said, “but I would like to taste the dish the way the author intended.” then you go on to say that I AM the author. then, cook it the way I did if you want to taste it the way I intended. Of course, I always prefer that each cook add, subtract and substitute to suit their own taste.

@Ria, oh exactly!

@Gay, even Indian cookbooks and food blogs don’t have a uniform recipe for biryani. Just like no two Filipino cooks will cook adobo in exactly the same way.

@Banjolina, meaning? Say it straight and I’ll give you a straight answer as well.