The Pleasures of Eating an Ice-Cream is Universal
Among all human pleasures, food pleasures rank high and in it, pleasures of eating an ice-cream always take an honorable place with its smooth creamy taste.
In Search of an Exceptionally Pleasurable Dinner
Tukai deserved an evening out. I gave him options—“Music World? Oxford?” “No way”, his answer was emphatic—it has to be a special dinner. He loves to eat. We call him a gourmet and an evening out with him must nothing less than be a grand dinner. I knew this, but teased him a bit.
“Where to go?” Quick came the reply, “Park Street.”
In our city, most of the good old restaurants are bunched up along this half a kilometer long strip. “So be it”, I concurred.
We started walking from where Park Street begins. I told him, “We will walk slowly and look around. Whichever place takes our fancy we will step-in.” It was a cool Saturday evening. At this time of the year before summer sets in, the sea breeze makes the evenings very pleasant. Happily we strolled. Me talking non-stop as I do with him and he responding occasionally at the right places with the right sounds.
We were on the left sidewalk and I knew that a few of the most desirable destinations are on the other side of the street. Offering him lesser options near-at-hand and being instantly rejected, we went ahead. The evening was young, and we were in no hurry.
Got There At Last
After crossing the intersection of Camac Street I had to stop. “Tukai, now we have to cross the street and backtrack,” I said, “No more possible choices ahead. All the good ones we left behind us.” Just as we crossed the street, turned around and walked a few steps ahead, Tukai exclaimed with firm conviction, “I know where to go. Guess.” Faintly I remembered a famous Chinese restaurant nearby. “But it is very costly Tukai”, I tried to discourage him. With a reassuring smile he said, “No no, only a little more pricey than Peter Cat”. We both knew Peter Cat well. Only a few steps, and lo, there it was—the Chinese one. Tukai stepped-in, with me tagging along.
The Dinner, Especially the Taste of the Starter was Awesome
It was early evening. No rush yet. We took our seats comfortably. Menu book—it was much more than a card—placed before us. Tukai went through all the items with great care and placed his order. It is our custom—he places the order, I eat. The starter was simply stunning. Though I am not a formal food lover, it was one of the best tastes even I had ever experienced. The lovely dinner ended with an Chocolate Mousse which both of us enjoyed enormously. The amount of food was less, but the eating experience was special and very satisfying.
What About an After-dinner Ice-Cream to End the Evening on a High Note?
While coming out contented, I probed him, “I want to have an ice-cream.” As expected, he pounced on my offer, “Me too.” “What about the Chocolate Mousse you just had?” I teased. “Oh, it is nothing, I will have another.”
We chose a nearly empty but a nice ice-cream parlor where you can have your seat and enjoy your ice-cream. I never before paid any special attention to the large varieties of ice-cream or for that matter to the ice-cream preparations.
Tukai chose his item instantly—a Black Forest. Feeling a little helpless on what to choose, I asked the man at the counter, “Tell me, what should I have?” It is to his credit that without asking too many questions, he just pointed to a large picture on the wall. “Take that. I assure you it would be very special.” It was an ice-cream preparation. I was not very sure, “What does it contain?”, I asked. He explained. I said, “Ok, that’s it then.”
Mingling Together
Tukai’s Black Forest came in a large glass adorned with good-looking tidbits. It was a mixture of many items—it was an ice-cream preparation after all. My item came next. Looking at the container itself I felt happy. It was a dark bone china boat with a big multi-colored, mainly white blob floating on a dark brown thick semi-liquid substance.
I sliced my spoon vertically from top to bottom and put the first scoop in my mouth. Immediately I realized why the name. Relishing the next two mouthfuls, I offered Tukai, who took two more. “Now do you understand why the name?” I asked him. “Hot and cold, white and brown, smooth semi-liquid and crunchy solid.” He is perceptive and never misses his mark much.
My Feel Good, Taste Good, Look Good Ice-Cream
It was mainly a chunk of hot brownie neatly floating on a bed of hot liquid chocolate with a large scoop of pure white vanilla ice-cream topping which melted and flowed down. I have gone through life's experiences that men usually go through. To me, the hot and cold mixture melting and crunching in my mouth evoked special memories unconnected with food. Tukai is only sixteen. His perception surely was different and can only be an extension of reasoning. But I admired the man who designed this concoction and so aptly named it. He must have been an artist with a thorough understanding of connections between various human sensual pleasures.
While I paid, the man at the counter asked, “How was your Duet of Love?”
The Duet of Love will remain to me a piece of sheer Poetry in Food.
You must also have experienced pure bliss in food and other sensual pleasures, I am sure. Among all, great food invariably gives us unforgettable pleasure. One of the few though never leaves us. Should you try to rank your pleasures? Not that way, my dear friend. Ranking means comparison and it spoils the purity. Great pleasures are incomparable.
Pleasures of Eating an Ice-Cream Isn't Just One Pleasure
Often I thought, why the Duet of Love I could never forget? The perfectly designed look reflecting the name? The mix of sensualities in my each bite? The unmistakable sexual innuendo? All bound together by the name? Or, is it just an high-dose release of the "feel-good" endorphin hormones? Can you shed any light?