Jade Goody and her what? Poppadom? No, I am going to write about Jade Goody here. She has passed on and I shall let her rest in peace. However, I will want to talk about that thing called “poppodam” though. Now what on earth has this thing called poppadom got to do with Jade Goody? What was it that got more than half of the population of Ireland and United Kingdom slamming their computers for information about the poppodom?

Apparently, not long after Jaded Goody died, The Spoof (thespoof dot com) ran a spoof that was titled, “I want a poppadom, Jade Goody’s last wish.” That spoof by The Spoof was where the curiosity was aroused about this thing called poppadom. Let he tell you here, what this thing called the poppadom is all about.

Poppadom is an Indian delicacy, if you can call it that. Now Indian here is Indian as in people from India or whose ancestors originated from India and not Indian as in those you see in John Wayne movies. Those are called Red Indians, though I will never know why and as far as I know, Red Indian do not eat poppadom. Indians from India loves poppadom, and so do I.

I come from a country where more than 10 percent of the population are Indians. I have close Indian friends whom I love knocking pitchers with. I love Indian food, thus I love poppadom. It makes great tidbits when you are enjoying your mug of the golden brew and it is a super appetiser when you are eat it with your traditional Indian Banana Leave Rice, which again not to be misunderstood. Banana Leaf Rice does not mean you take your rice and chow down with banana leaves. It is rice served ON a banana leaf that has been cleaned. To enjoy it to the fullest, you have to eat it with your hands. Banana leaves do not exactly stand well against a fork and a spoon.

I have to remind you that when eating with your hands, it is good table manners and “hand eating” ethics that you use your right hand. Why is that so? Well, you see, the left hand is traditionally used for washing.. how should I put it.. your butt? your err.. arsehole? Whatever. You use your left hand to wash away your shit, if you want to put it that way. So it will be really repelling to eat grab your food and stick it into your mouth with that hand.

Okay back to the poppadom. This crispy, prawn cracker-like thingy is a compulsory item in a traditional Indian meal. Walk into any restaurant that serves banana leaf rice, you will be served with unlimited portion of rice mixed with gravy and 3 different type vegetables, beans and the 3 pieces of poppadom . There will be no extra charge should you request for more.

Now what you do is, you mix the gravy and the rice thoroughly, with your right hand of course. Take a little bit of the vegetable with your rice, hold it nimbly on the tip your 4 fingers, with your thumb folded in behind the lump of rice. Place your fingers with the rice carefully in front of your opened mouth and with your thumb, push the rice inside. Mmmm… yummy. While chewing, use your curry stained right hand fingers, pick up the poppadom and take a bite. Ahhh… heaven..that crackling sound. I am starting to believe that Jade Goody really wished for a pappodom with her last breath.