Saturday, September 11, 2021
Coconut scraper
I had two coconuts to grate so I selected a bigger plate for the job. While grating my thoughts kept drifting and I was wondering "is it the same plate?"
Once I was through, I emptied the plate, flipped it and had a closer look at the bottom. Yes, the marking was there. It was 30 year ago that I got this from my employer. They had distributed it to all the employees on the completion of the millionth vehicle. The old emblem also could be seen (The present Tata Motors was known as Telco in those days - Tata Engineering and Locomotive Company) It was very difficult to photograph it as everything was almost worn out after 30 years so I had to dust it with some talcum powder, and then enhance it a bit in Photoshop so that one could read the inscription.
The coconut scraper too was pretty old and has seen better days (about 40 years old) There was a formation of a dent where the metal blade rested on the wood, so I keep a coin there to avoid further damage.
The scraper in this open position reminded me of Mrs Kelkar, our old neighbour in Bombay from the early 60s. I remember her advice to her daughter वापरात नसताना ते बंद ठेवा (when not in use keep it closed)
A simple safety advice which goes a long way.
A part of this grated coconut went into our puttu (steamed rice cake) and I made a 20 sec video on it (the puttu)
The song in the video is by Dr Akhila Alexander.
Couldn't help with the train of thoughts while grating.
You are using historical items, interesting!
ReplyDeleteAh the lovely grater.... and capturing the inscription is just awesome.. didnt know it myself after all these years that this plate had such significance... Thanks for sharing pa.
ReplyDeleteVery nice memory :-) - Sasi Iyer
ReplyDeleteGreat! We are also using those plates still! Good old memories! :-)
ReplyDeleteWelcome to older years and reminiscing.
ReplyDeleteIt's the type of activity that allows the mind to wander at will, and you never know where exactly it is going to take you.
ReplyDeleteIt's good when the tools have a history.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your thoughts and memories, pleased that these older items are still in use :)
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Ah! What a pain it is to grate coconut, but how rewarding it is to eat the stuff in various forms, most notably chutney. Having lived next door to Mrs Kelkar, what I remember most is the wonderful aromas wafting from her kitchen and the delicacies she plied us with on festive occasions. Those were simpler times when, as a child, you could walk into a neighbour's house and be offered a taste of whatever was cooking.
ReplyDeleteFond memories but as Christine pointed out these are not in vogue. Well polished they serve as curios
ReplyDeleteI made a coconut scraper for my wife a few years ago. But mine is fixed and doesn't fold like yours. I hang it in the pantry.
ReplyDeleteThere's something very special about using old tools, isn't there?
ReplyDeleteThat's the sort of coconut grater we have in Kerala.
ReplyDeleteYou still have it because it's so old. New tools go bad very fast.
What a neat plate, and coconut scraper. I've never heard of a coconut scraper. Those coconuts look delicious! Oh my, I just may have to buy myself one to eat.
ReplyDeleteGreat story. It would make you look forward to grating a coconut!
ReplyDeleteI've never had fresh coconut! I love this story!
ReplyDeleteSweet memories!! We used to have this coconut grater in different shapes. One question Joe Chetan, did you manage to sit on it and grate?
ReplyDeleteEvery occasion was engraved on vessels and they take your memories back to those days!!
Right Jinsy. One had to sit on it and do it. We usually keep it on the kitchen platform and do it so that the legs are dangling down. The more agile and young ones can do it by sitting on the floor. This is multipurpose and the middle portion can be used for cutting meat etc
ReplyDeleteI have tried to find the plate, but unfortunately, could not find it.
ReplyDeleteRegards
Madanlal Sharma
Things have such memories & value!
ReplyDeleteTELCO, it was!
Thoughts keep coming & enriching while we indulge in day-to-day activities like grating coconut :)
Sending Positive Vibes
ReplyDeleteCheers
It's nice that your tools have such history behind them. I've never tried puttu, but it sounds delicious!
ReplyDeleteMy mother still uses a scrapper like this
ReplyDeleteHi Haddock - just checking your blog - it's been a while since you posted so hope you and wifey/family are all ok. We don't have useful tools like this in the UK - coconut would be bought in tins (milk or cream) and the fresh coconuts we see in supermarkets are usually very dried up and we attack them with a hammer to get them open which takes ages and usually involves several people 'having a bash', then scrape out bits of flesh to eat, we then put the broken shell out for the birds to get the last of the flesh.
ReplyDeleteOh, well, the mind does wander, doesn't it? :-)
ReplyDeleteGreetings from London.
So interesting!
ReplyDeleteVery neat coconut scraper. I love coconut, and it sounds really good added to the rice. It always amazes me when people can sing!
ReplyDelete~Sheri