Hyphenated-Homestead

Part 4: Food, Family, and a Walk Down Memory Lane

If you are binge reading, please carry on. If you just landed here from internet ether, I request to start reading from the top (Part 1)

The first bite of home-cooked food after years away is more than just a meal—it’s a homecoming in itself.

After the overnight adventure from Mumbai to Pune, the first order of business wasn’t sleep. It wasn’t unpacking. It wasn’t even stepping out to explore the city.

It was food.

Ambadyachi Bhaji – A Taste of Childhood

The first meal at home wasn’t just any meal. It was ambadyachi bhaji—a simple, tangy, and utterly comforting dish made from sorrel leaves, cooked the way only home kitchens in Maharashtra can do justice.

The moment I took the first bite, I knew: I was back.

The tartness of the ambadi, the warmth of freshly made bhakri, and that unmistakable aroma of home cooking—it was everything I had missed.

Traveling across the world, eating in Michelin-starred restaurants, trying exotic cuisines—none of it compares to the food that carries the taste of home.

Kayani Bakery – Some Things Never Change

Day 1 wasn’t just about settling in. It was about checking off must-dos from my list.

And high on that list? Kayani Bakery.

If you know Pune, you know Kayani. An age-old bakery in the Camp area, where people still line up before opening hours—morning and afternoon—just to get their hands on legendary treats like Shrewsbury biscuits and Mawa cakes.

I had been eating at Kayani’s biscuits since childhood, and walking into that bakery, with its old-world charm and the smell of freshly baked goodness, was like stepping into a time machine.

Some places evolve with the times. Kayani doesn’t. And that’s exactly why people love it.

Meetups That Matter the Most

This trip was filled with meetups—friends, extended family, familiar faces from childhood. But some visits were non-negotiable. Because as much as this trip was about experiencing the new Pune, it was also about reconnecting with the past.

The truth is hard to say out loud, but here it is: Only two remain from my parents’ generation.

My Mawshi (mom’s sister) and my Aatya (dad’s sister).

There’s a certain ache in realizing that time has moved on, that voices you once heard every day are now only in memories. But meeting them—it wasn’t about sadness. It was about connection.

The moment I saw them, it was like stepping back into childhood. Their voices, their laughter, the way they fussed over me, the food they made me eat (of course)—it was an instant reminder of everything I had grown up with.

These weren’t just visits. They were time capsules.

A reminder that even though life moves forward, some bonds remain untouched by time. And sitting there, between bites of home-cooked meals and endless conversations, I knew: This trip was already everything I hoped it would be.

If you missed the opening blog post about this series, please read it here.

Next up: As I soaked in all these moments of nostalgia and connection, I was also eager for something special—an opportunity I had never had before. Attend अब-Normal Home’s Annual Skill Development Workshop.

Curious to know what that is? Coming up – next!

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