After 16 months of being open, curiosity finally got the better of me today and I googled ‘Prison Food Trays‘. The reason for this strange search is that one too many yelp reviewer (5 total) has commented that they feel like they are eating on prison trays at Kasa. These comments perplexed me for a while, as I haven’t understood the rationale (thankfully having never eaten in prison). Post Google search, I can see where the connection is coming from. Prison food is indeed served in compartmentalized trays, as is our food at Kasa.
Kasa Thali
Prison Tray
I feel I must explain why we serve our meals on metal trays (called a ‘Thali’) here at Kasa. We do it as an homage to the vast majority of people in India (many of humble socioeconomic status) who eat out of these trays each and every day and have done so for centuries. Nowadays, the wealthier classes in India tend to use porcelain plates in an attempt to mimic the West and distinguish themselves from the poor. But we love the metal thalis because they are extremely durable, never break and fit our vibe of being ultra-practical. We think they look pretty cool too…
Our thalis, plates and bowls are all imported from India with the help of my very interesting cousin Kiwi, to whom we owe many thanks as we had him searching for days on end for just the right sizes, weight, shininess, etc.
We aim to be true to the way Indians serve and eat food in their daily lives. I would never have guessed that the plates would make people feel like they were eating like prisoners, or even eating in an ultra modern place (a separate confusion that we hear occasionally).
My hope is that some of the Yelpers commenting about prison plates are able to read this blog and realize (just as I have done today) that it appears that the majority of India and prisoners in the US have something in common. They both eat out of compartmentalized trays :)
On some level, I find this discovery extremely cool. Thalis are a no-nonsense, no-frills, humble way to eat. I’m guessing that this is the reason for the trays in prison too. Hopefully, most of you find our actual food to be at least a cut above though…
Cousin Kiwi
Gujurati Thali
South Indian Thali
North Indian Thali
Don’t forget, we eat in thalis in the Gurdwara too!
Loved this!
How enlightening!
Complaining about a prison feel?
How can that even come up? I’m too distracted by the deliciousness of my food.
I’m a fan!
Cool blog!
I’m a big fan of Kasa. Great-tasting kati rolls!!
I have wonderful memories of eating wonderful foods in India in 1969…on metal thali and on banana leaves, too. I always look forward to my meals at Kasa. Thank you!
Cousin Kiwi looks like he’s living the dream (Indian style).
There was a cartoon in the New Yorker when I was little: “A Child’s Hall of Horrors”. My parents saved it because one of the horrors was “The Plate with Different Kinds of Food Touching Each Other!”, and that was something that freaked me out! They should have gotten me a thali!
I hope to come to your restaurant soon. It looks lovely!
Hi Tess
We hope to see you in the store soon too. You may have already seen me and my daughter who is obsessed with sweets and cupcakes at Miette:)
Anamika
Fantastic information in your post, I watched a report on television the other day about this same thing and since I am getting married in two weeks and the timing couldn’t have been better! thanks for the tip!, I have bookmarked, thanks Allen Musto
Thalis they are the wow factor, your food stays nice and hot in these plates,, and taste far better then in china plates, also not alot of washing up at the end
Where do you get your trays? I have been looking everywhere for steel divided plates and cannot find them… Thanks!
Hi Beverly
We got our trays from India. You are able to find some at the Indian stores in Berkley. There are all kinds of quality. Generally the heavier it is, the better the quality