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Big Basket and Divergent thinking

 I am one of those people who looks at a restaurant menu and asks - what is the most different item on this list. I am vegetarian and within those limits, I always make it a point to explore something different. 

And I have been rewarded with delightful experiences across the country. Whether it is in a little shack in Gokarna or a restaurant in Panaji or a small Maharashtrian outlet in Parel, Mumbai. To me, this is a great way to get the mind used to stepping out of familiar zones. And that is an important aspect of divergent thinking.

Cut to lockdown and I tried various dishes from across the country thanks to chefs on instagram. For each of these dishes, I had to source things that are not normally seen in our kitchen. Panchphoran, Cinnamon, Kalonji, Mustard oil - to name a few. And thus Big Basket is an outlet for building divergent thinking muscle. 

I learnt that there are different types of raisins, many herbal juices (positively abhorrent by way of taste, but with health benefits), types of cheese and what not. 

So, while my culinary skills have gone up - our taste buds have also gotten used to "think differently"

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