AsktheBuilder.com Issue #1322 (Not Sure!)

February 16, 2025

Dear ,

Mangos and BTUs

Nearly fifty years ago my lovely and sweet wife Kathy decided to make a different dinner for us. It had lots of curry in it. 

I HATED it.

Ever since that day, my brain said, "No more Indian food!"

Keep in mind I grew up with a limited diet because my Mom didn't do much cooking. She was the breadwinner and was too tired to stand around the stove when she got home from work. Mom spent all day on her feet all day as a pharmacist.

Fast forward to last Thursday. There's a serious teaching moment in this story.

My phone number is plastered all over the Internet. I have to answer calls from customers who want to buy Ask the Builder products or are about to order plumbing DWV or gas riser diagrams.

Businesses that don't publish a phone number make a big mistake in my opinion. That voice-to-voice human connection is rapidly transforming from history to legend to myth.

My standard ring tone is Morse code for the word CALL. Thursday morning the familiar dihs and dahs issued from my phone, and the caller ID showed Virginia.

I answered and Ravi told me he needed a gas riser diagram for a new Indian restaurant he was opening. CLICK HERE to discover what a gas riser diagram includes and looks like.

The restaurant had a most interesting name - Chowrashta. A loose translation is the intersection of two important roads creating a town square of sorts. It's a place you'd congregate for any number of reasons.

One thing led to another and Ravi told me his brother and sister-in-law owned an identical Indian restaurant with the same name in Nashua, New Hampshire! CLICK HERE to visit the website.

"I'll be in Nashua tomorrow. I work at my son's house every Friday and Saturday. We're finishing his large basement. I know he likes Indian food. Maybe we'll try it."

My son loves all different foods and he's a tremendous cook taking after Kathy. He's always trying to get me to try new foods and flavors. That said, he doesn't push too hard because he's respectful of my diet.

Just a month ago we were talking at lunch and he was busting my chops about how timid I am with food. He was encouraging me to take my taste buds on a walk on the wild side.

It's important to realize that within minutes of the phone call, Ravi and I made a psychic connection. This doesn't happen with many people I talk to, but it has happened on more occasions than I can remember. 

After all, I'm an extrovert and love talking to people. It drives Kathy crazy, because she's an introvert. I talk to strangers on elevators. It's a game I play. That's a story for another day.

After the phone call, Ravi and I were texting. He told me to reach out to him if I decided to visit his brother's restaurant.

The next thing I did was text my son letting him know about this restaurant. I wanted to see if he had patronized it.

A strong feeling welled up inside of me encouraging me to try out this restaurant.

"I was thinking we might try this place tomorrow. Can you look at the menu and see if there's something I might be able to tolerate?"

Minutes later my son got back, "Wow! I'm super excited you're going to try Indian food! I suggest we get two garlic naan, chicken dum biryani and a mango lassi. I'll try the goat biryani."

I shook my head reading his text. What the heck were those things?

Whatever... I'm sure I'll survive.

Something inside of me screamed to share this with Ravi. I texted him the selections to let him know we were going to his brother's place.

Ravi told me to text him when I pulled into the parking lot. I thought the reason for this was to remind his brother that I didn't want my food too spicy. 

I was wrong.

I walk into the clean and pleasant restaurant and went up to the counter. The store manager approached me and handed me a plastic bag with all the food.

"But I didn't even place my order!"

"No worries. Ravi let us know what to make. Enjoy."

"How much do I owe you?"

"Nothing. Thanks for coming and we hope you like the food."

A young woman then handed me a plastic cup filled with what looked like thick liquid butter. I tried to disguise my grimace. Yuck - who wants to drink thick BUTTER?

Minutes later I was back at my son's house. We opened everything and started to dig in. I took the below photos.

"Dad, you need to try this mango lassi. It's AMAZING!"

He had poured the thick concoction into two small glasses. It took everything I had to take a sip.

HOLY COW! It was sweet and tasty! Who knew???????

The rest of the food was delicious!

I share this story with you for any number of reasons. First and foremost it pays to be kind. Ravi didn't know me from Adam. His generosity made a huge impact on my life.

He didn't know I produce a newsletter that's delivered to tens of thousands of hungry subscribers!

But it gets even better.

The plumber who's installing the gas piping in Ravi's new Chowrashta restaurant located at 21100 Dulles Town Circle, Sterling, Virginia told me he plans to use me to draw all of his future DWV and gas riser diagrams.

It doesn't stop there. I texted Ravi telling him how good the food was. Of course, he already knew that. I thanked him for treating my son and I to lunch.

I then asked, "Ravi, do you own any other restaurants I can share with my subscribers?"

"Yes. My sister operates a third Chowrastha restaurant located at 905 Herndon Parkway, Herndon, VA - 20170."

If you like Indian food, or are willing to take your taste buds on a walk on the wilde side, please visit one of Ravi's locations!

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"Yeah, right. That's the way it is. It's down there and I'm in here. I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy livin' or get busy dyin'.

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#DoNotComply

Once bitten, twice shy...

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel

The BEST Love Story of all time - well, maybe a close second.

That's enough for a Sunday morning.

Peace out.

Tim Carter (PhD, FullyAwakeology)

Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com

Electromagnetic Adventures: www.W3ATB.com

My Pronouns: Told/You/So

Do It Right, Not Over!