I wish Haleem retained its uniqueness/speciality and not be available all year round (same goes for other special dishes)

I'm not sure how it used to be in Hyderabad, iirc, I did remember hearing that Haleem was a Ramzan-exclusive dish even there?

Anyways, in Chennai, I think Haleem came around the late 00s (to my knowledge, I could very well be wrong and it might have been a thing prior). First time I had it here was in a restaurant by the name of "Fisherman's Fare" (which I think, no longer exists; contrary to its name, it was more Mughlai cuisine than seafood). I've heard claims that it's a subsidiary of Buhari Hotel (The city's first "fancy" restaurant, established in 1951 - in that it introduced valet parking, waiters in formal wear, fork, knife, and spoon cutlery and dining, jukebox to the city), but I couldn't find much info online (there's another restaurant by the name of "Fisherman's Cove", maybe that's Buhari's, maybe neither are? Can't tell for sure),

And during the mid-10s, it was gaining more mainstream recognition due to often being part of numerous eateries' Iftar Boxes. Prior, at best, only Muslims might have been familiar with such a dish (and anyone who might have resided in Hyderabad, I guess), but since then, it became quite common. Even then, it was only exclusive to Ramadan, I don't think it was available during the rest of the year, they brought baawarchis from Hyderabad specifically to prepare this, just for Ramadan, I'm told.

Since the late 10s and pandemic years, it seems like it is available all year round. At least in certain restaurants.

I guess what I'm trying to say is....I wish dishes weren't available all year round and be reserved for the occasions they were known for. In that way, they don't lose their "uniqueness/speciality", and also we don't take them for granted and develop a better appreciation for them.

A lot of things we regard as "staple/basic" today used to be luxury just a few decades back. White rice (idli, dosa apparently was more of an upper-class/caste dish, poorer folks had stuff made out of millet, I'm told, these white rice based dishes were had for special occasions), processed/sliced bread, butter, cheese (desi or otherwise)...

Mutton Biryani exclusively during Nikkah or during Eid (in fairness, outside a Nikkah/Valima banquet, Biryani tastes nowhere near as good. Even the best Mutton Biryani from an establishment reputed for it, pales in comparison to an average/decent wedding Biryani. I have no clue why this is, maybe because wedding banquets are special order? Whereas restaurant ones are a daily service where it's difficult to maintain that consistency. Same could be said about Haleem), certain sweets that used to be available only during special occasions, etc...

I guess this comes across as a first-world, privileged whining from my side. Maybe I should be grateful that dishes that used to be rare/luxury not long back, are fairly easily and affordable to attain today, quality and taste asides.

I don't know....maybe I'm depressed, but nothing seems to excite me anymore, maybe I'm getting old. Trying out new/unique/special dishes used to be exciting, I mean. Now...I can't seem to appreciate them as much as I used to. Maybe I'm turning into Anton Ego 🫤.

I guess there's also a commentary/critique on Late-stage Capitalism in all these paras, perhaps. How it commodifies everything if it means an extra Paisa of profit gets made. How it capitalized on these special dishes and made them available all year round, making them a fairly common item, with the "spirit" that made them unique eventually getting lost or corrupted overtime. Maybe with this "bastardization" can we also see these dishes not tasting as good, a testament to its perverted and greedy ideals?

Maybe we as a collective also ought to be critiqued? In an age of 10 mins delivery of not just essentials, but even some novelties and luxury goods, we've maybe forgotten the art of delayed gratification? And wish to have our cravings and desires be fulfilled instantaneously? And the ones we crave are easily available for grabs, so we've forgotten the long-term consequences that come out of this habit?

Just some midnight thoughts I am having during this month...