I intend to post "beeps" (short reviews like tweets, but not quite as short) on food in Bangalore. In essence, the long and short of food, the way I see it, in Bangalore.
Friday, February 19, 2010
A taste of Amchi Maharashtra in Namma Bengalooru.
Maharashtrian cuisine is so very earthy but hardly ever features on the menus of High Street restaurants or even neighbourhood eateries. At best, you get glimpses of it through the shenga powders, bakris and shenga polis at the many neighbourhood North Karnataka Food Outlets (because of their shared culinary habits) or street food like vada pav.
Once, at the cafe at Ranga Shankara, I savoured the most amazing sabudana vadas. They were just melt-in-the-mouth and to die for. But for this, my quest for Maharashtrian food had come to a nought - until I heard of Rajvardhan Foods.
Rajvardhan Foods is a darshini-style, standing room only eatery in Jayanagar. Their menu boasts of typical Maharashtrian delicacies like vada pav, sabudana vada, sabudana khichdi, dabeli, misal pav, thalipeeth, upavas thalipeeth, poha, shrikhand puri, pav bhaji, bhakri bhaji(brinjal curry with peanut gravy), amras puri(seasonal) and chana puri. I don't claim to be a connoiseur of Maharashtrian food, but I loved the amras puri, sabudana khichdi and thalipeeth. Sabudana vadas were good, but definitely not great-I would have liked them less greasy, and so was the dabeli and vada pav. This place is highly recommended for the authentic spread on offer, though they could do well to make for comfortable seating and standing space. (When I last visited, the standing space was completely on the pavement.) This place also stocks some Maharashtrian snacks and condiments and provides take-aways.
Address : 1291, 9th Block, Jaya Nagar, Bangalore.
Near ICICI Bank, Opposite KC Das Sweets,
Ph: 080-26540132, 9886303088/89
Once, at the cafe at Ranga Shankara, I savoured the most amazing sabudana vadas. They were just melt-in-the-mouth and to die for. But for this, my quest for Maharashtrian food had come to a nought - until I heard of Rajvardhan Foods.
Rajvardhan Foods is a darshini-style, standing room only eatery in Jayanagar. Their menu boasts of typical Maharashtrian delicacies like vada pav, sabudana vada, sabudana khichdi, dabeli, misal pav, thalipeeth, upavas thalipeeth, poha, shrikhand puri, pav bhaji, bhakri bhaji(brinjal curry with peanut gravy), amras puri(seasonal) and chana puri. I don't claim to be a connoiseur of Maharashtrian food, but I loved the amras puri, sabudana khichdi and thalipeeth. Sabudana vadas were good, but definitely not great-I would have liked them less greasy, and so was the dabeli and vada pav. This place is highly recommended for the authentic spread on offer, though they could do well to make for comfortable seating and standing space. (When I last visited, the standing space was completely on the pavement.) This place also stocks some Maharashtrian snacks and condiments and provides take-aways.
Address : 1291, 9th Block, Jaya Nagar, Bangalore.
Near ICICI Bank, Opposite KC Das Sweets,
Ph: 080-26540132, 9886303088/89
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Auroville Cookies.
I just picked up a packet of Auroville Cookies (Chocolate and Date) from Mother Earth in Indiranagar, a month ago and I still can't get over the taste. The cookies I tried were made of Whole wheat and soya flour, with organic brown jaggery and dates and chocolate. I've never eaten cookies as tasty and wholesome before this. Priced at, I think, Rs.83/- for a packet of 10, they are not exactly a steal. But, for that quality and taste it is absolute value for money. Wonder where else in Bangalore, you can buy Auroville products. This is something I'm going back for more.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Instant Jackfruit (Chakka Varatty) Payasam (for Dummies!).
If you ask me to cast my vote for the King of all Fruits - Jackfruit it will be, without a doubt, and the red (Chandra Halasu) variety available easily around Bangalore, at that. Jackfruit gets its name from the Sanskrit tchackka and is a native of India, growing wild in the evergreen forests of the Western Ghats. What's amazing is that this tree with one of the largest edible fruits in the plant world, actually belongs to the Fig family - hard to believe, right? Coastal communities seem to have mastered the art of using Jackfruit in myriad ways to churn out delicacies that literally leave us lusting for more.
If you are the kind, who drool over Jackfruit, in whatever form, then
this is manna for you. Your fave fruit in an extremely heady concoction in a matter of minutes. No sweat, no mess - a New, Improved Chakka Varatty Payasam. Here goes -
Serves two, Preparation time 15 minutes.
Double Horse Chakka Varatty (100% natural, no preservatives, no added colours/fat/flavours, no pesticides) 100g (one third of the packet).
2 heaped tablespoons of Coconut Milk Powder - any brand. Just dissolve it completely (no lumps) in one and a half cups of water.
Add the Chakka Varatty to the second extract coconut milk and stir well so there are no lumps and cook till done (just about boiling)(around 10 minutes). Can consume this right away, if you can't stop yourself!
Add freshly ground cardamom, clove or dry ginger or any combination of these for added flavour, if required.
Optionally, you can now add the first extract coconut milk (1 tbsp Coconut milk powder in half a cup of water) and some melted jaggery to make it sweeter. Cook till it mixes well. Take care not to boil as the first extract should never be boiled.
Serve hot or chilled.
If you are the kind, who drool over Jackfruit, in whatever form, then
this is manna for you. Your fave fruit in an extremely heady concoction in a matter of minutes. No sweat, no mess - a New, Improved Chakka Varatty Payasam. Here goes -
Serves two, Preparation time 15 minutes.
Double Horse Chakka Varatty (100% natural, no preservatives, no added colours/fat/flavours, no pesticides) 100g (one third of the packet).
2 heaped tablespoons of Coconut Milk Powder - any brand. Just dissolve it completely (no lumps) in one and a half cups of water.
Add the Chakka Varatty to the second extract coconut milk and stir well so there are no lumps and cook till done (just about boiling)(around 10 minutes). Can consume this right away, if you can't stop yourself!
Add freshly ground cardamom, clove or dry ginger or any combination of these for added flavour, if required.
Optionally, you can now add the first extract coconut milk (1 tbsp Coconut milk powder in half a cup of water) and some melted jaggery to make it sweeter. Cook till it mixes well. Take care not to boil as the first extract should never be boiled.
Serve hot or chilled.
South Canara food
Ever longed for an authentic Saraswat meal or a typical Mangalorean snack in Bangalore?
I have and I'm glad I've found SONA CATERERS a.k.a. Kodial (# 92, 'SHRUSTI', 1st TEMPLE ROAD, B/w 8th & 10th CROSS, MALLESHWARAM, BANGALORE - 560 003 Phone : +91 80 23441794 Mobile: +91 98440 71663 ).
Started by the Nayaks in 1991 as a sweet shop and then growing into a catering service, they now have a restaurant and take-away service too. They offer all the Mangalorean delicacies that you can think of - Kotte, Moode, Buns, Biscuit rotti, Golibajje, Patholi, Pathrode, different type of gashi’s, idlis, dosas and very unsual Payasas and sweets. There's a huge range of Mangalorean condiments available too. Their meals (unlimited) are absolute value for money. Weekdays are less crowded
Average splurge for two should be around Rs.150. Go try for yourself!
I have and I'm glad I've found SONA CATERERS a.k.a. Kodial (# 92, 'SHRUSTI', 1st TEMPLE ROAD, B/w 8th & 10th CROSS, MALLESHWARAM, BANGALORE - 560 003 Phone : +91 80 23441794 Mobile: +91 98440 71663 ).
Started by the Nayaks in 1991 as a sweet shop and then growing into a catering service, they now have a restaurant and take-away service too. They offer all the Mangalorean delicacies that you can think of - Kotte, Moode, Buns, Biscuit rotti, Golibajje, Patholi, Pathrode, different type of gashi’s, idlis, dosas and very unsual Payasas and sweets. There's a huge range of Mangalorean condiments available too. Their meals (unlimited) are absolute value for money. Weekdays are less crowded
Average splurge for two should be around Rs.150. Go try for yourself!
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