Unlimited !

Lot's of unlimited food makes most of us happy children. I believe that a la carte menus are as much fun as buffets. The latter tends to give one a variety of choices of cuisines to pick from thus not leaving the decision of how much food from which section of the menu, to order, for a big table !

My tryst with buffets began in Dubai at a place that never changed it's menu for the next 10 years that I lived in The Emirates. Moving here got me to enjoy and love a special buffet The Girls and I would go to on Sundays. The menu there too - almost sort of never changed. But we never complained because - thanks to my wonderful interpersonal skills, we always managed to get a table even in a completely full house !

I do not mind the concept of a sit - down buffet as well. Infact the afternoon laziness gets to us so much, that sitting down and being served "all that you can eat" is a wonderful and very pleasing thought ! One such place in Bengaluru - is pretty and calming. It has a variety of cuisines to choose from and they are kind to you on your birthday. There are other places that have re-fills of unlimited soft drinks/iced teas as well as bottomless chips ! Now, that is something we haven't been able to resist in sooo many years !

The unlimited grilled starters, the over flowing chocolate fountain, the never ending array of biryanis. Buffets make us happy children. Value for monies. Skip dinners. Have a nice long nap and you're set for another 2 weeks !

I Heart Bangalore

Home is ?
I have a friend who told me sometime back that he does not have a place to call Home. I figured that is natural for so many of us who have lived in different countries, cities or towns over the years. I have moved too. Stayed away from India for a long period of time. But summer vacations always included one month in Delhi and the other in Bangalore.
The latter being my obvious choice of place of residence while I studied to get a degree.

I Heart Bangalore.

I have always felt welcome and never an outsider. I know the roads well enough to not get lost. I take pride in letting everyone know that it is a wonderful city to visit and settle down in - but if you're going to crib about the autowallas and food then please stay away. I may not know Kannada but I'm still accepted and get my way with Hindi.
Bangalore to me is where I actually grew up. Learnt life's lessons and developed a street smart sense of survival. Whether it was staying away from parents on Byrasandra Road with the girls, or travelling within the city to satisfy one's craving of food - I've enjoyed it all.
When it rains, the smell of the earth makes me smile non stop. The weather in Bangalore gives my heart wings and it feels wonderful. Sigh - ness !
Whether it's rock pubs, happy hours, free entry for ladies, bollywood nights, ladies nights - Bangalore is heaven for the out of townies who would like to just get high. You can enter anywhere with slippers as well ! I can wear my rocksters or oshos and enter The Beach without feeling underdressed.
I can walk on Church Street with the girls at 9:00 pm singing songs. The autos - green & yellow or the black & yellow do not take you for a ride unless you act stupid. Yes the charge is higher after 10:00 pm. But it is these very same autos that have taken 6 girls together from Indranagar to Jayanagar and not charged extra !

Bangalore is about the benne masala dosa at CTR, MTR, Vidyarthi Bhavan, Adiga's and Maiyas. It is about the mad weekend rush to have an Andhra Meal at Nandhini, Godavari, Nagarjuna, Bheema's or RR. It is about catering to the Chinese craving young crowd at Popsies, Chung Wah.

Bangalore is about not losing one's identity through the rapid and sudden development by retaining and maintaining what it has always stood for - Peace, Love, Unity and Joy !
The India Coffee House, Corner House, Airlines Restaurant, Koshy's, Fanoos, The Only Place, Purple Haze, K.C Das have been examples of this.
In this city, noone is in a big hurry and everyone takes their own sweet time to do what they please. We are not constantly on our toes. We are laidback. Not lazy. Maybe a little slow to have understood the need of better public transportation but not lazy !

Jayanagar is one of the most well planned localities in Asia while Indranagar is one of the most posh. Where Whitefield is slowly becoming the next hub, Koramangla rose from the dust to become the most sought after area to reside in. No matter where you stay, you will never find yourself lonely. It's against the city's culture.

You can choose to study at Mount Carmel College with only girls, St. Josephs that lies at the heart of the city, Christ University that has one of the biggest campuses or R.V Engineering, National College, Jyoti Nivas, etc. The list is endless.
You may visit Mysore, Hampi, Mangalore, Kerala, Chennai by road from the city and enjoy yourselves.

A Punjabi can say "what da ?" and fit in immediately. People are referred to as Macha and every word ends with the "oo"sound. You can speak like Yoda and nobody will laugh at you. You don't have to walk around in designer shoes carrying designer bags because we all love the street shopping at Commercial street and Brigade Road.

No matter how much I say I would like to run away, I know that deep down I always want to back. This is where - my parents got married, my grandparents retired, my family lives, I graduated (twice), my daddy was creamted. This is where I hope my friends and I will get married (if ever). This is where I want to be.

Bangalore makes me a happy child. For me this a city of joy, tears, heartbreaks, mendings, life, love, family, familiarity, identity, traditions and culture.

Home is Bangalore !

Chicken Chettinad - Recipe

Cooking makes me happy. Very !

I feel I'm a good cook. I have people to vouch for that. It began with trying to survive in a flat with 7 hungry girls tired of the food we were being served. It was aloo (potato) with lot's of tomato and bit too much of tumeric powder. Ughh - ness.

We all learn. Eventually. Probably it also helps that I have some of the most amazing cooks related to me - Aunt and Maternal Grandmother.

Cooking and creating something yummy is cathartic for me. Very cathartic. I lose the urge to cry and I feel the need to stand over the kitchen counter with my chin up and shoulders straight.

I refuse to learn to knead the dough and make roti/parathas/chappattis. But i'll make you some good egg curry, chicken, pasta, thai and konkani food !

Currently I'm living with 2 of the awesomest cooks; also superbly passionate about the food they eat and create or are fed. With none of them at home - I decided to take a shot at Chicken Chettinad.

The Chettinad cuisine is characterized by it's liberal use of spices and oil that comes from the kitchens of the Chettiars. It is one of the rare non - vegetarian cuisines of Tamil Nadu (South India).

Anyhow this is how my chicken chettinad came into existence with the help of SK who is a recently made friend at the home of Ying and Yang.

Cardamom, Cinnamon Sticks, Coconut, Haldi, Methi seeds, Cloves and a little bit of water into the grinder. Thick paste it has to become. Then fry the finely chopped onions in ghee. Once the colour begins to change - add garlic and ginger pieces. After 5 minutes - add the previously ground spices paste. Finely chopped tomatoes to be added once the onions, garlic and ginger seem to have mixed well with the spices paste. Eventually add the chicken (boneless or not) and a little bit of water. Put in curry leaves (one of my favorite ingredients).

You will be a happy child !

Happy cooking :)