Hungry in Bangalore: Shree Krishna Cafe Koramangala

The usual dilemma strikes again, you are at some hip locality and you wonder where do we have lunch? This thought has befuddled and repeatedly caused me and my pals to end up in KFC/MC or a very tried/tired and tested eatout for food not worth the price. So the next time you have a thought like and you happen to be in Koramangala, head straight to this place.



Revered for its wonderful Tamil - particularly Tanjavur veg cuisine, Shree Krishna cafe is a favorite of many from all over the country. Its in a street full of fancy restaurants like China pearl (), Oye Amritsar and many more. Blink and you miss, its above Kairali, announced by a modest board. Lets jump right into the food - meals.

I crown this place the best place to get a South Indian meal on the Leaf, so far in Bangalore.

Serendipity brought me to this place. Hungry after a tiring seminar, 4 of us were looking for some lunch. Last on my mind was a South Indian rice meal. Whats there to eat I exclaimed. As my friend Ravi, who I had befriended that very morning said, said this is the best Southie meal you will ever have. Challenge eh? Lets go. Two simple dining halls accommodate the patrons with simple furniture. The Plantain leaf is put as soon as you sit. 95 bucks for a meal. Say yes and the parade begins. I guess 3 sabjis, variety of sambhar, dal, rasam, buttermilk kadhi, assortments, vada (to die for) some sweet and some things I just dont know the name for keep coming. This is true to the word unlimited. I never saw myself eat so much rice before. The best stuff was the authentic Ghee which they dish out by the tablespoon load. This is the good stuff man.

You need to eat to stay alive, you need to eat good to stay happy.Go to this place, I am sure you will feel happy.

The Pre Mid life Crisis Crisis

Get up, commute through the circus that is Bangalore traffic, endure through office hours, eat, crash

Somewhere in between is the thought - wish I was hiking in Japan taking snaps of buddhist temple or speaking in fluent French amongst a group of international students or stitching together a nice track on a dj console ...there are so many. These are not entirely impossible yet they seem to become so as each day passes by despite efforts. They are no longer priorities.

Its pretty common in Europe for a person to take a sabbatical for 6 months or so to go on an extended break, a self discovery per se. A similar lifestyle is followed in the States - work hard, play hard. Of course there are exceptions. But not for the people in developing countries like the Indians and Chinese. Things are a race to the top, which is a narrow ledge you need to balance your feet on. This gives most Indians the edge over the Europeans or the Americans. The hunger to achieve a life style like theirs. Perhaps take a break for a few months...That break never came for most. They got older, they had kids. They stopped getting the H1B.

Having seen such cases, which are by the way cases of successful people, makes me say - hold on a moment and define Your success; its difficult. And I am not alone in this thought. I bet most of my peers feel the same. Perhaps its just the way people 'grow up'. My generation had it easy as compared to the previous. Things were easy and quick like 2 min noodles. IT companies were hauling in many and stupid. But getting stuck in a place, job or a schedule gets on our nerves pretty fast. I guess its a part of a mellowing process. At the end of it I hope something good comes out - like maturity.

Too senti? I guess its because I am writing this on a weekday :D

Blessings of Simarouba

Heres an interesting read I put up in another blog -

http://simaroubabangalore.wordpress.com/

Pulp Fictioned

Pulp Fiction - 1994
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110912/

Fact can be stranger than fiction – this movie goes against the trend. My favorite from Quentin Tarantino’s works (which includes Kill Bill, Reservoir Dogs, Desperado), this movie carves its cult. Quentin weaves magic again through the medium of a Movie. He builds the various chemistries between characters with long drawn scenes, extracting a 100% of their ability to emote and deliver lines which are truly Tarantino’s trademark. I hope I can meet this guy.

This film is absolutely revolting to the normal Hollywood RomCom – Jackie Chan types. Watching it with your family is the worst thing you can subject them to. I have seen it thrice and I wish to see it again. On a repeatability scale, it ranks high up with The Departed. The dialogues are brilliant, expletives and all of which there are tons in this film. The best concept of the film is the shifted time lines. It leaves you guessing and wandering in different directions and following characters, some of which will become your favorites. My favorite was Vincent Vega. Travolta burns a solid impression of Vega. You feel sorry for the guy who has to take out the Boss’s wife for a date – its not a date according to him cause if it were then the Boss will….see it yourself.

Every cast member is a perfect fit for the characters – Samuel L Jackson, Bruce ;Willis, Uma Thurman, Harvey Keitel, Quentin with his expected cameo in all his films all are just perfect. Can’t think of anyone else playing anything. I am in love with the character of Fabienne.

See it, see it full. See it even if at some scene your reaction can be nausea or pure horror or disgust or anything that Tarantino might evoke – and he will evoke. Just keep your family out of the room.

Viva la Vile Parle - Gajalee

A town is defined by its people, places, events, weather etc. Gajalee is one such restaurant which has been an icon on Vile Parle’s and Mumbai’s culinary map since several years, lending Parla its distinctive identity. A Landmark on Hanuman Road, this joint has attracted many sea food enthusiasts and is a favorite of many celebrities, appealing mainly to Maharashtrian tastes. Tastes I say because Marathi sea food cuisine is not simply Malvani as many think. The food here has influences from Karnataka as also a generic way of preparation which might appeal to wide demographics. Check out some of the awards and accolades at http://www.gajalee.com/.

I have come back home after a brief period from Bangalore, and if there is one of the things unique which set Mumbai and Bangalore food apart is the sea food, obviously. So when asked which place to have dinner I couldn’t resist Gajalee, again.

First off the start without asking for a menu we, meaning me and my Brother, ordered Fried Bombil (Bombay Duck) and Tandoori Pomfret. These dishes are to die for. If not the need for the variety on offer we could have ended dinner on rounds of these two dishes. The Bombil is perfectly fresh and crispy, melts in the mouth leaving you wondering if you ever had some. The Pomfret was nice and robust. Cooked with the right amount masala and oil or butter – it was deliciously light. Tempting us to order a second round but we held on to having a main course. The waiter – conversing in Kannada after eaves dropping on our conversations suggests we order an Oyster Masala with Neer Dosa and Akki roti – or Rice Bhakri. Palak Khichadi for Mom as she is a Vegetarian, and so am I most of the time. Beverages were Sol Kadi and Fresh lime soda. The Sol Kadi is of a love it or hate it kind of make, so not recommended for the un adventurous.

A waiter does the rounds of tables balancing a fresh Pomfret, Lobsters and live Crabs for the customers to choose. As the price varies with the item, the waiter has to display the many offerings. The live giant crabs wriggling around are a sight and the kids reactions are quite a sight. I remember meeting my meal last time I had come here – he or she was a sprightful fellow who transformed into a tasty meal.

Palak Khichadi that mom ordered is very nice. It’s a bit heavy on the fat though but tastes awesome. It soothed my tongue from the fiery Oyster Masala. Beware this one is not for Kids, spicy hot with a tomato based gravy – the Oyster masala was a unique experience. I never had oysters before and I think I will skip them and stick to rather mobile crustaceans.

The cost of such a wonderful meal – 1200 for 2 sea foodies and dear vegetarian Mom.

I leave for Bangalore with new memories with my family, satisfied expectations and a hunger again which is so easy to deplete in times of task. I hope I come across newer experiences like ones to be had at Gajalee.

Now I am off for some Vada Pav…

Bangalore, how long till its no more

The Tech capital of India, the global IT hotspot, the place when millions of young Indians have flocked to make a career and call it home. I donot see a bright future ahead alas. I hope I am wrong.

Here is a glimpse of the future 10 years from now -

Bangalore is a workforce magnet. People from the country - not able to find opportunities in their home town or state still flock to Bangalore. Its Mumbai in fast forward. Inefficient state governments are to blame.

There is inadequate road network. The existing ones have been stretched to capacity a decade before. Traffic Jams are the order of the day. The workforce needs to spend a lot of time just to reach work. Bangalore since it cannot be served by a spine shaped railway corridor like Mumbai, the metro simply wont work. It is working in a few sectors, but is merely a gimmick. It cannot handle the ammount of passengers required like the Mumbai locals. It connects few areas, people would rather take their own vehicles. Vehicles add to congestion. Pollution levels have increased alarmingly. A daily unavoidable fight against traffic.

There is not enough water for buildings built recently. The water table is depleted soon after Monsoon. New Buildings are not served by the water utilities. People have to rely on Shady Water Tanker services. There is a severe Electricity deficit. Realty rates are sky high and unreasonable. Concept of Bangalore suburbs fail to provide people a good living zone.

Local political bodies similar to Shiv Sena will start agitations to claim rights for 'Sons of Soils' and similar Bull Shit.

Thats some of the things I forsee - all of these assumptions are possible. Agree am a pessimist, but this is is a fact in making, unless herculean efforts by the powers that be do something. Visionaries have made great efforts but votebank politics and crooks in power have screwed things up bigtime in the nation in general. Its not a regional problem rather a national one. There is a quick fix solution in the making right now - Integrated private Cities with adequate infrastructure for a limited number of residents. People will work and stay within giant gated cities, outside is an urban disaster.

Take that Carpal Tunnel Syndrome !

Yep the reason for my absence from subjecting random people to my blogs is CTS. Happens mostly to unsuspecting code monkeys who bang away at keyboards with the worst of typing postures. Plus I have the added advantage of having wrists thinner than usual – I knew instantly I wont be a good wrestler, shame the world will not witness that.

Sooo anyways why this return? Not for people to acknowledge my ramblings – that’s a side effect and I found out that quite a lot of people do like my stuff (honest to god people did notice I stopped writing and asked me to do more foodie posts), but I realized I had simply stopped thinking creatively. Partly because of CTS curtailing my typing, partly because I am still in the middle of a crisis, I am sure I will overcome now that I have found whats the root of it all. Not cured though relieved as to remember there is a tunnel out of the cave at the end of which is a light.

So here is the first salvo against it all – at least one article per week. Come rain or bad bandwidth; code reviews or aching hands the one article shall be written. (Note to myself -this doesn’t count)

Thanks a bit to Scott Adams in part – got a lot of inspi after I started reading his book – ‘Stick to Drawing Comics Monkey Brain!’ mind you was #1 NY Times Best Seller.

Dilbert again

Lol!


And a previous favorite of mine


Scott Adams, my inspiration to quit the rat race and become a cartoonist :D

Interestingtings - Running from Camera

The web is the new art gallery. Nice simple and cool theme running on this art blog - Press the 2 second timer and try to run away from the camera.

go to -> http://runningfromcamera.blogspot.com/

Hungry in Bangalore: Utsav’s North Indian Food

Bangalore is transforming. Its undergoing the same changes Bombay (now Mumbai) saw in the past 2 decades, steady and massive influx of populations from around the country making Bangalore not just their place of work but their homes. This mass of people also brings along great appetites in tow.

Utsav is the tip of the ice berg of what is to come. The new working population is mostly single and living in shared accommodations and usually not too keen on cooking their own food. So naturally a huge demand for messes or joints which make home cooked foods available for reasonable prices. Utsav serves the north Indian or basically all roti sabzi eating demographics well. Located at Katriguppe main road in Banashankari the place dishes out the usual home fare of roti sabzi daal chaval and some times some special dishes. The owner/manager a lady who watches over the patrons caringly adds to the homely atmosphere. The crowd at the joint showed how fond people were about this place.



Sam and Ashu had sniffed this place out about a month ago and it had become their staple place to eat lunch and dinners ever since. It was my first time of many times. I went for the usual roti sabji and daal. With more repeats of the rotis. Sam went for the mooli ka parantha along with the rotis. Very good stuff and for a change there was real ghee on the freshly made rotis. When Sam mentioned Litchee thanda I remembered I had a sore throat and a slight cold. Yeah why not. 50 bucks for such a meal is more than super. 4 Thumbs up for this one.