Food, Pune and the Irani restaurant.

On the menu card at Good Luck, Pune: Tawa Kheema and Kheema in eggs.

In the “Kheema in Eggs” one, is there more Kheema or more eggs? The waiter at the restaurant answered, “One way or another, it’s the same thing!”

So there.

We ordered. Was great.

Also seen at the restaurant, a signboard declaring:

Don’t sit here without any work.

Do not comb or brush your hair. It may fly into other people’s food.

Both the instructions were on the same paper stuck between papers announcing Malai Kulfi for Rs 18 and other desserts on the menu (namely Caramel Custard, Caramel Pudding, Bread Pudding and Fruit Funny). We don’t think there’s any connection between the two instruction, but there could be. See, someone sitting without work is more liable to comb and/or brush hair thereby sending it into other people’s food. These old-time restaurants have it all figured out, I say.

Jus sayin’!

Speaking of desserts, we also asked the waiter the difference between Caramel Custard and Caramel Pudding.

He said, “Custard is made with powder and pudding with eggs.” He then proceeded to point at a neighbouring table where he had just delivered the goods.

We said, “…”

“Well?”, said he.

“Ok bring us the pudding,” said we!

Much joy came with the pudding – caramel and bread!

Customer may be King

This has got to be the most impressive and detailed complaint letter ever.

It appears to be in an evidence bag from the scene of a crime. A CRIME AGAINST BLOODY COOKING. Either that or some sort of back-street underground cookie, purchased off a gun-toting maniac high on his own supply of yeast. You certainly wouldn’t want to be caught carrying one of these through customs. Imagine biting into a piece of brass Richard. That would be softer on the teeth than the specimen above.

But what really takes the “biscuit” is the reply:

Paul Charles, Virgin’s Director of Corporate Communications, confirmed that Sir Richard Branson had telephoned the author of the letter and had thanked him for his “constructive if tongue-in-cheek” email. Mr Charles said that Virgin was sorry the passenger had not liked the in-flight meals which he said was “award-winning food which is very popular on our Indian routes.”

WTF!

Do see the link for photos of the food!

For myself

This is a post more for me than anyone else… a list of things I’ve done recently and would like to blog about… when time permits!

1. Review “The Enchantress of Florence” by Salman Rushdie: He is one of my favourite writers despite his long-drawn and often contrived manner of writing. In many ways, the book doesn’t disappoint, but honestly, it can’t even hold a candle to “Midnight’s Children” and “Shalimar the Clown”.

2. Review “The Dark Knight” by Heath Ledger!: One of the best movies I have seen in a very long time. So good, that I saw it twice in three days! Heath Ledger shall be missed… and I also wish they don’t bring back the Joker again. Continue reading »

All caffeine. No kick.

It was an ordinary evening on Fergusson College Road when I parked and walked in to the Barista near Roopali. The aim of the visit was simple: I had about 30 minutes to kill and I wanted to have a cuppa coffee. Not too tough if you just think about it. As I lay bare my case, you will also agree that it is. Continue reading »

World 2.0 food

Everything in this world is moving on to a new version. Even the daily food we eat has moved on. But one needs to step back a second and think whether all the food we eat really has moved forward. Take for instance, the ubiquitous Pani Puri. Just a couple of days back, the wife and I stopped at one roadside table (and calling it a table is really glorifying it) to enjoy some of the spicy water filled delicacies. At Rs 5 (five) per plate, they were a steal. And so we stole. One plate each. No more.

When you think of Pani Puri, it really is a new world food. It has just been around long before its time. And not really been appreciated enough. How many times have you been told as a child that “Don’t eat that rubbish. Who knows where that water has been taken from?”. Sounds familiar? Street Food and parents have never gotten along too well. Maybe you should share this slideshow with mother dear and anyone else who is anti-Pani Puri:

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Now, isn’t that a worthy description of the fastest fast food East of the West?