Yummy!!!! Food and Musings that go with it.....

It has been about 7 weeks on road for me now. So decided to put up a list of the best food/drink I have tasted so far. I wouldn't bother you guys with the gory and disgusting details of the stomach upsets I have been experiencing. So here goes the list in no particular order:

1) Karim's in Delhi - This mughalai place is run by the bloodline of Mughal Empire's official cooks. The food is absolutely tasty and rich. No visit to Delhi is complete without a visit to Karim's. But be careful not to over order.

2) Chats in Dehradun - The dahi vada balla masala I tasted in Dehradun's main street has got to be the best chats i have eaten in ages. Hot and Spicy - the best way to satisfy a proud Gowda tongue. The old man has stood right at that corner selling chats for more than 35 years now. It was so nice to see passersby greet him every now and then - the great small town charm.

3) Thapa Tea Stall in Massoorie - Balajee and I have become life long fans of Chai though that means compromising on our Dravidian principles a little. There is nothing like sipping on a hot cup of chai as you sit on the road side observing the street and watching the world go by. The chai at Thapa Tea Stall at Massoorie Bus Stand is one of the best I have tasted. Mood and atmosphere guaranteed with all the Sherpa porters that hang around there.

4) Channa Chat with Kulcha - Though Channa chat is popular in North India the best ones are found in Rishikesh and enjoyed best on the banks of River Ganga. Two Kulchas and Channa chat (prepared by taking Channa, potato, tomato, thinly sliced chilly, salt, pepper and two sauces into a leaf plate as wide as a palm and tossing it with cupped palms to mix them) for just Rs 10. Wholesome, tasty, cheap food - a traveller's delight.

5) India Coffee House, Shimla - One of the most mentionable places of Shimla is the Indian Coffee House. The atmosphere in the old building is fantastic with government officials, lawyers, tourists and travellers occupying the tables. I guess I just love old time charm. If ever in Shimla, don't miss the Indian Coffee House.

6) Gulab Jamoons, Shimla - In the middle bazaar of Shimla there is a quiet unassuming snack place with mounts of samosas, pakoras and a big frying pan full of Jamoons at the entrance. The Jamoons were so delicious that it inspired a quote by me - "If Indian Sweets were the commandments, Gulab Jamoon has to be Adultery."

7) Momos, McLeod Gang - Just outside the temple complex gate in McLeod Gang there are two Tibetan Ladies selling Momos on the road side. Just Rs 10 for 5 tasty steamed momos that go so well with the spicy sauce that they serve. The best part is to see the two ladies co-operating and dividing the customers equally among them which is a rarity in today's competitive greedy world.

8) Deer Park Kitchen, Bir - Deer Park is a green and ecological campus with focus on reducing the footprint on environment. So there is a zero waste kitchen that serves absolutely tasty and healthy meals. Now that is a rare combination. Deserts prepared from fruits grown in the garden are the best. Completing the circle is the great practice where guests have to clean their own dishes after their meals. It goes without saying that you won't get any food if you come outside of the meal time allotted. It is so refreshing to see people trying to do their bit for the environment when it is so easy to be cynical in this 'unchangeable world'.