On coming of age

My culinary journeys today have led me to the firm belief that eating out in general, and the food industry in Bangalore in particular, has come of age.

I can see some heads nodding sagely- or is that just the last bit of energy expended nodding in satiety? I wonder...

I ate at two restaurants today that are perhaps the epitome of what the catering industry would term super specialty niche eateries.

At one end of Banaglore, in a relatively green and airy neighbourhood, at the end of a yet to be tarred road, nestles Kanua. Currently housing/ hosting a family of raucous mynahs, this eatery brings together the old world charm of an informal setting with an almost homely feel and, the fine dining experience that one has come to expect of any new world eatery.

The Mangalorean food is a treat for the senses. However, the food I would recommend is the chicken- and NOT the fish! The ghee roast was visually a rich red- but surprisingly mild, perhaps in honour of the almost permanent set of expatriates I have found there. Alcohol is not on the menu- this being probably one of the reasons why this eatery seems to always have a table at hand. Texturally I have found the food here superb- every dish having been seasoned exactly right. The odor of the crisp curry leaves and the spluttered mustard with the crisp red chilli waft tantalisingly in the air every few minutes. Visually every plateful seems a treat... although the ghee could seem overpowering to more conservative souls. The flavors could improve. The fish is surprisingly bland- with the batter fried dishes I have tasted offering you a perfect experience of the crisp shell and soft innards you mght have learnt to expect only from the most experienced hands. The chicken biryani is clearly the south indian version- and the flavors are well balanced. The desserts have left me dissatisfied... the ghee fried banana fritters winning hands down in this area. They offer sugarcane juice- a definite must do!

The other eatery I visited today was the South Indies. A tad disappointing in that they seemed to be running a full house. Surprising that a veg eatery was that full- on a weeknight, as Pads pointed out! A corner table outside was the best they could do at short notice. The ambience again is a smart, fairly up market eatery. We started on a variety of the papads and their three chutneys. The green (my favorite) mint n coriander, a sweetish red onion and the standard white coconut. Lovely! Then came the Kuzhi Paniyarams- soft and fluffy. (Just like what you would get back home, if only mama knew how...) The Vadais followed in quick succession- and I can tell you this is where the regular Vadai eater who is too scared to sample roadside wares will be heading. My stomach was already begging for respite- while Pads was debating on whether we could follow up the main course with dessert. Deferring the decision till post main course, we settled on Mambazham curry and steamed rice. ANd that was where it all ended for me this evening!

Interesting- and definitely inspiring... I am going to be making variations on all of these in the weeks to come. Keep coming back- my recipes shall follow!