Land of Strawberries

Few images from the land of Strawberries...Mahabaleshwar.

Various squash bottles used by street vendors.

Bottles lined up in a store.

Hotel Diana

This is one of my husband's favourite hotels in Udupi(of his parents' too).
And that's the reason he didn't want me to miss it this time.
Though the entrance of the hotel looks somewhat old and unappealing, the circular pavement that leads to the first storey of the building catches ones attention immediately.
The pavement also hides in itself a small well which can easily be overlooked because of the greenery that surrounds the place.
The inside of the hotel is impeccably clean and if you visit the place during rainy season you can find a bucket placed next to every table:the reason, to keep your wet umbrellas.
The speciality of the place is their Gudbud ice cream (which i tasted alone:()but i liked their Masala Dosa more.
The dosas are crispy yet so soft that it melts the moment it reaches the mouth. The ghee adds to the taste.
Variety of chutneys that is provided for each dish is commendable.
I will remember their food for a very long time especially the savouring of Gudbud watching the heavy rains through the window next to me, though i missed my daughter and S by my side.

I like shopping on the streets of General bazar: the crowded street, inexpensive stuffs and the lively ambience etc etc.,
This weekend's visit there proved to be even more inexpensive as we tried our hands by taking up the local train for commuting rather than wasting time, petrol and money.
The whole day was made more 'delicious' by the pav bhaji of 'Bombay chaat'.
I don't think i've ever had such tasty pav bhaji in my life.
Yummy....

Pondering...while in the hospital

* Learning to change the saying 'Health is Wealth' to 'Wealth is Health' or 'One that is wealthy (or the insured)can afford to get health care'...
* Getting few good news on my health side:)
* Cursing all the Doctors who diagnosed me incorrectly; for having made me swallow those bitter pills for one whole year; for preventing me from having some delicious food items for so long...
* Looking at my daughter from the fifth floor window...
* Listening to her speak new words (umbella for umbrella and Hydabd for Hyderabad)over the phone...
* Watching cookery shows just to increase my food cravings...
* Fighting with the sisters and canteen boys to get a cup of Horlicks (my condition was never so pathetic)...

P.S. Small Cities

I received a complaint from S that i hadn’t mentioned about all our favourite eat outs at Davangere. So here is the list: masala paddu at gundi circle, potato bun at Kaveri bakery, tomato toast at Aiyengar’s bakery, avalakki at Rasavanti cool drinks, sandwich at Nature fresh. Ah! So many...how could i miss so many !!!

Small cities

There is always an advantage staying in small cities...
Not much traffic, easy accessibility of things, less cost of living, yummy and cheap foodie outlets, hassle free life and many many more.
I am really gonna miss visiting this small city Davangere henceforth as my parents are moving away.
Getting things was so much easier here.
And the mouth watering eatables- the famous ಬೆಣ್ಣೆ ದೋಸೆ, ಖಾರ ಮಂಡಕ್ಕಿ ,ಜೋಳದ ರೊಟ್ಟಿ will be missed always.
But of course i have made up my mind to visit the place at least once a year (hopefully that's possible).

Whoever said cooking isn't rocket science...

I used to watch a cookery show which said 'cooking isn't rocket science'...
But for people like me it surely is...
Everyday i think optimistically 'OK today i will prepare something i.e more tastier than yesterday; at least with proper proportion of salt, sugar and spice in it'...
But somehow i never seem to get the chemistry right...

I think preparing breakfast and snacks is more easier than preparing dishes for rice...
And one more surprising fact is that when am trying a new recipe it comes out excellent but i do the same thing again there's something missing...

Am lucky that i have a really good hubby who doesn't really comment on my cooking...
But it's really bad when i do expect some comments from him and he doesn't make any...

Hotels of Hyderabad

Me being a foodie, have been wanting to write about the hotels of Hyderabad from a very long time...
Especially, my favourite canton soup at 'The Minerva Coffee Shop' and also the real flavor of some chinese food...
Next is my all time favourite rava dosa at the 'Chellam' restaurant...
The king size buffet at 'Ohri's Jiva'...
Very delicious methi paratha at 'Kamath's'...
Hara bhara paneer kabab at 'Angetti'...
And ofcourse last but not the least, my hubby's 'Tuppada dose' though the receipe comes from his Gaga...

There are other hotels where its hard to find some good food but one has to visit those hotels once atleast to have a glimpse at their interiors....
The train model at 'Saheb Singh Sultan'...
The traditional south Indian temple interiors at 'Athithi Inn'...
The dhaba style ambience at 'Angetti'...and so on to go.
But all these places change your mood for good!