I am a home cook, not a foodie. My wife, son, and daughter-in-law enjoy a good “event” meal. Over the years, I’ve come around to it too. I’ve especially grown to appreciate chef’s tasting menus. There’s something appealing about a meal that asks you to slow down and treat eating as an event. My palate, […]
Three Dosas and An Economy
On a recent trip to Bengaluru and Mysuru, I made a simple rule: eat only South Indian food, preferably at places with outsized reputations. The rule led me to three dosa institutions. A dosa is never just a dosa; there are many variants, each with its loyalists and logic. And you can’t quite separate the […]
Water, Sand, Stone: A Road Trip from Bengaluru to Mysuru
Num ooru, Mysuru, nim ooru yaar ooru (Mysuru is my town, what is your town?). Decades ago, I sang that line with a child’s fierce conviction. Recently, my wife and I followed that childhood refrain back, driving from Bengaluru to Mysuru. We made the most of the journey. Three stops. Three elements. Three encounters with […]