Dilkush is sure to make your heart happy!

"Dilkush" - This is the mango variety I seem to like best this season. "Dilkush" - in hindi literally means "makes the heart happy". You bet! it lives up to its word. If you havent sampled your "Dilkush" mango variety this season, you sure are missing something. Head for your nearest fruit vendor.

It costs Rs. 60 a kilo. Thats about 45 bucks a piece! But is worth the tab. I didn't tell you that the mangos are large, colorful and lip smacking!


The photo above is carton full of "Dilkush"! Maybe it should have been named "Lalach" instead (means greed in Hindi).

Inflation or business greed?

Bangalore is getting expensive. I happened to hop into a Shanti Sagar (chain of restaurants) in R.T Nagar (a popular residential area) . It was noisy and there was a lot of clatter from the kitchen and the fans weren't on. The restaurant managers did seem to care that the upholstery needed cleaning and upkeep.

The food was decent though. Then came to the bill. And I was shocked to see that an idli-vada (staple food in South India) was 30 Rs! And that was costlier than a plate of Pooris which is typically more expensive.

Appaling! Why are restaurant prices shooting up so much? And with the service levels and cleanliness going down.... its even more disappointing.

Guess it is a supply demand mismatch. It is simply greed of the businesses. And the Bangalorean who has no time to stand up and question. To top it all the cashier said "Sir it is 35 Rs. in Indiranagar for the same".

Which parota? - Try the "Weechu" Parota!

The Weechu Parota is a type of flat-bread from the parota or porotta family of Indian bread. Photo above was shot at Pongal Cafe near Innovative Multiplex at Marathahalli. It is made of maida or refined flour. It is quite popular in south India and is available in some restaurants in town.

The Weechu Parota is a square shaped Parota unlike the others in the family - The Kerala or Malabar Parota (circular and layered) and and the Ceylon Parota.

A few other pictures to show you how it is made. The maida is rolled into balls in oil (as below) and kept for a while for it to soak a bit.


The skillful chef makes then rolls the maida ball a bit and deftly slaps the dough on the table in a circular motion till it becomes really a thin sheet of maida (See photo below).


It is then folded into a a square shape and placed on hot pan (see below) and cooked till it becomes brown.


And lo and behold the "Weechu" is ready! Weechu Parota is served with Kurma - a spicy gravy. If you haven't tried this you should when you get a chance.

The Weechu Parota or Parotta is not to be confused with the other north indian bread Parantha or Paratha also widely available and popular in the country.

Sreeraj bar and their myriad of options to beat the summer heat...

Numerous options that drive you crazy. Lassis, Kulfis, Shrikand, Faloodas and more...


What are you waiting for? Find ways to beat the heat!

Mango mania attacks the city

Street food at Bangalore

Steet food may be banned in New Delhi by the Supreme court. This picture would clearly show you it is an organized ecosystem and many people depend on it.

Midnight masala @ Imperial on church street

Waiters mob the cashier for bills for their clients at Imperial. This is way past midnight. Imperial is so busy at that time of the day (oops Night).... Imperial is surely an essential pit stop for a Bangalore party animal.

South Indian meal at Dhuxin @ Windsor Mnor