jan 2025 - 01
two many cooks, zero alcohol bevs, Whitefield darshinis
two many cooks spoil the rasam
In the last two years, I did something I thought I would never do: hire a cook. Twice. Both times, I had to let them go. Reasons? Well, let’s just say some stories are better left untold on a public forum.
But from my grand sample size of two male cooks, I’ve come to a few conclusions about them:
They’re not as efficient or intuitive as women cooks. (Sorry, men.) They need way too much hand-holding.
Their attitude? Let’s just say it’s easier to bend steel than get them to adapt to new systems or techniques—even when you’re willing to teach.
Resourcefulness? Non-existent. They can’t whip up a meal from the odds and ends in the fridge, like most women can do in their sleep.
Instructions? Required daily, even if the meal is on repeat. (inlaws’ menu usually is)
Despite repeated explanations, they insist that dal needs a dozen whistles in the pressure cooker. Why? We’ll never know.
Everything is cooked on the highest flame possible. God forbid one nanogram of heat-labile vitamin survives in the dish.
All utensils will be compulsorily blackened and damaged beyond redemption.
To top all this, a barrage of WhatsApp messages that read ‘X khatam ho gaya hai!!!’ where X is not my favourite social media platform, but any ingredient that has fallen to half its level in the jar.
So, I’ve sworn off cooks for the foreseeable future. Instead, I’ve recruited my existing domestic help (a smart young lady) to assist with ingredient prep and basics. Hallelujah! The kitchen is mine again.
If this feels like a cook-rant… well, it is. If you have a gem of a cook, please light a gratitude candle and never let them go.
back in the kitchen, baby
With the kitchen reclaimed, I’ve splurged on a couple of nice solid pans, a new mixer-grinder, and a decent chef’s knife. I am back to bookmarking recipes in my ‘Must Cook in 2024’ playlist (yet to change the year on that) and Pinterest board.
Useful discovery: I realised that I have been making theplas wrong all my life. Got some of the techniques straightened out thanks to this video and now I’m rolling them out like a Gujuben. It’s methi season and you must try these out. I also made a stack of them and took it along for our Goa road trip (like a pro Guju again).
Current obsession:
‘s Home Movies on YouTube. I made her cauliflower pasta last week and my son, who is a UNESCO-certified pasta connoisseur, gave it 5 stars.zero-alcohol bev reccos
The husband and I have been alcohol-free for over a year and a half (him 100%, me 99%). Our fridge is now stocked with interesting low-sugar, non-alcoholic drinks. Perfect for Dry January, cutting back, or hosting alcohol-free soirées.
Here are some of our favourites - none sponsored, although such brands are welcome to email me to strike up a sponsorship :P
Local Ferment Ginger Ale
Local Ferment Mango Chilli kombucha
Vaum tonic water (Elderflower Rosemary is my favourite)
Mossant does some amazing low-cal kombucha, tonic waters and other beverages
Atmosphere is another brand we have been stocking up on lately for kombucha
My kombucha brewing experiments faced an untimely death due to fungus (the bad kind) - I plan to start new batches either from Bombucha’s unflavored kombucha or by borrowing some home brewed kombucha from a sweet neighbour (with or without scoby, doesn’t matter)
For brewing tips, check out my column in Mint Lounge. You’ll find a detailed recipe on how to brew your own batch.
darshini drops in Whitefield
From ‘we don’t have a single place for good dosa’ in Whitefield a few years ago (ok, there was just one MTR in a small neighbourhood mall, but even they shut shop), we now have nearly a dozen in our republic. These businesses seem to think, if Whitefield is good enough for The Rameshwaram Cafe, it is good enough for us 😂
Here’s the round-up -
Asha Tiffins in AECS layout - the masala dose is the perfect size, small enough that you don’t feel like you are choking on ghee and you can order one more dish like khara baath or idli along with the dose. You may or may not find a place to sit depending on the day and time. Most wallet friendly place, plus they offer free parking in the adjoining plot.
The Rameshwaram Cafe - everyone on the internet knows they are synonymous with ghee. While I did sing paeans in the glory of their open butter masala, I don’t think I can handle it more than once in 3 years. I like sitting cross-legged on the stone ‘thinnai’ and enjoying my food or coffee here. Finding parking is a nightmare, sometimes they have a valet. Eat responsibly.
The Filter Coffee - this is my husband’s favourite place to hit after a long run. I can eat here even without a run. I do like their relatively less greasy dosa, but the size is huge enough for 2 people to split and then order another dish on the side. We love their homestyle upma too. Table service is top notch and you always find a place to sit. If you go early enough, you’ll find a place to park right outside the restaurant.
Davanagere Benne Dose - we’ve been here a few times in the last couple of years. Family run hole-in-the-wall place, neat and clean set up, the usual benne dose with the chutney is fab. True to its name, lots of butter. I love the smell of the burning wooden logs on which the stone / tava is heated. Small parking lot next to it.
TMC - The Mysore Cafe - popped in a couple of times in the last two weeks. Excellent paniyaram, idlis and filter coffee. A solid parking lot adjacent to the restaurant.
Cafe Amudham - the latest one on the block. I loved eating the thatte idli and sweet pongal in their Lalbag outlet a while ago and was thrilled to see them open in the neighbourhood. Thatte idli, upma and coffee are good. Masala dose seems to be competing with The Rameshwaram Cafe in the quantity of ghee used. Idiyappam stew was also tried, it was okay-ish. They also top it with a cute heart shaped smol blob of butter, which makes it very Instagrammable. Lots of seating, well lit and you do find parking as of now.
Spotted by not tried:
The Kalki Cafe which you can try out and let me know.
Real Fresh Dosa Corner in AECS layout for excellent dosas
I know this list is highly niche for a certain much-maligned area in Bengaluru. (Oops we are not even allowed to call it Bengaluru!) But if you know people who live here, share this email with them for good dosa karma.
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I tried Mossant craft kombucha on my recent trip to Bangalore and it was excellent! Low sugar, really well made.