Back in “Nammooru Bengaluru” (meaning my hometown Bangalore) now, counting the days left in India. Bangalore is the most cosmopolitan city of India. While touring India, if we missed a certain culinary adventure, we can always cover it in Bangalore. It offers the best of local, inter-state and multinational cuisine.

In most parts of the world the Punjabi cuisine (from the State of Punjab) still happens to the identity of India food as the early entrepreneurs who got into the restaurant business were people from this region. That too a limited variety of Punjabi cuisine such as Tandoori Chicken, Dhal Makhni, Tikka Masala & the Naan bread.  Masala Yatra by now should have enormed one about what Indian Cuisine has to offer and that is just the beginning. Coming back to Punjabi cuisine, the best food is served in what is called - ‘Dhaabas’, A ‘Dhaaba’ is a highway diner, where Restaurants are built under thatched roofs, and the Tandoor oven and most of the other preparationa are done right in the middle of the seating area. In many cases the seating areas are just wide benches, that also serve as beds for highway drivers who rest for the night. The place usually contains a water well, and is lit by lanterns. Lassi (creamy yogurt drink, served sweet or savory) is the drink in Dhaabas. In a corner there also will be a “Paan Beeda wala” (vendor selling Pans, a beetle leaf & nut wrap eaten after the meal, considered as an after mint as well as a digestive agent). To add character, there are posters of landmark Bollywood movies all over the place.

In highways that connect to Bangalore, there are many such ‘Dhaabas’, but for the people in the city there is a “Dhaaba” style restaurant called the “Angeethi” owned by  BJN group of Hotels that own lot of new upscale restaurants in the city. “Angeethi” has the best things “Dhaabas” can offer. Romaali Roti (Scarf like thin & wide bread), “Kulchas” (smaller & crispier version of the Naan bread), Saag Bhaji (Mustard & spinach leafs sautéed with vegetables), Achaari Aloo (potatoes cooked with pickle base masala), Vada stand (all the good appetizers), Paneer & Meat kabobs (Punjabi style), Raitas (yogurt sauce), Rice & plenty of Salads & Lassi. Amritsari Maachi (a fish delicacy from the city of Amritsar in Punjab) was also on the menu.

Lunch today was at Angeethi & Dinner was Mom’s home cooking.