Author: manuscrypts

  • Tattv

    The review was first published in Bangalore Mirror. Though the tattv remains the same, the presentation has been changed 😉

    For those familiar with Umerkot in Koramangala, this one belongs to the same family – AST foods. Gautam had mentioned this earlier to me, and given me enough of a glowing recommendation to warrant a visit before the official review. So I dropped in on a Sunday that also saw me ogling at Harley Davidson bikes and merchandise and then dragging the vehicle to fix a puncture. No, not the Harley, my Activa. 😀

    Tattv is on Lavelle Road, just before Mocha, Java City and above Barista Lavazza. That’s one crossroad to be at when coming down Lavelle Road. If you go back, Shezan and 3 Storys, turn left and there’s Spiga, The Egg Factory, (one way notwithstanding) turn right for Khansama and other UB City splendours, and go straight for coffee floods and Tattv. What we chose, is elementary.

    If you, like my guests for the day, agree that valet parking on Lavelle Road is a boon in itself, then consider yourself blessed. A stylised yet understated ambiance, using red, gold and black to good effect. The stone jaalis, the jharokhas and the menu with the golden tinge, all lend a touch of class to the place and ensure a setting that matches the richness of the food. Vegetarians would specially appreciate the different colored drinking glasses. And if you get the seats that face the road, you also get a view of the Harley Davidson store. 🙂

    According to various Indian schools of philosophy, a “Tattv” is an element or aspect of reality conceived as an aspect of deity. Wikipedia agrees, but when a menu says that on the front page, you wonder if the heavy, deity food for thought will overshadow the real reason for visiting the restaurant – the dietary aspect. Thankfully that elementary part of a good dining experience– great food, is completely taken care of at this new restaurant on Lavelle Road.

    The idea here is to present cuisine samplings from across the sub continent and Central Asia, using five culinary elements. So you find Goa mixing with Rajasthan and Kerala with Lebanon in the same menu section. Intrigued? Here’s the menu (click to enlarge)

    As you can see, it consists principally of five culinary elements – Tandoor, Sigri, Tawa, Kadhai and Curries. Though there are enough choices that tempt you to consider a kebab-only meal, there are many main course dishes that will vie for your attention too. The Bhutte ke kebab with its tender corn is a great start for the vegetarians. The Tandoori Tamatar Shorba, though, was particularly bland and conspicuously absent was the tomato flavour. For the non vegetarians, the mutton seekh kebab, with pomegranate as the surprise element, is quite a good choice, as is the Murgh ki Chaanpan, with its dash of paprika.

    Among the main course dishes, the Dal Makhni, was a favourite. But the Dum Olav, though promised as a spicy curry, turned out sweetish.  The Machli Dum Pukht, seer fish stuffed with salmon, and the Laal Maas with an obvious red chilli base, are must-have items. The Murgh Dhaniwal paled in comparison to the non veg titans! The light-as-a-cloud Gilafi Kulcha, and the ghee laden heavy Warqi Paratha are both good, but the Ulta Tawa Paratha steals the show.

    And if all that’s not enough, some unique desserts seriously compound your worries on what to focus on while ordering. there’s no pardon if you haven’t left space for the sinful Chocolate Gujia, and if you’re not really a chocoholic, you could try the Gulab Jamun stuffed with Gulkand.

    On the cost front, for Rs.1500, you could share a non veg starter, a couple of non veg main course dishes accompanied by a few rotis, and a dessert. When you consider the quality of food and the ambiance, the cost does seem justified.

    Tattv gets a high five and is definitely worth a visit on all counts. Great food, classy ambiance, courteous staff and some splendid music together ensure that all the elements are in place for a great experience.

    Tattv, 1st Floor, 25/4, Lavelle Road, Bangalore – 1. Tel: 41552225

  • Across time.. universe

    I’ve never claimed an understanding of poetry and have never had any affection for it either, but once in a while some bits catch my attention. Verse, lyrics, any other form…

    The dawn rouses one man to acquire wealth
    Another to earn food, another to achieve greatness
    Another to sacrifices, another to his own (pursuits)
    Another to activity, and lights all men
    to their various means of maintaining life
    Ushas (dawn) has given back all the regions

    People say I’m crazy doing what I’m doing
    Well they give me all kinds of warnings to save me from ruin
    When I say that I’m o.k. well they look at me kind of strange
    Surely you’re not happy now you no longer play the game

    For how long a period is it that the dawns have risen?
    for how long a period will they rise?
    Still desirous to bring us light Ushas (dawn)
    Pursues the functions of those that have gone before, and
    Shining brightly, proceeds with the others (that are to follow)

    People say I’m lazy dreaming my life away
    Well they give me all kinds of advice designed to enlighten me
    When I tell them that I’m doing fine watching shadows on the wall
    Don’t you miss the big time boy you’re no longer on the ball
    Ah, people asking questions lost in confusion
    Well I tell them there’s no problem, only solutions
    Well they shake their heads and they look at me as if I’ve lost my mind
    I tell them there’s no hurry
    I’m just sitting here doing time

    Gone are the men who in the days before us
    Looked on the rising of the earlier mornings
    We, we the living now, behold her brightness
    And they come nigh who shall hereafter see her

    I’m just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round
    I really love to watch them roll

    Now the fun is, most of you would have realised that stanzas 2, 4 and 6 are Lennon’s classic ‘Watching the Wheels‘, and the rest? Stanza 1 is the Rigveda Mandala 1 Sukta 113 verse 6; stanza 3 verse 10 (both translations by H.H.Wilson) and stanza 5 verse 11 (translation by Ralph Griffith). 🙂

    until next time, more per verse 🙂

  • Kinara

    North Indian cuisine that’s apparently part of a famous chain in Singapore. Thanks to globalisation, we only have to travel down the Intermediate Ring Road to check it out. Loved the irony 🙂 It’s located right next to Tangerine, our favourite sizzler joint, and opposite South Indies. Here’s a map. Parking for 2 wheelers is easy, and I think they offer valet services for the additional wheels.

    The decor is quite good, a haveli style door, a chandelier, knickknacks including a silver color Buddha smiling away peacefully. They have a buffet for lunch, I think for Rs.250, so one section is almost devoted to it. There are comfortable, tucked-away tables, but they are for 4-6 people.

    The menu is seemingly expansive. You can take a look below. (click to enlarge) Enough choices for the vegetarians, and options of chicken, mutton and seafood for the non vegetarians.

    From all of that, we chose to start with the Tandoori Murgh Chaat. Although it had its fair share of vegetables – cucumber, tomato and potato, there was still enough meat in it for us to like it. The mint chutney that came along with the complimentary papads was phenomenal and served as good company for the chaat’s excellent masala too. So, this one is worth a try.

    For the main course, we asked for a Kinara Khaas Murgh and a Dum Shikampuri Kofta. The latter was not available, so we shifted to a Bhuna Ghosht. To go along with that, a Warqi Paratha and a Kashmiri Naan.

    Of all the dishes, only the chicken was worth a shout out, despite it being very similar to the regular Kadai Chicken. The mutton was more bones and pickled onions than anything else, and the ginger juliennes were missing, much like their more famous namesake. The Warqi paratha was a hardly disguised Lachcha Paratha and the Kashmiri Naan disappointed too. The quantities were sufficient for 2 people, so no complaints on that score. The service took an exceptionally long time and the food really wasn’t worth the wait.

    All of the above cost us just over Rs.900. Meanwhile, there’s something quite calming at this place. You’d have guessed by now that its not really the food. It was probably the music – old ghazals, or the lighting, but it was only the ambiance that made the wait for the food less painful. If the quality of food could match it, the place would really be worth a visit.

    Kinara, #305, 100 ft road, Indiranagar Ph: 43494349, 43494359

    Menu and Photos at Zomato

  • Speech Disorders

    Arundhati Roy’s ‘God of Small Things’ is a book I found underwhelming. It could’ve been my maturity as a reader, or the hype that surrounded the book then, but all said and done, Ms.Roy was not an author who influenced me. Unlike a certain Mr.Tharoor, an author I deeply admire, and whose books (mostly) have given a lot of perspective, even the works of fiction.

    But when he had this to say about Roy – commenting that she’d gone too far to the left and her writing about Gandhians with guns, I wasn’t sure whether I could agree, and I asked on Twitter (not to him) whether his stance is necessitated by his political affiliations. A feeling that was mirrored when I read this post by Anil Thakraney. To give you a background on Anil, I think his insightful (inciteful isn’t a word, or it would’ve fitted well too) articles and interviews are amazing, and his posts often find resonance with me, because the issues he talks about and the way he talks about them gives  abundant perspective. I don’t think Anil is compelled by any external force, a possibility that can’t be ruled out in the case of Tharoor. And so I wondered, why I wasn’t in agreement.

    Could I’ve been possibly influenced by her articles on tribals that were written a year back – Outlook (which caused the first wave of outrage) and Washington Post (about the outrage) or even this excellent post titled “The Economics, Politics and Ethics of non violence” or just the history. It was human, and I could identify with the view on  the human sacrifices that are made for the sake of progress. A purely bystander perspective.

    Or did it only play a marginal role when I considered Roy’s latest remarks on Kashmir? How can you be objective when on one side, she writes a moving article on why young boys are pelting stones and on the other side, you have almost an entire nation outraged? It doesn’t help that its fashionable to hate Roy, and even more fashionable to support her.

    So in the end, I’d go beyond the freedom of speech debates and the notional boundaries. I only say notional because, if we look at a larger timeframe, the transience of these boundaries will be more evident. Empires of the past, in their time, would have thought that their boundaries were unassailable, even by time. But they are history. One of the ideas that have remained unchallenged for long is that of the nation state, maybe its time that came up for an overhaul.

    A mass of humanity that make up a nation state makes laws that are agreeable to the majority. That’s the way civil societies have been built. The fun part is that, in most cases, the majority are mere bystanders with a notional stake. So at some point, the minority is pushed to such an edge that they’re forced to retaliate. What is only an inconvenience to the majority is a matter of survival and basic rights for the minority.

    And three people do it, three, can you imagine, three people walking in singin a bar of Alice’s Restaurant and walking out. They may think it’s an organization. And can you, can you imagine fifty people a day,I said fifty people a day walking in singin a bar of Alice’s Restaurant and walking out. And friends they may thinks it’s a movement.

    (Alice’s restaurant by Arlo Guthrie)

    Meanwhile, for some, these boundaries might be sacrosanct, some might believe that Roy is doing it just for the popularity. But, even from the armchair, the hurt sentiments of the first and the (alleged wrong) intention of the second pale when compared to the human condition.

    until next time, longish posts are charged with sedation? 😉

    PS: Found later that Shoma Choudhury has articulated this well

    httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuXFIfb7cnY

  • Truffles Ice & Spice – Koramangala

    D was inclined to have a steak, I wasn’t quite sure if I wanted pasta, chocolate is always interesting for both, I didn’t want to ride far, and we didn’t want to pay more on account of a fine dining tag. Usually, Boca Grande is where all these coincide, but we’d been there only a few weeks back, and that’s when we figured there’s an Ice & Spice in Koramangala!

    Its unfortunately not the easiest place to find. If you know Taste of Rampur, go down that road further, and you’ll find Ice & Spice on the right. This is the road that joins 1st A Cross Road (which has everything from Ping to Golmaal Paratha to Tunday Kababi, Empire, Sufi etc) and the service road diagonally opposite Forum (by the side of Monday to Sunday after Raheja Arcade). If you’re on 1st A Cross, take the left at Desmonds. (the one after Jyoti Nivas) Hope that makes it easier. Parking shouldn’t be too difficult, especially for 2 wheelers. Besides there’s a huge parking lot just nearby.

    Its an absolute hangout ambiance and the sight of chocolate (lots of it) is welcoming! The stone seats are quite okay once you get used to them. Of course, for the kids who regularly frequent this place, it wouldn’t be a discomfort at all! Yesterday they were playing Xmas carols. 🙂

    On to the menu. In addition to the regular menu, (below, click to enlarge) they also have an additional menu now. That one has a couple of soups, salads and starters and more than a dozen main course dishes including more pasta, steaks and even some Oriental dishes.

    Just as I’d feared, all previous half decisions went for a toss and we set about ordering random things. A soup to start with – Asparagus & Cheese soup, from the additional menu. D ordered a Chicken Merango, I asked for an oriental item from the additional menu – Chicken Tom Kha Pha (sic). Greedy that we were, we also ordered coffee so that we wouldn’t convince ourselves to drop it later. D ordered a Hazelnut Coffee and I asked for a Turkish coffee (with English Toffee and whipped cream). That last addition did backfire as they brought the coffee first! Partly our fault, we should have ordered it only after the meal. To get over the ‘gloom’, we asked for a ‘Tons of Fun Burger’.

    The coffee looked on as we started with the soup, which turned out to be delicious. I didn’t even miss the chicken, (I prefer all soups with chicken, unless there’s chocolate in it) since those little cheese dollops  more than made up for it. This one is highly recommended. The ‘tons of fun’ burger came next. We had asked for the chicken patty option, and it also had chicken salami and egg. Yes, there were vegetables taking up precious real estate too. Sigh. This was really good too, though slightly pricey for its size (I’ve been spoiled by the Peppa Zzing guys)

    I’m only familiar with the white Tom Kha soup, so we sized each other up before getting fully acquainted. In addition to the red chillies base, it also had green chillies. The coconut milk flavour was almost lost amidst all this. It tended towards salty and was quite spicy, but the basil rice helped balance it. Loved the shiitake mushrooms. So, worth a shot if you’re in the mood for this kind of food. D always gets lucky with her selections and the Merango was no exception. Velvety smooth, and excellent herb rice too.

    The coffee was reasonably good, but the flipside was that there was absolutely no space for dessert. But we are not to be outdone! The Oreo cheesecake and the Ferrero Rocher cake wait in the fridge for the rendezvous tonight!

    ALL of that cost us Rs.825. This now becomes our go-t0 place in Koramangala when we don’t want to spend time on deciding where to go, but need to be assured of good food and lots of chocolate. Except for the minor coffee fiasco, the service is prompt and helpful.

    Truffles Ice & Spice, #28, 4th B Cross, 5th Block, Koramangala Ph: 41466565, 41536565

    Menu at Zomato