Raste
Oota
Bangalore's Roadside Eateries
There
is something about street food that sets one salivating. An entirely
new world springs to life the moment the petty shops down their
shutters. The day has just begun for the vendors and the show
must go on. They are the BPO staff of the Streets. They occupy
their strategic places arranging the paraphernalia within reach
and readying themselves to dish out choices that entice the passers
by or the regulars. This is a moment that no star hotel can match.
In fact I was surprised that at VV Puram-Market Road, the moment
one enters that street one is accosted by marketing executives
chanting—bisi bisi idli, dose at so and so stall. The gulleys
are the places where action is seen past midnight and no Cinderella
timing applies here. The post party crowd and the night shifters
know where to head to. In fact the waiters can be protective of
their lady customers.
The
surroundings may be not be pleasant but crowds mill at the sundown
time, amidst traffic smoke as rasthe oota has that something special
that large segments shamelessly crave for. Otherwise how does
one explain the well heeled lowering the tinted window glasses
of their Esteems, Hondas, Marutis and Corsas and placing the order?
Or the star hotels having themes like Galli Khao which is a big
sell out.
There
is never any wastage and invariably every bit is literally licked.
For once the niceties of fine dining are shelved and unabashedly
one goes full steam for any number of helpings as if there is
no tomorrow. As more and more people enjoy eating food from the
rasthe, on the rasthe the many places where decent snakes can
be had are mind boggling. By and large the popular favourites
are the idly/ dosas- chutney combos, vada, the family of chaats,
bread toast and egg, a rice baath, greasy Chinese dishes (fortunately
these joints are few)Chai,puffs and red tandoori non veg chunks.
The taste can never be replicated in the home, even by the best
cookery expert. It’s as if the magical fingers of the vendor
alone can coax the best in every slice of cucumber, mango and
masala, rice grain or lentil as they conspire with him. It’s
as if the food knows what we want and like.
Rasthe
Oota (RO) is definitely for the tongue and tongue alone as it
caters primarily to our baser instincts. Hence that explains why
a dish in one place cannot be the same in another place. This
pied piper of the taste buds does not allow us to worry about
the nutritional aspects, Hygiene and ambience. And those who crinkle
their noses do so at their own risk. RO is a leveling factor where
a sea of humanity congregates to fine tune their taste buds. If
nothing else the food is real Value for money.
The
skill and precision with which the dosa dough is coaxed on to
the hot tawa, the removing of the fried vadas at the right moment,
the thatte idlis, the idlis that are steamed as they leave imprints
on cloth, as ajji used to, are fascinating not only to watch but
the taste also matches. The varieties of chaats-specially the
gol gappas, channa choor, samosas, kachoris by the Marwari brethren
and copy cats is worth its wait in the queue. The numerous dose
camps that were a big draw some time ago have revolutionized the
stuffings inside. No longer only the ubiquitous potato filling,
but of paneer, cauliflower, beet, avarekalu, egg, chicken/mutton
etc jostle place with the potato masala dosas.There would be nearly
15 stuffings of the choicest fillings displayed on the menu prominently.
The memory is clear- I stood in the queue for half an hour at
the 4th block, Jayanagar Dosa camp like Oliver Twist with the
coupon in hand, 2 months after it opened. And when I got the dosa
of my choice of filling, it was déjà vu.
Next
to Pavithra Hotel, Jayanagar IV block, a place called COOL JOINT
was till recently popular for its 5/-soups.It was a riot here
daily from 7.00PM.Though the demand of the young crowd now is
for grilled sandwiches, ice creams, etc. A little further down
is the pani poori chap with a sizeable milling crowd. The menu
changes with the demands of the rasthe oota maduavuru from time
to time and slowly the category of the diners too is altered.
At the Market Road- V.V.Puram one can go for the Sajji, akki and
ragi rotis, Khali dose, masala Pepsi/Coke, melting in the mouth
obbattus from Abhishek fruit juice stall.
At
Majestic next to Amar hotel one gets good and hot ghee rive pilav,
plain rice with dhal/sambhar, egg curry and chicken fry. At Subhedar
Chatram road it’s the Channa Batura, boiled eggs, plain rice
and sliced fruits. M.G.Road for its Bhutas/jolas.Broadway Street
for its samosas, range of puffs, kadak chai, mutton rolls, Kerala
and Ceylon Paranthas, varki biscuits, and traditional pastries
with exotic names like Jahangir, Anarkali, Shahjehan, Badshah
that are becoming a rarity.Paya(bone marrow soup)and semiya are
available in the morning. Aah!!!This is manna was the body language
of the diners, more interested in enjoying eating rather than
air an opinion.
What
really amused me was finding on Ibrahim Sahib Street, parallel
to Comm. street the upwardly mobile burqa (veil) probably khandani
ladies with infants hitched on their hips enjoying the dosas and
idlis at 9.00PM on a week day and giving me a coy grin when our
eyes met. Sitting in a row in an imitation of the feathered friends.
After
midnight there is a veritable paradise for the non veggies. Not
to be missed are the chicken kebabs, and tandoori chicken, at
the Empire on Residency road. Jumbo chicken, mutton and egg rolls
at Fanoos on Richmond road. Ghee rice and grilled chicken at the
Imperial on Residency road.
RasteOota
speaks of the culture of the people of the area and the changes
with the passing time. So detaching oneself from this exercise
is to miss the rich cultural heritage. But then like India’s
heritage RO also will absorb the mutations morphing for the better.
And eat people must-so RO can never go out of fashion.
If
you have something to say about Raste Oota and its quality of
food, please rate these street side restaurant here
