Dollar is not everything!

Dollar is not everything!

The other day I paid a visit to one of those speciality dosa restaurants. The place had carved a niche for itself among dosa connoisseurs in a very short span of time and had received rave reviews in some up market magazines. Twice earlier, I attempted to visit the place but was put off by the sight of the milling crowd there. I found the restaurant comparatively less crowded on that particular day and I decided to venture in.


I was at once struck by the décor of the restaurant. It was simple, elegant and in a strange way seemed to whet our appetite. In short, it was just the right kind for a speciality restaurant. The moment I was seated, the floor steward sauntered towards me and produced a menu card that was itself designed like a dosa. I glanced through the card quickly and was overwhelmed by the intriguing names of the various items of the menu. Going through the card was a revelation to me. It proved beyond any pale of doubt that there was not a single edible substance with which a dosa could not be made.

The floor steward, having given me adequate time to make my selection, approached me to take my order and for the first time in my life I found myself very indecisive. I realized that going through the menu card gave me no clue about what I should order for. I, therefore, decided that the best way would be to observe what people around me ate and make my choice on the basis of what was being consumed most.

I looked around and found people consuming dosas with almost religious fervour. While some, who must be regular patrons of the place, ordered for some specific variety on the basis of knowledge gained through several earlier visits, others as indecisive as I was, ordered for a special package that allowed them unlimited consumption ( No sharing please) of every item on the menu card for a hefty sum. They were also allowed unlimited Coke on the house to assist them to wash down item after item. I saw their tables strewn with the residues of dosas of all shapes and sizes. As they were attacking every item with equal gusto, it was impossible for me to guess which particular item gave them the maximum enjoyment.

An NRI family seated in the adjoining table was indeed ecstatic. It must have been a welcome break for them from the bland pizzas and hot dogs. The head of the family was in a confessional mood. I could hear him clearly telling his wife that Indians were unbeatable in the art of making dosas. He was virtually going gaga over every piece that went into his mouth. He was in a kind of trance as Bertie would be in the overwhelming presence of Anatole, that God’s gift to gastric juices! At one stage, he went to the extent of wondering if it was worthwhile wasting his life in the wild West foregoing all these delicacies. Dollar is not everything, he declared choking on a piece of dosa.

To my dismay, I found that observing people around me was not much of help either. The problem was confounded by the fact that the stuffing inside these dosas remained hidden until its dying stage as the connoisseurs seemed to consider it a sacrilege to part the stuffing from the covering dosa. I peered again at the menu card and was instantly confronted by such exotic names as dry fruit dosa! I decided to seek the advice of the waiter who was observing me rather sympathetically. I beckoned him and asked what he would recommend. And he said, “Go home and eat!”

(MPS)

 

Dear Vidya
And I thought you would have nothing to say on Dosas!
I really care a damn about the shape or state of Dosa. In fact my favourite one is the first piece wrenched out of the hot plate after fierce struggle by wifey that comes out torn and bruised with the raw maavu showing its presence at a few spots. I just love that bundled out piece that defies all geometrical shapes.
Yes you are right!
Dosa spread with love is the greatest!
That slogan is very catchy. Better copyright it or I might sell it to Sangeetha or Saravana and make a fortune!
Sri

 

Dosaiyai patri Tamizh
Osaiyil Varigalai
aasaiyai edirparthu
Emarndene!

 

Neyar viruppam endru
Idhaithan solvargalo!
Naan ezhudiya katturai
Mudivadainthathu
Thangal ponnana varigaludan!
Sri

 

Hi Abhatv
Dont despair! The most popular dosa (in my popularity listing) is the Mysore Masala Dosa which has a triangular shape. It is so aesthetically designed, it provides feast not just for the palate but for the eyes as well!
Sri