Dosapedia: Vidyarthi Bhavan's Marvelous Masala Magic

 Vidyarthi Bhavan . The name itself brings back so many memories of my salad days . Every part of my body remembers this restaurant . My eyes remember the age old black and white board announcing its name , my nose remembers the ghee soaked flavours , the vendors selling sugandraja (tube rose ) garlands just outside the bustling of people trying to get in and people standing just next to your table ogling at you, watching you polish off your food , and cursing h you when you order more , for their wait for that much longer . 

While I first visited VB in 1991 , It has been at least four years since I had  last made a visit to this place . The traffic and  the  Difficulty of finding a spot for parking were the biggest obstacles that my mind kept throwing up whenever I thought of visiting VB. My post pandemic relocation of course , kept this visit in further abeyance . My short sojourn to my hometown and after reading about the visit of the Starbucks chief a couple of weeks ago , ably and willingly aided by my yearning appetite , finally pushed me to make this journey despite the promised horrendous traffic snarls  and the 3S ( sore ,strained  and stressful ) search for parking not withstanding.

I had read that VB opens at 3 PM . After dodging the traffic I managed to reach at 3:20 PM . The tuberose garland vendors were still outside, but in bigger numbers and I must say I received a rather fragrant welcome . But then my dream was broken by seeing the humungous mass of humanity outside the restaurant . There were two reasons that I learnt were the culprits for this crowd . The first , that today was the world famous kadlekayi parishe at the neighbouring Ganesh temple at Basavanagudi which draws considerable crowds , many of them making a pit stop at VB as well . Secondly the restaurant opens at 1430 hrs and not at 3 PM as I had erroneously learnt earlier . The crowds were heckling an hapless old man who was the gatekeeper and the token manager for the restaurant . 

While my initial thoughts were to beat a hasty retreat, the belly gurgled loudly in protest . I  decided to try my luck and got in touch with the rather sanguine old man who was the doorkeeper at the entrance and gave him

My name and told him that I was all alone . He in turn silently wrote my name on his list , while very conspiratorially whispering that that for individual single customers there wasn’t any need for tokens . And true to his word , within  7 minutes he called , nayakre… polae ( Mr. Nayak , please go in  in TuLu) . I happily made my way in , excited that I did not have to wait and there was another traffic director inside who pointed me to an empty seat at a table for six, that was already occupied by five . 

No longer had I placed my posterior on the  wooden bench than a waiter appeared out of nowhere . Was he a genie from the table who emerges when six people sit at the table? All of us placed our orders which invariably were the Medhu vada ( as the rava vada was either not ready or was exhausted) and of course the world famous VB masala dosa .

It is the wont of dosas all over Namma Bengaluru to be rolled in a tube form with the potato filling inside . However VB is different and their stately dosas are just a single fold in a semicircular shape . As soon as the dosas are served the genie appears with large ladle of creamy coconut chutney . The dosas are majestic to say the least , stiff and crispy brown , roasted to perfection. The potato filling was so smooth that it dissolved the moment my jaws closed in on them ! 

I would be wrong to say that the taste has been the same since 1991 . It has evolved . Just like we have grown , our tastes have evolved too . The dosas now have  a more basal taste which probably comes from the improved red rice used in the dosa . The Crispiness come from the tur dhal, chana dhal and methi which is used in making the dosa . The distinguishing point is the use of thick poha or beaten rice . The end product being crispy from the outside and soft from the inside . A dosa like no other , in a class of its own . 

With my wolfing  down of the dosa along with the vada and finishing it off with a cup of hot south Indian chicory laced filter coffee , my Gastronomic pilgrimage at Bangalore was complete . All desires in this realm were fulfilled and I remain sated and content 

I was indeed The Solitary Eater , lost in my gastronomic ecstasy, unmindful of the happenings around me .

With apologies to Wordsworth , all that I can say is 

The flavours in my mouth I bore 

Long after I stopped burping anymore !

The almighty be praised for my belly is certainly raised !!!!

Dosa Delirium: CTR's Crispy Tale

 Some body on the Internet , named Philomena Neerudu has rather wittily said “Optimism is Christ crumbling the cross into a dosa and put into a round shape even when your sins burn!”

( written sometime in Nov 22, when I was back home for a few days while being posted abroad ) 

Not so sure about the resurrection but my spirit certainly was , at my second stop on my Food Pilgrimage in Bangalore ! I Visited CTR ( Shree sagar for the later day Banglorean ) after a little more than a year . And calmed down the Glutton inside me who was egging me on ever since I landed here . 

Dosas Crisply roasted with an Angioplasty inducing dollop of butter filled with soft, smooth and light spiced potato pallya seasoned with fresh coriander leaves , smeared with red spicy chilly paste , served with finely ground mint chutney …… aaaah ! 

Agar firdaus bar ru-ye zamin ast 

Hamin ast-o hamin ast-o hamin ast 

(If there is heaven on earth it is this, it is this, it is this! )  found at the Diwan I khad at the Redford in Agra ! 

Believe me , it is as difficult to get into CTR as it is , to heaven . There is indeed a long queue through not serpentine … more pythonic … which certainly whets your appetite ( intezaar ka mazaa mulakat mein kahaan - the joy of waiting for the beloved is more than the actual meeting ) and instead of St. Peter at the pearly gates , here there is a guy clad in a pair of jeans and black windcheater who acts as the gatekeeper . As soon as a chair is empty he tiredly gesticulates pouting and pointing that location and off you go !!!  Wonder if he gets to eat the dosa here three times a day ! 

The glutton inside me went beserk! What was a mental resolution of eating just a dosa , broke down completely, yielding to a Benne roast Masala Dosa ( a butter roasted one ) , a plain masala dosa ( roasted with refined oil perhaps ) a Medhu vada and a frothy glass of hot steaming filter coffee ….

The joy on my face I am sure was visible to all those around me ( complete strangers whom i do not know ) . This orgasmic indulgence was definitely something !!

Post this breakfast all I have to say is this 

 

Doseya sightu 

Hotte full Tightu 

yeenidu gati

O Shilpa Pati !

( the sight of the dosa has made you belly full, what a situation O husband of Shilpa !)

IDLI- (I DoLove It) at Veena Stores

 Visited one of the locations of my “Food Piligrimage” in the heart of Malleshwaram Namma Bengaluru this morning . Veena Stores . This has been my haunt for nearly twenty six years now ( and counting) 

Veena Stores - a place where idlis are more than mere fluffy discs; they’re the soft, edible clouds of culinary joy. The idlis at Veena Stores could probably win awards for ‘Best Softness in a Supporting Role’ - they’re so tender, they practically apologize for being eaten!

But hold your horses, traditionalists - here, the sambar takes a day off. Fear not, for the idlis and vadas have a new bestie - the mint chutney! It’s like a flavorful buddy comedy, perfectly balancing the dish with a tangy twist. Who needs sambar when this minty marvel steals the show?

No words can describe  the khara bath - the disappearing act of the breakfast scene. It’s so soft and spicy; it vanishes faster than your morning alarm snooze. Each bite is like a tiny surprise party in your mouth - a spicy symphony that concludes before you know it.

Incidentally this was my first time here after the pandemic . Veena stores  has changed ( and how !!) and yet has remained the same . What has remained the same is the food ( nope, that has changed too … they have added Sapatha Baksha to the menu  ) or let me say the quality of the food they serve which has remained top class as usual , the friendly attitude too has remained unchanged . They have taken the neighbouring place which if I remember correctly used to house a Rubber tyre outlet , and have converted that into a seating area . They even have a touch screen ordering too ! 

My standard order here has been idli Vada , khara bath and coffee . I Did the  some today but then the  aroma of Sapatha Baksha ( a kesribath  kind of preparation with semolina, bananas, sugar and Ghee ) was too seductive and I just had to give in . 

It is a sacrilege to say anything negative about the food because it just isn’t good . It is outstanding and exceptional !!! 

Veena Stores isn’t just a breakfast joint; it’s a delicious storybook where each dish narrates its own comical tale. It’s where ‘Annam Brahma’ translates to ‘Food is Divine, but with a side of laughter and surprise.’ This culinary carnival of flavors leaves you not just satisfied but also entertained, craving an encore every single time.

Thank you Veena stores and its Propreitor, Pradeep for such a warm time !!

The almighty be praised , for my belly is certainly raised