Food And Yet More Glorious Food!

 As I am sure you know, dear reader, one of the best aspects of being in India is the food. Furthermore, there are different kinds of dishes famous--and popular-- in different states/regions of India. So long as they are vegetarian, I basically have to try them ALL! I cannot possibly recall all the names of all the dishes you see here, but I will try...along with descriptions of them. Feast with your eyes, and derive vicarious enjoyment of these scrumptious delights! 


Coming in a great variety of different styles and flavors, the South Indian "dosa" is one of my all-time favorites. It is basically an oversized crepe, often filled with potato "masala", or, in more exotic restaurants, paneer. No matter what, it is truly yummy. It is frequently served with the coconut chutney you see here... and on a very eco-friendly banana leaf. It doesn't get better than this!!!

Another banana leaf meal... this one included "sabji"-- any sort of sauteed veggie-- along with curry, brown rice (very rare!), papadam, a second cooked veggie and little milk sweet for desert. All you can eat, 150 rupees, at the Sustenance Farm of Auroville, My absolute favorite eatery there-- I returned 3 times to feast! (150 rupees = just under $2.00!!!) 


Having lunch with friends Sonia (from Delhi) and Shubi (cannot recall where from--met her in my guest house) at Sustenance Farm. 


Another Auroville Cafe--- Cafe Naturelle-- expensive and catering to foreigners... this large salad was about 350 rupees... a fortune, but worth every rupee! Most of the veggies were organically grown in Auroville... and my favorite--the arugula -- was a first for India. I was in salad heaven!!! 



My all time favorite dessert: kulfi. A special Indian ice cream made from condensed milk...rich and incredibly flavorful, as they typically contain a myriad of exotic Indian spices. 


A delightful eggplant dish--don't recall the name or even where I ate this, but it was spectacular! 


Not Indian at all, but rather French: Eaten at a very expensive French restaurant, Le Petit Four, in the "French" quarter of Pondicherry, which was not French at all, except for this one restaurant! It was an exceptionally good pea soup with garlic toast. 

lovely swirl of creme on the top!


Also a treat and and nice break from Indian bread, at the same cafe. Really excellent butter croissant! 


Ooohhh, yeah.... how I MISS France!!! 

A delicate cake of some sort with green tea latte... 


You guessed it--another wonderful dosa!!! With 2 kinds of chutney and sambar. 



My own combo of homemade salad and Indian left overs... my typical evening meal!


I am always THRILLED when I can find lettuce ANYWHERE in India! very rare, Indeed...mostly, I make salads with cabbage, and am getting truly sick of the vegetable, I must say... 



And finally--sorry, couldn't figure out how to turn it the right way up--the most classic Indian "thali"-- a wonderful sampling of various dishes in the stainless steel bowls. Always ample, cheap and delicious...a staple anywhere in India. 











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