Masala Dosa - CTR

Seems like quite a few people are missing the dosa on my homepage. Many of them have asked what happened to it. Well..it's days were numbered....One of the monkeys I know ate it. (I suspect Shruthi), she always likes eating masala dosa's. One of the favorite place of that monkey is CTR. (Central Tiffin Room), now known as something else I cant remember (Oh! Google informs me that it;s now SriSagar, but I'll still call it what I want). So today I will subject you all to a review of CTR which meets the high standard of my refined culinary masala dosa tastes.

Location: No 154, Margosa Road, 7th cross, Malleshwaram, Bangalore.
Decor: Has chairs and tables and a 'family room'. That alone qualifies it for a 3 star dosa joint.
Ambiance: Eh? yen ri haagandare?
Price: Affordability is their first name.

CTR has the look of the typical old joints which have been around since our parents can remember and looks it. There are always people standing outside waiting to get in. The smell is mouth watering. Once you get a place, point to note: You will almost never get a table to yourself, unless you are a large group you are always made to sit in the nearest available chairs. The place itself is not too big. With a set of mismatched chairs and tables and abuzz with activity and noise. The waiters arrive promptly. Unless you ask them to tell you the menu, they will assume you want the dosa.

The benne (butter) masala dosa arrives almost immediately, the waiting time is probably 30 secs to a min. The dosa is crisp and roasted to the right consistency. The chutney is coconutey and really tasty. I could just eat chutney. The potato curry is a little less for me but it is enough for the dosa. The spice is a little less when compared to other places, so it is favored by most. The sambhar is very good too. Left to me, I'd sit and savour it, but the place is so full that you are expected to finish quickly and leave. A coffee after the dosa is a perfect finish. The coffee there is excellent. Right kind of filter coffee. The aroma reminds me of rainy days and hot filter coffee at home. After the meal, all you want to do is go and vegetate at home. It is deliciously filling.

In all, a great place for a good benne masala dose and good old filter kapi. It is a very popular breakfast place over the weekends and can get very crowded. So getting there early is suggested. Be warned: they really do close after 11.30 am. They open again by evening and stay open up to 9.30 or so. It's a lovely place. With it's old world charm, simple people, prompt service and tasty food. So if you are in that neighbourhood, do stop by at this place. You will not be disappointed.

In conclusion, Shruthi now owes me a dosa as she ate mine. What say shrutha? :)

IPL - Indian Political League

Yes, I know it should have been Indian Premier League. But it is inconsequential to the drama taking place in India. The great Indian Election Drama. Again..i make a list, to all my detractors, lists are easier to read, fun to write and simple. No frills, no fuss.
Since I am spending a lot of time attending meetings these days, in business jargon, the take away from this election is.

1: First and foremost : All is fair in love, war and democratic elections.

2: Tit for Tat : You call Bofors, I call Babri Masjid ( even though people have ceased to care about both or do not remember either). The Youth think bofors is a buffalo reform movement.

3: Age is just a number: 80 is a boootiful age: Advani, Arjun singh, Manmohan Singh, Karunanidhi...etc etc. if you listen closley, you can hear them cough and singh...abhi toh main jawaan hoon....

4: New takeaway : English is NOT good for development, nor are computers, so we use maatru basha . Ex of future usage - Apun hindi mein bolta, tupun hindi mein bolna, apun sab milke yeh disscushun karenge ki phoren investment kyon nahin aata idhar ko?

5: Lessons on nationality: Sonia Gandhi was always an Indian. I think they registered her birth place Italy instead of Rae Bareli by mistake. Oh! goody! now things are more clearer.

6: Lessons on discipline and tolerance: Manmohan Singh is a good prime minister. I do agree..he always listens to Sonia Gandhi.

7 : National security: Pranab Mukherjee is a great writer of letters. Yes he is..that should explain the love letters he wrote to Pakistan after the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai.

8 : Financial investment : Advani says they're getting India's money back from accounts in Swiss banks. Right! Expect the savings accounts of all the middle class to be taxed further.

Have any more take aways? :)

Ek do Teen...

Poornima and Shruthi have tagged me for this. I think it's got nothing to do with my popularity but everything to do with my fondness of lists. So here goes.....

1: I, Me, Myself. heheheheheh....ok ok...I am not That big a meglomanic like someone else who owns a team. 1st main road is where I lived. Also the number of years it took me to realize that accounts was not my thing.

2: Is the number of sisters I have, one biological, one adopted. Both equally mad and deserve to be in NIMHANS.

3: Number of best friends I have. All mental, all irreverant and great fun.

4: Was the year I discovered that I was a child prodigy.

5: Was when I realized that I was not exactly the child prodigy. I was waaaay more than that, a step above all child prodigies. Also the number of years I spent in my alma mather, Mount Carmel. Loved the college, hated accounts.

6: Was the number of years I studied accountancy.

7: Is the number of days in a week..Left to me it would have been 5, unfortunately, it was'nt left to me.

8: My birth date. The list for my b'day gifts will go out soon. So that all my friends can factor it in their expenses. I am thoughtful and gifted, wow! what a combination.

9: 9, Krishna block was where I lived. Eccentric neighbourhood filled with eccentric people. Except me, I was a child prodigy and am an adult genius.

10: 10 - dul - kar. heheheh..that's all i can think for this number. But I also want to add Seh-whack to it. I am gonna call him that henceforth.

What say of my list? Will tag...

Pranitha - she's good fun.

Shruthi - just like that.

Meghna - she has an amplified opinion to give.

Coffee Cake

Ta Dah! I made coffee cake..... :), It was easy, and very tasty..icing needs more work though. :)

Tired of lists??

Tired of lists?? Too bad...There's another one in the offing. But a little explanation on why I choose make lists to bore you guys. Cos I am a sadist and I love it!!!! hehehehehe..Oh! not good enough?? Ok, for your entertainment on long deary work days? Better? Anyhoo, there's this thing happening in Facebook where there are all sorts of lists being made and people getting 'tagged' to do the same. It is interesting for most part, but some lists are excruciatingly boring, not to say too long to even scroll down. But people still take time to make them and to answer them. I am inspired by these tireless, hard working list people to make one myself too :).Choose the better option, here goes

 

1: Mayawati or  Deve Gowda...? Who'd you rather have as a prime minister?

2: Deve Gowda or the sleeping beauty (beast ;))..? Who'd you rather have as a prime minister?

3: Zardari rule or Nazi camp..? Where'd you rather be?

4: Saifeena or Brangelina..? Who are you more tired of?

5: Lalit Modi or any politician set..? Who's greedier?

6: Aastraalia or Ingland? Who's the biggest wussiest cricket team? 

7: Al Gore or Michael Moore..? Who's more tolerable?

8: Zayed Khan or Fardeen Khan..? Who's the most intolerable actor?

9: The North pole or the Death Valley..? Where should Arjun Singh be sent to 'pass away' in      peace?

10: Finally, Britney Spears or George Bush..? Who's the stupidest..?

 

So monkeys!!!..Go ahead and answer :).  

 

The original Rahman...and his masterpieces

Allright......That's it..This is the 458,658,458th time I am listening to Rahman's 'Jai ho' on the radio. Frankly speaking, there is nothing wrong with the song. It's just that the song is just about ok. But they have been playing to so often and raving about how great it is that I have been complelled to put together a list of his songs which are far better. For the record, I do not claim to be an expert on Rahman, nor is this an exhaustive list of his work. It is just an listof his songs that have made an impact on me.These are great songs, great compositions, and according to me, in the musical land of Rahman, Jai Ho is just average. Here's a list of Rahman's songs I think are great, please feel free to add any I might have missed. Here goes, in no particular order ,

- The whole album from the movie Roja - I cannot choose any, every single song is outstanding.There is a Hindi version, but I feel the Tamil one really brings out the emotions. The whole album I think is one of his best works.
- Thiruda Thiruda - in Tamil - I love the song Konjam Nilavu from the movie.
- Kadhalan - Tamil again - You should listen to Pettai Rap. It is uninhibited fun. The album on the whole is good.
- Bombay - Again has versions in bothTamil and Hindi. Tamil's great, but Tu Hi Re in Hindi is heart wrenchingly beautiful. The Bombay theme makes your hair stand on end.
- Iruvar - Tamil - I have not heard the whole album, but Narumugaye is a song I just cant get out my head. It's timeless.
- Rangeela - Hindi - A fun album - every song is worth listening to more than once.
- Kadhal Desam - Tamil - I think I listened to mustafa mustafa day and night and never got bored. It broke a few records.
- Muthu - Tamil - Thilana Thilana is something only Rehman could have made. Pure fun.
- Minasara Kanavu - Sapnay in Hindi - Vennilavae is Tamil is great - Aawara Bhaware is Hindi is joy unscripted. Feel like dancing every time that song is played.
- Daud - Hindi - I dont know how popular it is but I love the whole album. except probably zehreela pyar. The rest of the album has amazing variation in music.
- Dil Se - Also has the Tamil soundtrack. Since I have listened largely to the Hindi version, I'll refer to it. Has the unforgettable chaiyya chaiyya, Another 'make you feel like dancing in abandon' song. The whole album is simply mindblowing. Listen to E Ajnabi, soulful and beautiful.
- Earth - Hindi - A great movie - An an amazing soundtrack. You need to hear it. Especially Raat ki Daldal hain.
- Doli Saja Ke - Hindi - A cute album. Kissa hum likhenge is the best of the lot.
- Taal - Hindi - Another masterpiece by Rehman - I really cant choose a favorite here. But I am a little bent towards Ramta Jogi.
- Pukar - Hindi - I absolutely love his Kismet se tum. It's an amazing song. The rest are great too. Kay sera sera is a feast for both eyes and ears.
- Alaipayuthey - Tamil and Saathiya in Hindi - A great album in both languages - Snehithane Snehithane in Tamil and O humdum suniyo re in Hindi is what I'd recommend. The whole album is great, in both languages. Do not miss out on it.
- Kandukondein Kandukondein - Tamil - I love the album, my personal favorite is still Kandukondein Kandukondein.
- Fiza - Hindi - Listen to Haji Ali - I really do not have words to describe it. The - Zubeidaa - Hindi - Like the album but my personal favorite is Mehndi hai rachnewali.
- Lagaan - Hindi - Outstanding music - every single song is great. Every.Single.One.
- Boys - Tamil - A total fun album. peppy and happy tunes. Boom Boom is good fun.
- Yuva - Bilingual again - I know the Hindi songs. Dhakka laga Bukka is inspiring.
- Swades - Hindi - Another of his outstanding albums. Absolutely love Yeh jo desh hai mera. Makes you fall in love with India again. The whole album is amazing.
- Rang De Basanti - Hindi - Listen to Lukka chuppi and Khoon chala and tell me you dont feel a lump in the throat. This is Rehman at his best.
- Guru - Hindi - Really like Maiyya maiyya, no complaints about the rest of the songs either.
- Jodhaa Akbar - Amazing soundtrack , personal favorite is Khwaja mere Khwaja.
- Jaane tu ya Jaane na - Hindi - Another peppy, full of life, fun album. Kabhie kabhie aditi will always make me smile.
- Ghajini - Made in Tamil and remade in Hindi - I personally think the Tamil songs are far better (which has been composed by Harris Jayaraj, Rehman only composed the Hindi version, I apologize for the error), but Guzarish in Hindi is great and Kaise main deserves a special mention.
- Delhi 6 - Hindi - I absolutely love this album. From Genda phool to Rehna tu to Kaala bandar to Masakali, I love every song. I think it got a bit overshadowed by the average Jai ho.

These are the songs I love and will listen to anytime and anywhere. Rahman has a vast body of work, across languages. This is just a small glimpse. There are so many more I know I have missed. But these are the ones from the top of my head. The list may increase as Shruthi is always there to give inputs. So here's to Rahman, may he live 300 years and always compose music like he's been doing. :)

Election time..again...

So monkeeys..there's even a song for you guys now...kaala bandar from Delhi 6...hehehehheeh. I think you guys were the inspiration :) I am on a roll and my mental block got sucked down a black hole. Applause!!!..what poetry!!!. Anyway, lets talk about something imporatant here. Elections! They are here..and monkeys...you need to go and VOTE. It's a duty every citizen has to do. Yes, it is, even thought you do your duty and pay service tax, income tax, road tax, employee tax, surcharge, indirect tax, sales tax and other duties. At least voting does not include paying tax (all right...going to vote on a hot day is taxing, but hey! you can probably get rid of Sonia Gandhi..what say?). So here's some basic rules for election season :

- Dont watch any news channel for information, it's likely you wont get any. And there is a high possibility that you'll forget what you already know.
- Dont watch CNN IBN and their exit polls. Rajdeep Sardesai will just yell at you and you'll feel like a child who has behaved badly and is not getting any dessert.
- Get your voters id done...It is the only place where you can see if you have aged gracefully to 60. On the brighter side, you can start saving money for that expensive cosmetic surgery.
- Know your constituency. No, it is not identified by the nearest Coffee Day. There are specific details, Jaago re bandar.
- Know your MLA. Yes. Really. They have a face and an identity. Atleast you can describe who you are blaming.
- Do not trust exit polls. Poeple lie all the time about who they have elected or will elect, so that noone can point to them if Sonia Gandhi or Mamta Banerjee win again.
- Election also helps in keeping the mind active. How? you ask..Please keep track of the party coalitions and make me a graph. JDS, TPD, Samajwadi party, Bahujan Samaj Party. Choose any one and make a graph....Then you can tell if this is easy business.
- There will not be IPL matches on election days if one goes by how Lalit Modi looks. He looks like a lal bandar because he can see the plans for a new house on the French Riviera disappear. So no excuse to not go vote.
- Yes Sachin Tendulkar votes, even though he has tennis elbow and cramps. NOW will you go vote. Yes girls..Aamir does it too, and he does not forget, contrary to recent opinion.

So this election season, go and vote. Vote so that you can crib without feeling that you dont have a right. Voting gives one the the constitutional right (probably even legal) to crib and complain. So monkeys...find out your date with the country's fate. Wah! Wah!..Applause again.