I made a
vow and hoped to keep it. Distractions along the way could prove fatal.
So there I
was, early in the morning ready to leave for Pune on an empty stomach. Not sure
if I could hold on to my own words. After all I had a simple plan. Bawa no
nasto at Dorabjee’s!
In the
early days, we would all squeeze into a big car to begin our journey to the
Atash Behram. As soon as the car started my mom and aunts would begin the
journey by remembering the God with ‘Shno Thare Ahure Mazdao’. Well, all I
could dream of was a breakfast feast fit for the Kings.
As soon as
we reach; I would always try to beat my brother and all my cousins to the
table since I was the slowest eater of the house. It was like my second name.
Mom would chant it at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Only chocolates were an
exception. As soon as I would climb into the chair, the table would be filled
with the breakfast spread. With a million options to the way you’d want your
eggs; charvelu (scrambled), aakhi dar nu (sunny side up), meva ni akoori (burji), tamota
par eedu, pora (omelets), kalaiji ma eedu and much more. And the best part you
could gorge on bheja (brains), kalaiji (liver), febsu (offal) and even get sweet surprises
like crispy tareli boi with piping hot
rotli and toddy.
To curb by
hunger pangs with all the thoughts of food passing by, I grabbed a cold coffee
to accompany me on the long drive. Not before long, I stood ahead of something
grand that had been an institution for years. The old bungalow had such a
charm. I chose to sit by the window.
Having it
all planned in my head I dished out the orders as soon as we got there; Akuri,
Bheja na cutlets, Bheja Masala, Mutton liver masala and Chicken Biryani. At 11
am it seemed like a Bawa nasto brunch loaded with cholesterol.
The Akuri
was soft, luscious and fluffy. The bheja
na cutlets a melt in the mouth madness with the protein being let alone to do
the talking with minimal ginger-garlic seasoning. The bheja masala on the other
hand was all about bites of onion tomato masala accompanied by creamy bheja. The
liver masala best cooked slow on natural wood fire was a delight while the
biryani was flavorful but missed the creamy potatoes in them. The meal was hardly complete without having
the custard pudding; however must say I have had much better ones at home made
by mom.
It was like
having breakfast on the porch of a bungalow and being transported to an idyllic
world far way.
As we bid
adieu to one iconic establishment we walked the alleys to reach another, the omnipresent
Biscuit King in Pune – Kayani Bakery. My
Pune trips always have a mission. To get truck loads of biscuit goodness back
home. More times than less getting biscuits feels like getting into a battle
field, only that here most times you come out as a winner with bags filled.
You must sample
the classic buttery English cookie that the British left behind in the able
hands of Parsis, the Shrewsbury. I like mine dunked in a mug of cold coffee. But
there is much more beyond the humble Shrewsbury. I’d place my bet on the Ginger
biscuit and mawa cake. Though, a recent entrant that is climbing my favorites
chart is the Chocolate orange cookies.
All I was
itching to do now is sit in the car and dive in to be consumed by buttery
goodness.