Talking of Bangalore...I thought I should look up my restaurant photos...
Like most westerners I was put up in a luxurious hotel. My bedroom was about 10 metres by 4 metres! The hotel only cost $100/night though I understand it is more like $400/night these days. Bill Gates visited Bangalore the same week as me and I was told he rented out 3 floors (apparently the floors above and below him were for security people). The hotel restaurant was very good with tasty vegetarian, fish and meat dishes but was the same every day.
I asked a colleague to take me out to something local. It was nothing like a curry house in the UK and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Food was served from stainless steel utensils. You got a plate like the one on the top left with different sections for different vegetable curries, rice, etc (sorry took no notes!). Drinks were served in stainless steel beakers. Every now and again the waiters would come round with a stainless steel bucket and top up your rice or curry.
The waiters were bare-footed and wore loin cloths.
At the end of the meal, my colleague asked if I wanted to see the kitchen. I of course did! I was fascinated by two guys sitting on the floor making puris.
This guy was preparing the dough while his colleague was frying them. The boss was on hand to thank us for our custom and to show me how clean his ovens were.
I was so pleased to get out of the coccoon of a big hotel. A great evening with great food!
2007-06-23 @ 11:56