Bon Appétit !!

Hi All,

Another weekend has arrived and as my work, late nights, Saturday half day working etc. has increased so has my appreciation for weekend and care free time away from normal routine .. in greater proportions I may add .. But anyways as of now I am really enjoying my work so it doesn't feel much of a load .. Plus with some amount of distraction like a lunch break, Tea break(s) and a little bit of Table Tennis at the recreation center work is quite fun !!

Anyways after writing 2 posts which were quite serious and technical I was always thinking of writing something fun or something which will do for some light reading. I couldn't really pinpoint on what to write in that genre. So eventually I had decided to write about the aftermath of our Olympic success (I guess winning multiple medals in individual events does qualify as a success relatively) ... But during online conversation with a very good friend I was suggested that I should write about Food !! ..

This suggestion was the result of me telling another one of my dinner experiences in which the I loved the food so much that I overate a LOTT without the slightest feeling of repent :) .. As you all know and must have heard I am quite the foodie .. I really love eating anything and everything .. This has led to many jokes and banter on my account, the famous ones being that I know all the Restaurant menu cards by heart :) and that I am a garbage disposal who will eat any dish which another person is not able to finish ..

The first joke is very valid .. I have due to numerous experiences of eating out, reading everything on the menu, helping people on what they should order and many times ordering for all, gained knowledge of the contents of many a menu cards .. This is not done by rote learning :) ... The second joke about "garbage disposal" is the result of having a large appetite and discipline enforced by my parents from a very early age of finishing whatever is given to you on your plate .. My brother and I were never ever allowed to waste food no matter how much we dislike the taste of it ..

I remember a very funny incident which happened at my aunt's wedding .. After the ceremony it was time for a traditional lunch and we were in the first "pangat" .. The meal was very nice and each and everyone of the guests were complimenting the meal and saying things like "jevan masta aahe" .. But after some time I noticed that one by one everyone was vacating their seat and leaving their plate .. They hadn't eaten even half of what was given to them which was surprising because they were whole-heartedly complimenting the food :) .. Soon it was only my brother and I who were left at the lunching area while all the other people had left to make room for the next "pangat" .. The next thing I knew we were almost forced to leave our meal unfinished as others wanted to sit for lunch ..

That's the reason that every time anyone is full and is about to leave their plate unfinished I step in and finish it .. But I seriously believe that every one should finish what they have taken .. We are fortunate to eat such good food whilst millions cannot afford 2 square meals a day .. That's why I like the buffet system as it lets people take whatever and how much ever they want .. But the really annoying thing is that people waste food there also .. I see people wasting food in my office all the time and its really bad ...

Anyways on a much lighter note I would like tell you about 5 of my favorite restaurants in Pune .. I was going to go for 10 but my good friend and best critic about my blog told me that I should make things brief :) So I'll definitely write about the remaining 5 in a future post .. So without further delay here are some of my favorite joints in Pune .. Please note there is no ranking :)

1) Cafe Good Luck

Good Luck is my favorite option for breakfast due to my affinity for egg :) ..

Favorite Dishes: Fried Egg, Cheese Omlette and Bun 'Maska' .. Also the tea in Good Luck is one of the best which I get outside of home ..

2) Kalinga

I cannot really qualify Kalinga as outside food as I am ordering stuff from Kalinga at home since the last 5 years or so .. I have only once gone inside the restaurant ..

Favorite dishes : Tandoori Chicken, Butter Chicken, Sweet Corn Chicken Soup and Fish Tikka .. Caramel Custard also gets a mention ..

3) Darshan

For me outside food = Non. Veg .. For the simple reason that we don't make Chicken at home .. We order in non. veg food often but there are no home preparations .. But if I have to eat only Veg. outside then my best choice is Darshan ..

Favorite dishes: Baked Veg. with Macroni, Mushroom Fretters in Mustard Sauce, Open Spring Cheese Chilli Toast and Traffic Jam ... On some occasions even Channa Bhatora ..

4) Geroge

I went to George yesterday after many days and have vowed to come back there often .. For some reason it always escapes the mind when deciding the place to eat out .. But whenever I have gone there I've had a great meal .. I think its the best for Biryani in Pune

Favorite Dishes: Mutton Chops, Chicken Biryani and Mutton Biryani ..

5) Flags

The first disclaimer for Flags is that please go there if you are not paying :) .. I qualify places like Flags, Mahesh Lunch home and others as "places to go with your parents" for the very obvious reason that I don't have to pay and can order without looking at the right most column of the menu card .. Flags has such a vast menu that its impossible to learn it by heart :) ..

Favorite Dishes: Fondue and All the desserts esp. Cheese Cakes .. I don't remember what I have ordered for main course there but even if you go only for Fondue and Desserts its worth it ..

So these are some of my favorite restaurants in Pune .. I apologize to all my other favorite ones for not making it on this post but I will definitely put them in the future ..

I would really love to hear some of your favorite ones in Pune along with your regular orders there .. That would really increase my options when the next time (which will be very soon) I decide to eat out ...