Finger-lickin' Fantasies
In Bangalore,Mumbai
And Chennai

WHAT'S my idea of good food? Hygienic, low calorie, fat free or bland? Actually none of these. Ssssssssaahhhhaaaaaaa tchhhh! If that's how I go when I taste food, the stuff is terrific. And let's just leave it at that.

There's a lot more to food than calories, vitamins and all that boring jazz. For me eating out is all about the company, ambience and finger-licking fantasies dreamt up by the portly gentry in the cute white topis. I love my fair share of tongue tickling and the fun that goes with dining out with friends. The experience of eating out can be different and the place you decide to hang out in should ideally match your mood.

The five star culture is good for its elegance, privacy and customised service. Ideal for more formal dinners or business lunches. Or perhaps a quiet evening where the conversation flows more than the wines. But for pow-wows with buddies, it's got to be the happening hangouts. The specialities, delicacies and loud music make for a pulsating evening.

I've quite a few favourite haunts across Bangalore and most of the metros. I select the place to suit my mood or my guests that day. Now lemme check. The first ones that come to mind are the cosy lil corners in Bangalore. The Garden City's been known for its pubs such as 180 Proof & Pub World and cafes even before the IT brigadiers were born. And the first that comes to mind is a seafood place called Unicorn. It's tucked away in a rather inconspicuous corner, even though in the heart of the city. I've always been amazed by the deadly prawns these guys rustle up. Not really the rather common giant prawns but the smaller sized and made very tasty. They change the seafood speciality menu every week. I specially like this joint for its coastal Karnataka kind of cooking. Plenty of coconut milk in the chow and main courses of boiled rice varieties.

Another good eating house in Bangalore is Tycoons. I often wonder why they call it Tycoons, I've never met a Sabeer Bhatia there! But believe ya me, this is a place to wander into if you like Continental food and good service. A great place to go to with business associates too. Makes you feel like a tycoon. The place to set your tongue on fire is Bheema's, the Andhra Pradesh embassy in Bangalore. My Bong and Gujju friends can never understand what the Reddygarus see in food that will burn your innards if eaten indiscriminately. But try it once and you begin to empathise with the Andhra folk. Heartburns don't kill nobody.

Now who hasn't heard of MTR, the ideal South Indian �tiffin� place? A lunch on a silver plate comprises a seven or eight course serve that leaves you sprawled for the rest of the day. Traditional veg Mysorean lunch or dinner here is a must do at least once in two months. Another interesting place is Woodys for snacky food that won't burn a hole in your pocket. In the heart of Bangalore's shopping area, its just right for a quick bite in the middle of a shopping spree when you have a whole lot of shopping bags and a bunch of hungry kids. This reminds me of Spiga, with its delicious European and Mexican cuisine at down to earth rates.

Talking of foreign food, have I forgotten something! Indian Chinese food. Mainland China is my first choice for Chinese food. It's genuine Chinese cooking and I love this place. This is just the place for girlie afternoons. Finally, if you are the shameless types who don't mind being seen gorging off a dessert spread (what the heck?), Sunny's the place. Oodles of the creamy stuff that simply melt on your tongue. Even the main course here is mind boggling. Now for the glittering Stars and the glitteratti. Bangalore has all the biggies flexing their muscles here. Windsor Manor Sheraton & Towers... (I hope I've got the name right). It has the Afghan Lounge for good frontier province and tandoor cooking. Dakshin, as the name indicates, has an excellent South Indian menu to choose from. And, of course, the newly opened Jolly Nabob for the Hyderabadi (Dum Pukth) food of the British Raj. The Raj Pavilion, a coffee shop, is made to look like a conservatory with plenty of greenery and skylight. I love this hotel for the excellent personalised service.

Gateway has the Karavalli where you get �simbly onederful� Kerala food. I like the Mallu stuff served on leaves for a change. Appams and stew are a rage here. The Paradise Island at the West End is my favourite haunt for good Thai food. The Schewan Court at The Oberoi, and Memories of China at Taj Residency are the places for five star Chinese food. I could go on and on about the lovely food stations in Bangalore. In this city, I wonder if people actually work their kitchens in the evenings.

Mumbai has a good many favourites of mine too. Having spent my school and college days here, I have a soft spot for the eating joints of Mumbai. I never miss a chance for an Italian binge at Trattoria in The Taj President. (No, good ol' Otavio Quottorachi didn't recommend it.) The Shamiana at The Taj in Bombay is a lovely place where I always bump into my old college buddies. And if you're at The Taj, I strongly recommend the Sea Lounge. Just sit by the window in the evenings and watch the ships come in with their twinkling lights over a wide variety of assorted snacks and coffee. I used to sit here often and watch life go by. There used to be a Polynesian restaurant in the Oberoi that was highly recommendable. I had to remember not to lick my fingers there because it was the place of the corporate chappies. The crisp white shirts and bright ties (sic). Forget it fellows. If you enjoy food, you would be missing out on a lot if you don't try Trishna. It's in a remote gulley near the Jehangir Art Gallery. Don't be mad at me if you have to wait. It is a tiny place, but worth the wait. This is the place to sin.

Chennai. Whoever said the Madras maamis do dig anything else but the colombu? You've got to try the Peshawari in Chola. A bit like the Bukhara in Maurya, Delhi. The Dakshin in Park Sheraton is a nice place for South Indian cuisine. Rain Tree at the Connemara has a great ambience. Away from the five star culture, there's this new Thai Restaurant called XXXXXX. This is a marvellous restaurant, an old bungalow converted by expert interior designers into a classy Thai restaurant. Don't forget to visit Dasa's on Mount Road for good veg stuff. I love their salad bar after a shopping binge on Mount Road.

I've always found dining out similar to a dance recital. Everything's important. The lights, music, costume and grace. A good restaurateur should know this. The ambience, presentation and style add to the flavour. Food garnished with plenty of fun is my idea of a great evening.