An evening at Tendulkar's

Good food is something that drives me to unstinted pangs of admiration and somehow throws me into declaring my last meal the 'best one'. However, lately I have grown a bit more matured and try to put it as 'among the best ones'. I have been ridiculed for being too easy on chefs but never mind. I love good food. It gives me a pleasure which nothing else can match.

There is another dimension to it. I dont care about the details when it is home cooked but I can get really irritated if a careless waiter makes an extra clink while serving me. A mistake in the order or a delay in the order could easily put me off. A mindless and unappealing ambience or mere setting of the tables can make me go judgemental, disobeying my easy-to-please tongue.

So, despite the first para being true, its not too easy to make me declare a dinner 'The Perfect one'. But, one such dinner, after a long time, came my way on the night of 26th Jan. The date and city combination (26th jan + Mumbai), somehow never leaves my memory. A hugely entertaining day was spent precisely 6 years ago. I will describe that some other time if I feel like.

Oh, I was talking about the dinner. After a mildly enjoyable day at water kingdom and an immensely destressing walk at marine drive, we three started planning to call it a day and pushing off back to Pune. A dinner, however was still pending and we had to think about a place that could complement a lovely day. TENDULKAR's popped up in my friend's mind and I rejected it on the basis of bad name that had been given to it so far. Still, we started towards colaba. Walking past beautifully decorated MANTRALAYA and admiring the cool breeze, we finally reached in front of Tendulkar's. Klay Oven was adjacent to it and we were divided on where to go. I had heard Chicago Klay Oven was good but somehow, had never been there. Well, finally, we decided against Klay Oven and entered Tendulkar's. Menu was at display on a rather small lectern at the entrance and I was delighted to find some Indian Vegetarian delicacies there in. I liked the shady blue lighting in the alley that leads to staircase. Climbed a couple flights and entered the main hall. Greeted by a rather non-descript girl, clad in red who turned out to smart enough to make an impression.

We were exhausted from a hectic day and were still trying to ease ourselves into the soothing environs. Started looking around and found everything just perfect. Everything, off course, had to be colored in Sachin hue but of many other theme restaurants, this one was really eye-catching. From the stumps shaped salt-pepper dispenser to thick glass walled sink in the washroom, from Tendulkar autographed everything to beautiful cutlery, I was liking everything. Waiters were smartly dressed as well as smart tongued. My close observation failed to notice any mistake and it definitely made me happy. Best part of the dinner came at first. I just cant hold and do not want to hold any appreciation here. It was undoubtedly 'among the best non-alcoholic drinks I have ever had'. Base was coconut water, flavor was lychee and wow was the word. The splendid start was followed by baby cheese naans and mushroom wantons. These are the little things that separate classy restaurants from run of the mill ones. How can you make a mere naan as starter, and make it tasty on top of it. Just give a tang of cheese, make it appropriately warm and serve it in a suave manner. You are done. Same was the case with wantons.

For main course, we ordered things as simple as daal makhni and bhindi masaala and found that our servers did the best they could do. Best you can do with these things is to put the precise amount of spices and thats how it was done. Well, still, I have to say that 'innovation' was missing but they had already done a lot better to excuse themselves of complacence.

we were short on time and could not try any desserts......may be next time.

The beginning

Its not very frequent that I happen to fall in the inviting arms of these rare moments when I don't care to bother about anything happening around and about me. I half-sit on this mattress, fingers keep running on the laptop and thoughts do not cease to flow as they do almost every time when I try to force them.

In retrospect, I realize that I have taken some of the most sane decisions in these very moments. I trust them. I love them. Only problem is that I can't invoke them at will.

I don't know why but probably, out of caprice, I am making these writings public. I do not see any motive, nor do I seek any benefit. I certainly do not claim to make a difference any damn where. Its a pure unadulterated caprice.

Lets see where does it lead to.