IDLI SAMBAR 

 

My First taste of South Indian snacks I had around 60 years back. One fine Sunday morning, my cousin dropped in and enquired, “Guru, have you eaten Idli Sambar”? Without waiting for reply he offered to take me to a place that served the South Indian snacks. Going to a restaurant was unheard of those days. It sounded like an adventure. We just picked up cycles and pedaled our way to the destination.  

 

Rama Krishna Restaurant was the place where my initiation into snacking, the South Indian way took place. Situated bang opposite Vile Parle Station, it was a simple eatery with no fancy trappings. Internal layout was more like a ‘Khanaval’ or a mess where you have a quick meal. Near the entrance there was a table behind which sat the owner. (Today, it has acquired a modern ambience with exquisite interior.) 

 

First glance showed how busy the place was. Sounds of waiters punctuated by noise of utensils in the kitchen could be heard. Aroma of sambar emanating from the kitchen activated out taste buds. It was one big hall bustling with activity. It had parallel lines of tables –one for each individual. Behind it was a long bench provided for sitting. Banana leaves were spread on each table. Food was served on these leaves. The whole place seemed full of people busy gorging. We located vacant spaces and made ourselves comfortable in what looked like alien surrounding. Waiters wore white shirts and dhoti folded at knee level. They had their foreheads smeared with Vibhuti indicating they had not only bathed but offered morning prayers too. They would shout their orders at a window behind which was the kitchen. A couple of guys roamed along the rows of tables carrying steel buckets full of sambar and chutney offering them to patrons.  

 

Shortly after we occupied our seats, banana leaves were placed in front of us. My cousin ordered Idli Sambar for both of us. Within minutes a couple of steaming hot idlis of fairly big size landed on our plates(leaves). Next, the guy with bucket of sambar appeared and poured it over the idlis. He was followed by the chutney chap who put dollops of chutney on the plate. These bucket guys kept hovering around, offering repeated helpings of sambar and chutney. They made us feel important.  

 

And how can I forget the south-Indian filter coffee? It is something to die for. Even the protocol of serving this is unique. A mini-glass of steel contains steaming hot coffee. This glass is placed in a bigger bowl of steel. Your waiter brings this to your table and then starts the magic of pouring coffee from glass to bowl and back juggling it up and down till lot of fizz is generated. Not a drop spills and integrity of taste is maintained. We loved sipping it.

 

That was my first date with delicious South Indian snack. 

Before we finished our coffee, the waiter came to our table and left a small chit. This 2”x2” stub was the bill. All of 8 annas for two plates of Idli sambar and two coffees. It was cheap and filling. We picked it up, walked over to the owner’s counter. My cousin handed over a coin of one rupee with the bill. Owner returned a 8 anna coin. No tips, no formalities and we were out.  

 

Those days top drawer of owners’ tables had a wooden board with round slots. Into each slot would fit a small brass bowl. Coins of different denominations were kept in different bowls making it easy to handle transactions. Most owners would keep fidgeting with coins, making jingling sounds. Perhaps, they believed the sounds generated vibrations of good luck. 

 

I loved the experience. It was also my first eating out sortie. Add to it the introduction to a brand-new food culture that has remained with me for all these years.  

 

This blog is dedicated to my cousin Sudhir Khanna. 

 

Sudhirbhai, please let me know if you also remember this incident.  

 

                                                        By Gurubux Vig