Uttara Karnataka Speciality Food Store, Photo by: Srinivasan Ramani
Yesterday I reported how you can get lunch for three at a bit less than 2 US$. Today, we went to another place in Jayanagar, Bengaluru. Two of us had lunch for Rs 80, which is a few cents less than one US$!
Pretty good lunch it was. My wife chose Puliyogare for herself. I chose Bisi Bela Huli: a cooked and well spiced combination of rice and lentils. At the Uttara Karnatka Speciality Food Store, it had some carrots and potato chunks as well. Protein and Vitamin A!
We ate out of good paper plates, standing on the sidewalk in the shade opposite the store, next to the Ramar Temple. Most people eat without any cutlery, as Indian food is usually eaten with one's hand. I asked for a spoon and was given a well designed plastic spoon.
We got a parcel of Onion Pakoda and Chili Bajji to take home for a snack. Rs 30! The main problem we noticed was that there was not enough parking space on the street! A few poor guys in million rupee SUVs had to walk some distance to eat lunch!
Governments at every level in India must work to foster this culture of low cost food services. The two places I have visited in these two days were pretty hygenic. However, it would take a lot of effort for the city government to ensure that all eateries in the city get safe, piped water. We also need to ensure that taxation does not burden these eateries that cater to a very basic need. We need to make these places a matter of pride and an item of the city's identity. We should not forget that the small eateries of Bengaluru probably provide a hundred thousand jobs!
Srinivasan Ramani
