My Love Affair with S.I.F

My friends know about my love for South Indian Food (S.I.F). I absolutely love the flavours, simplicity, variety and of course its health benefits. If you would ask me to choose between a Dosa (Indian crepe) vs a Paratha (Indian Bread) I would be picking up Dosa.

Why am I telling you this? Because my parents are North Indian and that means a whole lot of roti, parantha, subzi, dal as your daily intake of food (less rice!). Luckily for me, because I grew up in an Island which has people from all parts of India, my parents were introduced to the South Indian cuisine once they moved. However, this was limited to only Idli, Dosa, Sambhar and Chutney.

When I moved out of the house to do my degree I moved to Bengaluru and as a celebration of my new found freedom the girls in the hostel decided to go to the nearest restaurant in Indiranagar — "The New Shanti Sagar". Man was I in for a surprise!

I saw on the menu a section for Idlis. I never knew the simple, plain Idli that I had eaten growing up could have multiple options — Rava Idli, Podi Idli, Mini Idli, Fried Idli. Hell! There was even a frikkin Idli Manchurian!

I had not even moved to the Dosa section and I was already confused. I decided to turn the page and what I saw was mind blowing. There were at least 22 types of dosas listed there.

That evening, over a Masala Dosa and filter coffee, something shifted in me. It was the beginning of a great love affair.

South Indian food is like a well-written poem. Each ingredient plays its part. Nothing is excessive. Everything is intentional. The simplicity of a perfectly made Idli with coconut chutney is nothing short of poetry on a plate.

Bengaluru, you gave me many things. But most importantly, you gave me S.I.F. And for that, I am eternally grateful.