Food for thought

Saw a rather ironical signboard today outside a five star hotel for its restaurant.It was for the ongoing food festival - "THE STREET FOOD OF THAILAND" - it boasted.Ha.Street food to be eaten in a five star?Street food.In a five star.And you pay 800 bucks for it(and I'm excluding the RATHER fine print of 'taxes extra').Street food.I find that rather weird and paradoxical.If I want to eat STREET FOOD,why in the name of heavens above would I do it sitting in a fine-dining restaurant where there are elegant silk and taffeta curtains,chilling air conditioners and where I must tip the waiter with at least 10% of my billing amount?

Don't get me wrong.I'm not a minimalist,against five star hotels.I love them just as much as the next person.I'm not suggesting that we deprive waiters their tips.I'm not saying that five stars should charge amounts next to peanuts...the mere suggestion of that idea is so very ridiculous.

What I'm really saying is that,it beats the point.It's called street food for a reason.

Ya ya,I know you can say that they are bringing exclusivity and authentic stuff and blah blah blah.Beats the point.

I'm not just targeting the hotel.I'm just saying generally.Where it's not your specialty,why bother?Where you can't be the original,or better,why bother?

Go to any Udupi/South Indian restaurant in India - typically owned by a Shetty - and you will get the widest assortment of dishes.It truly is multi-cuisine in the real sense.You will get everything from South Indian,"North Indian",Mughlai,Tandoor,(alas,but India MUST face diversity and difference even in the menu cards!),Italian,Mexican,Pizzas(yes,they are NOT included as Italian),Continental(which is usually salads and an assortment of funnily spelled words like spaghetti bolonees - read as Bolognaise and also includes "toast and jam/'marmelade'",cereals,cornflakes,eggs to order,etc ),Burgers and Sandwiches,Chinese,Thai,Sizzlers...its an exhausting list.I remember this one occasion where we ordered Chilly Chicken from a South Indian restaurant.This spicy dish consisting of fried chicken coated in cornflour in a spicy soya sauce with chilly,green capsicum,onions and garlic was presented with dry fried chicken,with a sweet-ish taste,and garnished a LOT with coriander,cashewnuts,raisins and other assorted dry fruits.

I find it ridiculous to go to a 5 star to eat what I can cook at home.We eat out to experience new food,new tastes and somkething different,but authentic.Eating a wada pav at a big restaurant is a stupid idea - because it'll cost hell,it won't be as tasty,and it's out of place.eating FrenchOnion Soup at a small dhaba-like place is a stupid idea - because it won't taste like it,will be completely different and it's out of place.

In the end - cause I really AM running out of things to say - I oppose myself and say,it's alright once in a while to eat something that's not supposed to be cooked there.It creates a good enough experience to laugh,criticise and remember.