9 Indian places, 18 varied dishes; not your regular Indian food trail!

Kerala has such a variety to offer, it is impossible to list down a few. Here is another addition to the list - Puttu : rice - ground, rolled and steamed and layered with coconut shavings, and served hot with a curry on the side. If you, like me, also thought Idli is the only breakfast dish you would find in Kerala, this time, don't miss Puttu, it makes for best breakfast for a healthy and yummy start of the day.

And no food trail in Kerala would be complete without Kerala Parotta, layered bread with goodness of ghee. I had mine with Ghee Roast Chicken, and it is the best chicken I think I will ever have. Such tender juicy, well cooked chicken, and immensely rich in spices and flavors. If you would chose one thing out of the these three in Kerala, I would say - go for Kerala Parotta with Ghee Roast.

We had this at a small restaurant on the way from Munnar to Cochin (do not remember the name & exact location), but you would easily get this at any other restaurant as well.

2. Jaipur, Rajasthan

On any given day, I would chose Rajasthani food over my regular north Indian food. Bejad ki roti with garlic chutney (बेजड़ की रोटी और लहसुन की चटनी) has my heart. The roti is made with Barley (जौ), Black Chickpeas (काला चना), Soyabeans and wheat flour (गेहूं का आटा). It might look like your normal roti, but it is not. The texture of a well cooked bejad roti is so rich from outside and in, it is crispier and drier than a normal wheat flour roti, and as if it was not all, the garlic (लहसुन) chutney makes it so much more flavorful. Also, in Rajashthan, Gatta Curry - a curry made mainly with gram flour is another dish I have fallen for.

I have loved the fragrance and taste of wood apple (बेल फल) since always, but you’d agree it is so tough to eat, being sticky and messy. I am sure you would get Bel Fruits juice at many places, but finding a fresh glass of it without added sugar and water has been tricky. I found one at a small shop very close to Hawa Mahal, Jaipur. They do not add extra sugar and water, and serve it fresh and chilled; on a scorching hot day in Jaipur, while you are out and about touring the city, this goodness for 20rs. is a life saver.

3. Cherrapunji & Shillong, Meghalaya

If there is one dish you should not miss once you are anywhere in Meghalaya, it is this : Jadoh and Doh-Sniang. Jadoh is the Khasi tribe traditional rice preparation, where rice are slow cooked with aromatic spices and fine chopped veggies/minced meat; and Doh-Sniang means very mildly spiced pork, fried and cooked in its own fat and no separate curry. The spicy Jadoh rice with this mild but crisp pork tastes heavenly. I had this local delicacy at a very small homely restaurant run by a lady and her daughter at the Mawsmai Cave in Cherrapunji.

Shillong is a paradise for non-vegetarian food lovers. Look at this glazed mutton and pork being roasted on a chilled winter evening, so tender, spicy and fresh. You would get these at the few stalls right on the Police Bazar entrance in Shillong. Don't, DON'T, miss it.

4. Mumbai, Maharashtra

Mumbai is definitely one of the street food heavens in India and you would find so much; from misal pav to vada pao to pav bhaji to sev puri to pani puri and what not. If you have visited Mumbai, chances are, you have had all this street food already. So, for your next visit, bookmark this GUAVA-GLORY : Chili Guava Ice-Cream from Apsara because this is summer in a scoop. Fresh Guava ice-cream topped with red chili powder and salt; I mean WHAT? This is not to be missed.

They have many outlets in Mumbai, and in Bangalore, Pune & Hyederabad.

I confess I did not know about Neer Dosa before I visited Ram Ashraya in Matunga, Mumbai. I had heard it but I did not know it was supposed to be so good. Being a north India, Dosa for me was only Rawa Dosa – Masala or without Masala. But I ain’t going back to Rawa now. Neer Dosa (literally meaning Water Dosa) is made only out of watery thin rice batter, and is so tender and lacy, it melts in your mouth. Rasam & Neer Dosa is match made in heaven.

PS. I had my first Neer Dosa at Ram Ashray but I would easily prefer Madras Café anytime (also in Matunga).

5. Dharamkot/McLeodGanj, Himachal Pradesh

McLodganj is the mini-Tibet in India, the land of Dalai Lama, a beautiful Himalayan town and very popular tourist destination owing to its picturesque landscape and quaint cafes. No points for guessing that one food item that is a must have here is Thukpa (Thupka). I had one of the best Thupka in ‘Tibet Kitchen’, a busy restaurant right at the McLeodganj Square area. Look for the outdoor balcony seating on the top floor, and enjoy your food while overlooking the hustling streets of the touristy McLeodganj.

If hustling touristy lanes and busy lunches are not your trip, and if sipping in your coffee with a slice of your favorite dessert is your idea of a vacation, there is no better place than ‘The Birdhouse Cakery’, in Upper Dharamkot, a few kms away from busy lanes of McLeod. Anu is an amazing baker and the place is a tiny café in a pretty green corner. My time at Birdhouse couldn’t have been better, owing to this BEST Banoffee Pie I have had, so fresh and perfectly flavoured. During my stay in Dharamkot, I also had the best Hazelnut Cheesecake from the same place (though I do not have a picture).

Don’t forget to drop by and indulge yourself in some amazing desserts and coffee (PS. Your vegan/Gluten Free options available).

6. Landour, Mussoorie, Uttarakhand

Now that we are talking about mountains, coffee and desserts, Landour has to be on the list. Landour is a tiny town, very close to Mussoorie and is usually misty and cold. The weather and location makes it perfect to sip in your coffee, hog on some desserts and curl up in your cozy corner. It has some pretty and friendly cafes to satiate you. Here are my top picks :

1. Fluffiest pancakes at Cafe Ivy

I don't know how pancakes here (and generally in Landour cafes) are not your regular pancakes. They are different, fluffier and so much better.

2. Cinnamon Rolls at Mud Cup Cafe

The least to say - these are the most perfectly baked cinamon rolls, crispy on outside and gooey and layered on the inside with the icing.

7. Pushkar, Rajasthan

Pushkar, very rightly, is called the mini Israel in India. At all cafes and restaurants, you would find falafels and hummus and pita breads being served like staples. But that is not all in Pushkar. For sweet tooth like me, these Maalpuas at Laxmi Mishthan Bhandar were bomb. Look for this in the market enclosing the Pushkar Lake, just near Brahama Ghat. Crisp on the outside and gooey on the inside, soaked in tons of sugar. Mmmmmm.

If you are not all for this overdose of Indian sweetness, then here is a royal entry, HELLO TO THE QUEEN. Some sources say, this layer of goodness has its roots from Israel, but we do not know. All we know is, that this is too good. And, also, how much sugar is too much sugar?!

8. Rishikesh, Uttarakhand

I am so fond of fruits, from mangoes to strawberries, from custard apple (seetaphal) to Kiwis, and oranges to green apples. I remember snacking on fruits since childhood. Fresh cream with fruits, curd with fruits, nithing but fruits! But I still have not seen and definitely not tasted this beauty before one evening in Rishikesh (I mean, look at that color). It is called Ram-Phal (राम फल). It tastes a mix of tangy and sweet, lemony and slightly sugary at the same time. If you are in Rishikesh, look for this being sold on the by-lanes of the market near Laxman Jhula.

9. Delhi

Delhi, the capital city, has plethora of food. If there is one Indian city that you can be in and still know the whole of India, it has to be Delhi. From street food in Old Delhi, to high end fine diners in Connaught Place, to cafes in Hauz Khas Village; from Mohobbat ka Sharbat to Daulat ki Chaat to Momos at every street corner to GolGappe/Chaat being the evening staple; Delhi has it all. There is no way food options in Delhi can be listed under one title. So here is a tiny-tad way to tell us all that Delhi has abundance to offer, for all taste buds and all food lovers.

1. Litti with Mutton/Chokha at Potbelly Cafe, Shahpur Jat, Delhi

2. Malai-cheeni toast - a nostalgic trip to childhood