Breakfast at MTR, Metro Ride, and Meeting a friend at the Hospital -- Eventful Day

It has been a while since we had breakfast together as a family though we live in the same Apartment complex. So, when the Arien suggested we all meet up for breakfast outside, all of us agreed. The Taurean wanted to eat at MTR, Indiranagar, and thats where we went.

We started on time, around 8 am. We were surprised to find that we had to wait to be seated. Anyway, we went in and the Arien asked the waiter for the menu. They do not maintain any. The waiter instead, rattled - "Idli, Dosa, Masala Dosa, Neer Dosa,...". The Arien interrupted him with "Do you have any Rice Bath?" The answer was No. Before he could repeat his menu, the Arien asked "Do you have Poori?" The answer was No again. Arien asked "Do you have pongal?" The answer was No again. I asked for Onion Oothappam and received yet another NO. I have been here before but not for breakfast. I did not know that they did not serve some of the breakfast options. So, instead of wasting time, we ordered masala dosas and Idlis. The masala dosas arrived quickly enough with a small Katori of Ghee. As we ate, we noticed giant Mangalore Bajjis which looked like pooris from a distance. We realized that we had interrupted the waiter so many times that he forgot to tell us about the bhajjis. Anyway, the Masala dosas were crispy and yummy, the green chutney was pretty good - white chutney not so much, ghee seemed excessive. No opinion on the Idlis. But, the Neer Dosa was  pretty good too. Tea or Chai was good. Usually, most places serve great coffee but Tea is supect but I liked the Tea here. It was served hot with no sugar. The Arien and self shared a cuppa. The Arien was a tad bugged with MTR because he wanted to eat 'Rice Palav' or 'Pongal' or 'Poori' none of which they served - I never eat Masala Dosas but I ordered it here. I liked it.

On our return, we took the Metro. You can read 'bout that here.

As soon as we reached home, I tried to put Kuku to sleep. With all the excitement, he fell asleep almost immediately which surprised me a lot but I was glad. I was planning to visit a colleague whose son is sick, at the hospital. Four of us were supposed to go together but we left separately and two of us came back together. The visit was upsetting and I hope and pray that God gives her the strength to continue to be strong.   

Saapadu -- Foodie Weekend Continues..

After experimenting with Mexican food, you would think that we would be satisfied for the rest of the month. But, No. Anyway, I am getting ahead of myself. Lets start at the beginning. It all started when the Arien forgot to lock his helmet to his bike on Friday. When he came back - the helmet was missing. Sometimes, the Arien's trust in other humans is too shocking to be true. Well, end result, we had to go helmet-hunting in JC Road over the weekend. We invited the Taurean. With the Senior Arien away at Pondicherry, the Taurean was feeling a lil lost. We walked into the first shop and both the Arien and the Taurean fell for the Cross helmet and purchased one each. Ya... and I am known as the shopaholic... Hmpf!! Anyway...

After the purchase both of them acted as if they had climbed mount Everest and said in one voice "Lets Eat." The timing was kinda between a snack and dinner and I was not sure when the choice was taken out of my hands. We walked to MTR (Mavalli Tiffin Room) - a place that I was visiting for the first time since I moved to Bangalore 11 years ago. They mentioned that dinner would be served at 7:45 and tickets would be given at 7:30. It was around 7:15 and so we decided to wait. The waiting Room was quite old-fashioned and had a board mentioning where we were and was kinda funny. I did not even have my camera for the historic moment was all I was thinking when I remembered that I had my cell phone and viola - a grainy pic of the Waiting room.

And then the meal started.... Firstly, the Arien is a huge foodie and wanted a Yelai Saapadu but we were given steel plates. The Arien was a lil disappointed but cheered up when he saw the items arrive one after the other. First up was fresh orange juice, which tasted heavenly, arriving in a silver tumbler. I heard that that was the tradition at MTR. Coffee was usually served in silver tumblers. Wow!! This was followed by the thick coconut chutney, payasam, alu palya, kosambri, vadam, and then Masala Dosa. You could have two dosais but if you had more, you would regret that decision sorely. This was followed by Bisibele bath, Vaangi baath, and steamed rice with sambhar and rasam. And then... (yes, there is more) we had curd rice followed by ice-cream. I stopped after the Vangi bath but both the Arien and the Taurean went on and on and on. Naturally, I had to tease them for that. I think we had had enough for the month now. If you have not visited MTR yet, ... Do so NOW.

MTR @ Forum Value Mall

For once, we reached the Forum Value Mall an hour before the show and actually managed to have dinner there. We walked into MTR because we wanted to have something light. We chose to sit outside in their terrace-like-place because the rest of the place seemed too suffocating but there was absolutely no breeze. The table we chose was yet to be cleaned. A boy came by and cleaned and there was a foul odour and the Arien gave up trying to identify the source. It finally hit us as we both sat wrinkling our noses after the boy left that it was the cloth he had used to wipe the table. The source of the stink was now transferred to our table!! We realized that we could not change tables and so we both sat facing away from the table until the waiter came up.

We ordered for Bisibele Baath, Kesari Baath, Poori Saagu, and Rava Idli. And this was wen we were not hungry :P The Arien wanted the waiter to bring the Rava Idli and Kesari Baath first but he over-ruled us and brought both the Baath(s) 2gether accompanied by a small kinnam of ghee. The Kesari Baath was low on ghee and was yummy. The Bisibele Baath was maha-mashed and yummy too. We had half-an-half so we could try each other's dish. Then came the shocker, there were no more Rava Idli(s). Ob. someone else had been served my Rava Idli. The waiter walked up and asked me to choose something else - no apologies. I knew that the Arien was likely to lose his temper badly and so quickly ordered Idli(s) for myself. As I turned to the Arien, I saw another couple staring at us and they were eating Rava Idli(s)!! Telling the Arien could result in his losing his temper and so I dropped the idea. The Idli(s) and the Poori(s) arrived with the small steel kinnam full of ghee. Somehow I thot it was oil and poured it on my Idlis and totally regretted it. The Arien meanwhile had a really rough time eating his Poori(s). The palya or was it kurma or saagu or whatever it was - was so bland tht the Arien felt nauseated.

After all the enthu 'bout eating here, the experience was totally blaaah and while the food had its pluses, it is not a place I would suggest to friends, relatives. I think the Kamat(s) are way ahead in this aspect.