The truly National Dishes of India, and hopefully more additions?
There are two branches of the prestigious Saravana Bhavan of Chennai, in New Delhi, and both are simply minting money, am told. The booking of tables has to be done, even fifteen days in advance.The most famous dishes, to this day, that have become truly famous, are the iddli and the Dosa. The other things merely follow these two. I have found that those from up North, simply gobble up, up to ten small cups of sambar at Saravana Bhavan, Chennai, even if it is priced!!
Well, we should be proud that these have become National dishes. Then, we have the Punjabi dishes, more particularly, the Palak Panner and the Panner Butter Masala. Guess what?
Most Tamil Brahmin families serve these two, on the dinner menu of the grand dinner, of day one of the wedding, which goes along with the reception. Reason? The Tamil guys simply feast on these, particularly the IT generation.
One always hears so much about the uppa dosa of AP. But one can't find these in Chennai. So sad. One can't find the superb pappu, of which, am told, there are more than twenty varieties.
Some enterprising entrepreneurs should make the AP dishes, National dishes. The vegetarian stuff is very innovative, and very tasty indeed. The Kerala "puttu", as they call it, should also become a National dish.
The Mumbai vada pav and the other related dishes are slowly becoming National dishes. One only hopes that the list keeps expanding day after day!!!