Roadwork and Hooligans

Here's one of my favorite 'Rickshots.' There is redevelopment happening on the main road from Gokulam leading downtown just before the railway station.
In the rezoning process, they razed this intersection to make a smoother transition before the train bridge 30 feet later. You can see where the old road was. They paved around this island and left the power line intact.  As there is no signage, you just have to know that it's there and people drive in both directions on both sides. Murals have been recently painted along a quarter-mile stretch of wall supporting the pedestrian area and overpass/bridge reflecting scenes of Karnataka patriotism.

One of the longer single murals.

Remember, you're still driving...

Our new favorite place to have lunch is Authana. They advertize their scene as "hygenic and healthy' and it's true! I took Yarrow there years ago for an evening mix of Chinese-American and Indian and thought the place was rustic with potential, and they have spiffed-up the place since. Their raised outdoor area has wrap-around covering with an open space in the middle so you can enjoy a downpour. You are also surrounded by bamboo and other greens. for lunch the thali is excellent and the staff knows our routine and always supply us with what we need plus extras. Except last weekend. We showed up for their "Hoolige Brunch" which cost double our thalis, but reportedly had more stuff. It did, like ice cream. Nonetheless, we were treated to a banana-leaf and several first course entres. These were the thick khoot stew and several palya; fresh/raw veg medleys with coconut shreds and spices. Not seen in the pic is two more piles plus a dollop of lime-pickle. The fermented condiment is almost always added, and requires an acquired taste. On our first trip, I mistakenly ATE a lime chunk, then couldn't touch the stuff for five years. Seriously. Now I love it dabbed on a roti and eaten with the palya.

Khoot, palyas,and roti on a leaf. 'Hoolige' on the plate.

Then the rice, sambar and the rest arrived. By this time we had already eaten most of the first round and could not have waited to take a picture. They stopped by to top-off our piles, but we were getting full. Last we ate the namesake: "The Hoolige." This was a roti stuffed with jaggery then cooked. If you haven't tried jaggery, it's raw sugar product that tastes like a cross between brown sugar and honey. The magnificent treat was good in the way that you won't want another. We've stopped by for thalis several times since, but have not made it back for the Hooligan Special, as we now call it.

aeryk

Rickshot:  Roadside tiffin stand serving Hooligan's...