Full Stop India

Vegetarians be damned, the seaside city of Pondicherry is a traveler’s golden opportunity to experience seafood done right in India. A lazy walk up and down, scanning menus, perusing the dining areas and asking locals for recommendations is what this laid back, miss mash city begs from tourists.

My recent introduction to chicken salna was thanks to my Tamil driver Selvamraj, who promised this popular, traditional dish would not disappoint. And he was so right. Tamil Nadu food stalls, lining the roads of the state, are famous for their salnas. But I didn’t eat this delicious South Indian spicy gravy with chicken as [...]

Totally unexpected, and thoroughly enjoyed, my driver Selvam surprised my travel partner and I with a roadside picnic lunch one hot, sunny and humid day. For weeks he had mentioned something about a spicy Tamil gravy that we should try. “You will try one day, I will show you”, he kept telling us. Between the [...]

Skip the car and make the short walk from Hotel Solitaire to this finer establishment in Bangalore, Karnataka. Eerily bright red neon lights illuminate the walkway into the modern chic restaurant catering to the city’s burgeoning middle class. An open air feeling ,with just enough privacy, is achieved with dark lighting, slightly over-sized tables, cushion-comfortable [...]

Easy to make, easy to find on the menu in Northern India, guaranteed to make your taste buds happy; kheer is a delicious dessert which I am always on the hunt for when traveling. Many times when ordering at restaurants my request for this dish is met with snickers or odd looks, both for which [...]