It was close to one in the afternoon. The perfect time for Sunday breakfast. Headed out for Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.
We saw the banner of the Farmer’s Market in the little round-about opposite CBTL at Linking Road, Bandra. I though that we could take a dekko.
‘Farmers Market’ wakens visions of colourful markets that we saw at Thailand and at Berne and Lucerne at Switzerand. Lively, a riot of colours, rich local produce – fruit, veggies, meat, cheese, breads – tourist attractions and local hotspots.
The Bandra Farmers Market is a few week old. It is supposed to be an ‘organic’ market. I am suspicious of anything ‘organic’ in India. Typically it means higher prices, poor taste, khadi kurtas and jholas. Places to be seen at. Hedonism doesn’t feature anywhere.
Still couldn’t resist the urge to check it out.
Well this is the only picture that I took. What lay inside was as expected. What I had heard someone once describe as ‘destaurated monochromatic’. Dusty. Faded. A few stalls selling ragged carrots and potatoes. The lay out was far from tempting. There were more stalls selling expensive handicrafts and tee shirts instead of farmers produce. For some reason K asked me if I’d like a tee which said ‘100 p c green’. Aah, the sarcasm of those woken up from their sleep.
There was a food corner. As K put it, one didn’t even want to touch the the free taste samplers around. I could see dull, congealed stuff on plates which people were getting excited about.
It was nothing like this:
Floating Market off Bangkok:
Farmer’s Market Berne, Switzerland
Saturday Market, Lucerne, Swizerland
I guess there is a market for this sort of thing. All the parking spots close by were full after all. Rare for a Sunday. Which says it all. The market was full with foreigners. And locals dressed down in colour coordinated khadi. I saw a sign at the entrance, ‘chandan teeka (sandalwood dot) to keep you cool’.
I guess I am too base for all this. I need my A C.
It was a place to be seen at. Not if you are ‘The Knife’.The Organic Farmer’s Market is not the place for a Finely Chopper.
Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (CBTL) across was a better bet for breakfast. The perfectly balanced omelet, brew of the day (coffee with a strong point of view), Ultimate Mocha and sinful cheese chilly taste helped soothe our organically frayed nerves. And a call from my mom about her bumping into Mr Victor Harris, one of my favourite teachers from junior school, brought alive wonderful memories.
CBTL’s a good package with its food and ambience. I wish the waiters were more informed though. Sample this:
Masala omelet has vegetables. Herb omelets have vegetables.
What vegetables? How are they different?
Blank look followed by a repeat of the original dialogue.
Hot coffee arrived.
“I don’t want my coffee in a glass”
Waitress nodded and walked off. I thankfully managed to get someone else to fix things for me.
Opposite the Farmer’s Market is another temple for Finely Choppers, Hangla. I picked up a half chicken biriyani lunch. Their Calcutta biriyanis and mutton rolls are very authentic.
Not entirely though. Where in Calcutta would you get a roll guy to fry the onions on request? Or get them to put a leg piece and extra alu (potato) in your biriyani? At Hanglas, Bandra, they do so. Without a scowl. And they apologise and point out if the leg piece is a thigh one and not a drumstick. Love these guys.
A nice start to Easter Sunday.
Is this a good time to say that I gave in to temptation at three in the morning and had the rum and raisin Easter egg that Dr Miranda’s son had made. It was so potent that it knocked me off and I finally slept
