I was in Bengaluru last weekend. I was
based at the ITC Gardenia at Residency Road.
based at the ITC Gardenia at Residency Road.
I looked for options to eat in at Residency
Road and a couple of folks on twitter suggested Wild Spice. ‘Hole of a place
but great pork’ were just the words of enticement that I needed.
Road and a couple of folks on twitter suggested Wild Spice. ‘Hole of a place
but great pork’ were just the words of enticement that I needed.
So I checked in to the lovely room at the
Gardenia on Friday and then headed out immediately in search of the Wild Spice
as it was close to 2 pm. While helping me with directions the concierge offered
to look up the best Coorg places for me, then looked up from his comp and said
“Wild Spice seems to be the best sir”.
Gardenia on Friday and then headed out immediately in search of the Wild Spice
as it was close to 2 pm. While helping me with directions the concierge offered
to look up the best Coorg places for me, then looked up from his comp and said
“Wild Spice seems to be the best sir”.
I headed off in a rickshaw. Fifty rupees
flat, no meter. Well at least he agreed to go unlike later in the evening when
I had a tough time getting one to go to MTR. The weather was much hotter than
what I normally associate with Bengaluru.
flat, no meter. Well at least he agreed to go unlike later in the evening when
I had a tough time getting one to go to MTR. The weather was much hotter than
what I normally associate with Bengaluru.
We reached Wild Spice soon and I went
inside. The moment I stepped I felt that I was in a place where time stood
still. It was 2.30 pm and the mood very languorous. The restaurant is pretty
basic. One large room. No aircon and a few table fans groaning at having to
work at siesta time. There were a couple of tables occupied with folks eating
busily.
inside. The moment I stepped I felt that I was in a place where time stood
still. It was 2.30 pm and the mood very languorous. The restaurant is pretty
basic. One large room. No aircon and a few table fans groaning at having to
work at siesta time. There were a couple of tables occupied with folks eating
busily.
The waiter gave me the menu and I saw there
was a la carte dishes and thalis. I decided to go for the pork fry thali as I
could try out a range of dishes versus if I tried a la carte.
was a la carte dishes and thalis. I decided to go for the pork fry thali as I
could try out a range of dishes versus if I tried a la carte.
My food was brought in fairly quickly
except the steaming seviya dessert which joined a bit later.
except the steaming seviya dessert which joined a bit later.
Well Wild Spice is a Coorg place and pork
is the hero here. The rajma and the daal were interesting but I quickly went
through them to reach the pork. These were served with steaming hot rice akki
rotis.
is the hero here. The rajma and the daal were interesting but I quickly went
through them to reach the pork. These were served with steaming hot rice akki
rotis.
The portion of pork looked small which was
perfect as I didn’t want the larger
portion that would come in a la carte. This way you could taste the dish
and not jolt up the heart too much. The little bowl was packed with pork though
so it was not really that little a portion as I discovered.
perfect as I didn’t want the larger
portion that would come in a la carte. This way you could taste the dish
and not jolt up the heart too much. The little bowl was packed with pork though
so it was not really that little a portion as I discovered.
The pork was some of the best pork that I
have had. Soft as the cliche’d baby’s bum. A mix of cuts ranging from belly with fat to
other cubed pieces. All lovingly tender. The spice mix, coriander heavy as I
learnt later, and with black pepper was quite intense and hit you just as you
settled over the soft and juicy meat. An interesting contrast of pliant soft
sleepy meat and fiery spices that jolted your senses in a nice way.
have had. Soft as the cliche’d baby’s bum. A mix of cuts ranging from belly with fat to
other cubed pieces. All lovingly tender. The spice mix, coriander heavy as I
learnt later, and with black pepper was quite intense and hit you just as you
settled over the soft and juicy meat. An interesting contrast of pliant soft
sleepy meat and fiery spices that jolted your senses in a nice way.
The Coorg pork fry combined very well with
the akki roti and Wild Spice once again showed to me that the Bengaluru is a
city that knows how to eat well.
the akki roti and Wild Spice once again showed to me that the Bengaluru is a
city that knows how to eat well.
At the end I took a poon of the seviya pudding
and then finished the bowl. The steaming Coorg bowl of thick seviya cooked in
milk reminded my of my grandmother’s Bengali shemoiyer payesh. How cool is
that?
and then finished the bowl. The steaming Coorg bowl of thick seviya cooked in
milk reminded my of my grandmother’s Bengali shemoiyer payesh. How cool is
that?
On the way out I met the tall and lanky Mr
Deviah who started Wild Spice six years back.
Deviah who started Wild Spice six years back.
When I complimented him on the food he said
it was all his mother’s recipes.
it was all his mother’s recipes.
When I asked him whether his mother lived
in Bengaluru or Coorg, he said “she has actually changed her address and has
moved upstairs”.
in Bengaluru or Coorg, he said “she has actually changed her address and has
moved upstairs”.
Well, thank you aunty for the great food
and your son is doing a great job of carrying on your legacy.
and your son is doing a great job of carrying on your legacy.
The thali cost Rs 170
