Basaveshwar Khanavali

It was a pleasant afternoon and I was hungry. This was on my wishlist for ever. Basaveshwar Khanavali an icon from the North Karnataka region. I did not have to go to Dharwad to enjoy the fresh hot meal. This location suited me perfectly in Gandhi Bazar, BLR !

I walked in early aware that it gets very busy at lunch hour. Got a table on the Balcony. The ambience so amazing that I literally got transported into the rich legacy of the past era. Just as the service started it started to drizzle. Cool breeze blowing in and bringing fine droplets to give your sweet heart a tickle.

At sharp 1 pm the service started. The food streaming in hot and fresh from their kitchen. The kosumbari, gojju, the pachadi, palya, matki usali, chana, enne badnekai, zunka vadi and the beginning of all things holige with molten golden tuppa ! 

The majjige and mosaru on the table. I took a nice big swig of the buttermilk and the first thing to bite into the zunka vadi. Then swiped up the tiny bit of huggi.

The food was fragrant each dish with characteristic flavor and taste of the rugged region of North Karnataka. The thinnest Jolad rotis fire roasted and speckled just to tell tale. Broke of small morsels to pick up the delicious palya and usilis. This was the first round.

Then followed the rice round starting with tomato rice. The flavor was different than I am used to. Keep an open mind always is my motto. Then came the rasam and the sambar ladled on steaming hot white rice. If this is not hospitality with grace what is ? A hot meal fed to you by indulging servers coaxing you to eat more ! 

When I left there were groups of men and women mostly those who can afford the luxury of a midweek heavy lunch had gathered and waiting at the Basaveshwar Khanavali. Looking at the presiding deity Basavanna to get them a seat at the loaded tables !