Foodies’ Corner

During our morning coffee, Aunty and I exchange highlights of messages received from our respective WhatsApp groups. This morning she shared two messages from two different persons: one, the good quality of chat served at Chat’s r’us, near Big Market; and the other, Venkateswara where they have a huge chats section - both in Kanakapura Road. 

That emboldened me to pen these few lines. Friday evening Aunty and I were having snacks at the Little Elephant’s High Café, at the end of Cedar Gate. It was an accidental visit. We were in fact going to the Sanitaryware shop at the corner to buy a holder for the faucet. It suddenly struck us why not we enquire if we could return the unopened item that we had bought a few days ago at the suggestion of SFV Plumber A, for Rs 3300/-, because Plumber B who came to fix it said, ‘no need to replace’. Ideally, we should confront the shopkeeper with the product, we felt. So, Aunty suggested she would go home, pick it up, and I wait at the newly opened Elephant Café where there were chairs in place. Hardly had she walked ten steps when she turned back: “I say, don’t just sit on a chair and wait for my return. Order something; it doesn’t look nice. Okay?” She said this specifically because after our son and family’s recent visit when we visited restaurants left, right and centre, Aunty and I had put an embargo on restaurants – however tempting the air that wafts from the restaurant. 

There were others as well in Elephant Cafe – in families of twos and threes. I ordered one plate of onion pakoda, certain that it would take about seven to ten minutes to get ready – the time Aunty would require to return from home with the product. Truth be told, the onion pakoda was really crispy and fulsome. Probably this was the reason why all the others (belonging to the middle aged group) were ordering one item after the other. As we were about to leave, they were still relishing their ordered items. One couple suspended the proceedings temporarily and walked up to us. “Uncle, can you do a write-up on this restaurant?” and the lady introduced herself as from Pine. The other - husband, wife and son – got up as well and the lady said: “Oh, so you are the one, Uncle, who writes those blogs. I never miss any. Yes, I too endorse, and request you to do one on this.” The second family disclosed just their names. I wonder if they are from Oak.

I was apprehensive for the simple reason that I might be mistaken for the restaurant’s Marketing Manager and conveyed my fear to them. “No uncle, we persist only because the food is good.”

To complete the story on both fronts. Yes, the Sanitaryware shop refunded with no questions asked. Kudos to present day practices. In our days it was mission impossible howsoever thoroughly you might rehearse your narrative. 

Two, we fully enjoyed the snacks at Elephant Café. We were on the verge of ordering another item. But we realized we must present our case much before the shopkeeper switched on lights for the evening after which they seldom entertain requests for return or refund. 

All is well that ends well, we said to ourselves as we walked back home with two decisions. One, for all our sanitaryware requirements hereafter it will be only this shop, and none other. Two, any visits to this Café hereafter will no longer be Accidental, but Deliberate.

P.S. It would make my day if only those two families that requested me realise that I attempted this write up to honour their wishes.