Page 34 - Masala Lite Issue 166 October 2024

34 MUSINGS OF AN AUNTY PRYING OPEN THE SECRET INGREDIENTS IN FAST FOOD

Stay Alert!

Dolly Koghar laments that changes, though necessary, wreak havoc on her
aged and easily-distracted grey matter!

were looking for or at. But today, entering the new My reverie was broken by a young man in his 30s
Terminal 2 is like being transported into the Amazon asking me where we were headed in perfect Hindi,
wetlands. There’s lush greenery, and endless local which still surprises me, since back in the 90s nobody

varieties of flora and fauna in whichever direction; here spoke it! Immediately, hubby dear, a foodie
comprising the ceiling-high walls, and dangling Punju, offered him a biscuit, and reverted to being
comprising the ceiling-high walls, and dangling
Punju, offered him a biscuit, and reverted to being

from the infi nitely-high roofi ng in immersed in the d*mn phone! After which,

in
immersed in the d*mn phone! After which,

from the infinitely-high roofing
maybe to spite him, I did something
clusters incorporated into
clusters incorporated into maybe to spite him, I did something
artistically weaved, eco- more his niche but
more his niche but totally out of my
Although I swear I didn’t shop, our luggage was friendly wickers. There’s character: picking up a convo with
character: picking up a convo with
slightly overweight, but luckily, the Thai Airways waterfalls and koi fish ponds; a random stranger. It turned
waterfalls and koi fi
sh ponds;

a random stranger. It turned
check-in lady graciously disregarded it; perhaps fascinating cultural and artistic out that he was headed home
out that he was headed home
fascinating cultural and artistic
due to my exaggeratedly-aged look – draped in backdrops here, there, and in West Bengal for a three-
backdrops here, there, and
in West Bengal for a three-
a shawl, and slumped in the wheelchair pushed everywhere, providing endless month hiatus from his job as
month hiatus from his job as
everywhere, providing endless
by a porter. Although hubby dear still insists on selfie opportunities. Granite, the Indian-Chinese chef at a
e opportunities. Granite,
the Indian-Chinese chef at a
selfi

trudging on his own two spindles, I now opt for this South India’s local stone, lines famous fast-food eatery, with two
famous fast-food eatery, with two
South India’s local stone, lines
service, as it avails us of fast-tracks lanes and also the fl oors and walls, and is also the other cooks dishing out the North and
other cooks dishing out the North and
the floors and walls, and is also the

means help with the luggage. But more and above, material of the oh-so-many intermittent South Indian specialties. On the spur of the
South Indian specialties. On the spur of the
material of the oh-so-many intermittent
although the transformation is truly incredible at resting spots, which aren’t just boring stone moment, I asked him for a chilli paneer recipe, which
moment, I asked him for a chilli
resting spots, which aren’t just boring stone
the new terminals in both Bangalore or our very benches and ledges, but interestingly amalgamated he readily shared, so I got braver and requested
he readily shared, so I got braver and requested
benches and ledges, but interestingly amalgamated
own Suvarnabhumi International Airport, ports with foliage! for paneer tikka. Then I wondered aloud why their
we’ve flown in and out of more times than we can ‘flied lice’, is so different from our khao phad. What

count; bigger and better translates as confusing to Relieved of baggage, hubby dear spied Chaayos, the I learnt in those few minutes, made me realise that
our ageing grey cells. And my poor, tired legs rebel at perfect brewed-to-your-taste tea we discovered on the culinary arts are truly a science; what makes
having to navigate through the maze-like miles and this trip. The garma-garam (very hot) chai was so fast food yummy are the hidden ingredients that
miles of these super-expanded new terminals. good and the airport so impressive that hubby dear are not only undetectable, but unimaginable. Sadly,

succumbed to a selfie urge, which looking the way we the session came to an abrupt end, when the porter
Don Mueang International Airport, from where did at this hour near midnight, I resolutely refused. nudged us back to reality, but abiding by the rule of
I left to settle in Japan in ’69, was a homey, cosy After which, we continued nibbling on Britannia not taking anything for free, I suggested he invest his
airport, and the Kempe Gowda International 50-50 and Marie digestives with our cuppa, totally vacation time into adding Thai food to his cooking
Airport when we shifted to Bengaluru in ‘95 was oblivious to the distance yet awaiting us to our gate, repertoire and demand a salary hike on his return. So,
literally a small hut. Flights were so few and far including up and down elevator rides till immigration be it the changes in the name of improvement and
between that a podium sufficed for international and then on to security, where you are stripped advancement like in the airports or the shocking stuff

check-ins or check-outs, and the immigration officers down to almost kachee/banaen (undies), which is that gets added to our food, there’s still so much

flicked through passports, clueless about what they understandably exceptionally vigilant here in India. more to learn and discover, even at my age!

MASAL A LITE ISSUE 166 - OCTOBER 2024