Breakfast At Chuttaneys(Chutt-a-knees)

Nagarjuna Circle, Hyderabad, the magnificent entrance to one of the most famous breakfast places in the city awaits you. You climb the short flight of stairs to the wooden door that reminds you of a time and era that's gone by. The dull yellow lighting takes you by surprise; brings a smile on your face. Something like the rising sun, you think of it.

The love of your life holding your arms, you march to the corner table. A Sudoku puzzle is laid out for you. You ignore the chair on one side and tuck yourself in by your dove(read douve). The waiter stops by to give you the menu. You tell him that you don't need it. How much choice can there be in a South Indian restaurant for a "Southie" like yourself? But you do ask for the special.

You finally settle for the regular dosa and poori. You start working your way through the Sudoku. You suck at it! Horribly, terribly and hopelessly cut, scratch and scribble on the sheet and mess it all up. You don't know if it is the aroma of the steamed idlis, the hot sambars, the spicy chuttneys, the fine filter kaappi(coffee) floating in the air or simply your inability to crack a puzzle a 3 year old can solve with his eyes closed. Your douve laughs at you, mockingly, because she has cracked hers.

The food arrives. If you have ordered 5 plates of idli and 1 plate of poori, it's not called breakfast, it's called food. You think to yourself, somehow you can't dissociate the word "plate" from breakfast places. Not even in an affluent restaurant like Chuttneys!! You brush aside your trample Sudoku and say it out loud, "Sudoku can kiss my ass! Here comes my expertise!"

With eyes like a hungry monster, a growling stomach like a passing goods train and drool like a dog, you dig in. Your douve is feeding you and very morsel brings out an orgasmic - Hmmmmmmm!! Yummmmmm!!

Oh! The idlis, so soft and tender and so like how an idli should be. The sambar, sweet and spicy, much like your douve, a flavour you cannot forget. God bless the Indian spices and their makers. The poori and aloo, oh! If it were alive, it would bring the heavens down. A little lemony, a little like chilli. The icing on the cake(What an irony! LOL!) comes in the form of Southie specialty, the filter kaappi. Oh! The bitterness of the coffee and the sweetness of sugar, rich n aroma and splendid on taste. Oh your are Loving it!! Tatadatadan!!

With a full stomach , heavy eyer and lazy limb, you stretchand prepare yourself to leave and then it hits yu like a knock out punch -

One Plate Idli - Rs. 60(2 tiny idlis, Yeah Dil Maangey More

One Plate Poori - Rs. Rs.80 (Jut 3 pooris)

One filter Kappy - Rs.60(What!! Ok! You've paid that much in Barista, but what?? 

You console yourself saying you can't put a price tag on great food and walking with a smile on your face. A smile that is a reflection of the great time you had and also a reminder of the price you paid for it. 

Good Things in Life never come for free or cheap!!, you think

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