Soumya shares the pleasures of eating out with his parents. The experiences changed over a period. Learn more – in the exclusive for Different Truths. 

My parents were very fond of eating out, so we got pretty used to that early in life, and now our children have the same habits. But over time, the restaurants we tried out have changed. 

Parents were into the time-tested Amber, Waldorf and Mocambo, and we tried cuisine from Kerala, Kashmir, Goa, Thailand, Italian, French or at the most, Japanese. 

Children try Korean, Naga, Ethiopian, Vietnamese, and fusion cuisine, some extremely adventurous. 

We try to sample only local cuisine and drinks whenever we travel for work or leisure. Home-cooked food in exotic places is an authentic experience, usually available in homestays. 

It works well all over India, though some take a bit of courage, and most of the easily accessible places abroad except Africa. 

During our impecunious student, dating and early marriage days, the expenses were a challenge, with eating out and travelling being a significant part of our budget. We usually travelled rough and looked for value for money in meals.

From the dhaba days of tandoori roti dal fry and egg bhurji for rupees ten to ordering one steak for two and hogging on the free rolls and butter, we survived. 

We travelled across the country by road, and dhaba food was our staple. North India provides the best dhaba food, especially in Punjab, and Punjabi dhabas were a lifesaver across the country. Local highway eateries in the south and eastern India were often less hygienic, especially for non-vegetarians. But vegetarian food in the south was unbelievably cheap. 

During our dating days, once, when my wife-to-be could not eat her portion, I finished both, saying that I couldn’t waste what we paid. Later she told me that my unpretentious act had impressed her though it was mere greed. 

When we were better off and could order looking at the left side of the menu rather than the right, we discovered to our dismay that we didn’t have the appetite to finish even one portion of the meal, let alone two! 

Picture design by Anumita Roy, Different Truths

Soumya Mukherjee

Soumya Mukherjee is an alumnus of St Stephens College and Delhi School of Economics. He earns his daily bread by working for a PSU Insurance company, and lectures for peanuts. His other passions, family, friends, films, travel, food, trekking, wildlife, music, theater, and occasionally, writing. He has been published in many national newspapers of repute. He has published his first novel, Memories, a novella, hopefully, the first of his many books. He blogs as well.