(Cafe Delight on Hill Road)
I sit myself in a green outdoor patio of a Bandra coffee shop and stare up at the chalkboard menu. All I could read was a rubric of exotic coffees and their carmalized mochaed lattéd frapped iced versions. A few minutes later, a black coffee arrives. As the liquid eats through my mouth acrimoniously, I long for the smell of over pasteurized milk, a slice of ginger, a savory of cardamom dust, the crackle of a rusty stick of cinnamon all concocted and alchemized into something else.
Yes, I'm talking about Chai.
Chai to be slurped greedily in chipped glasses. And so I went looking for the perfect cup in Bandra.
Cafe Goodluck
The ceiling fan rattles, clicks and sways as it cools the chai in the chipped porcelain cups that lie below. A boy, a torn banyan walks up to our table and slides two glasses of water across the marble top. Smoke from an entire barrage of cigarettes spirals up to the ceiling as people drink their chai an accompanying glass of cold water, reading newspapers while eating kheema (mince) samosas and buttering their bun muskas. The Cafe permeates much Bombay talk, a bright hum insulated by its vaulted ceilings from the noise of the street outside.
These are the musty, yet strangely comfortable confines of one of the many Irani establishments in Bombay.
The boy slides across briskly to my table and looks at me with accusatory smile.
"Ek Kali chai doosri doodh walli", I tell him thinking about chai.
[t: One Black the second one with milk.]
"Ek Kali, Ek Gori", he repeats as his yellow smile widens.
[t: One Black, One White]
I laugh to myself as he walks away to the kitchen.
The chai arrives shortly only to prove to me yet again that the best cup of chai is served by a yellow smile with missing teeth belonging to a heat drenched body appearing from nowhere only to serve only more amounts of chai.
8 comments:
- Quaint Murmur said...
-
My chai-drinking sessions in my (terrible) canteen are among the times I will never forget. I think the chai-culture is an integral part of life-- a place where you can ponder on the mysteries of life, a place to catch up on memories, and make random conversation.
Lovely post. Brilliant pictures, as always:)
Riya - February 16, 2008 11:07 AM
- MASALA CHAI said...
-
I love this post, for reasons that I can't even explain. As someone who survives and thrives on chai , I know for a fact that it is often the unassuming hand that brings what I refer to as my cup of comfort. Personally, my grandmum's tea that she makes with some obscure brand to be found only in kerela, is top on the list. The aroma literally takes me back , the only other thing that's come close is ironically something I had in a chinese tea shop.
That was a great post and you certainly have a way with words Mr.M - February 17, 2008 2:23 PM
-
-
I love chai and suprisingly one of the best cup of chai has been at Starbucks. Thank god for globalization... I get my daily fix of Chai!
- February 19, 2008 12:31 AM
- Rachna said...
-
Its not gHori, its Gori.. please make the correction in your title.
You don't need the H there-
or maybe you are South Indian ;)
(with a Hech)
I thought you were talking about mares (Ghori)... - February 20, 2008 11:27 PM
- H. Cardoso said...
-
Another well-written report, my friend. One which made me long for a cup of proper chai myself. And I agree with you entirely, you're not gonna find the perfect cup in the Coffee Days of this world. :)
- February 23, 2008 9:58 PM
- Shivani said...
-
Ahh, the cravings!! I want a cutting chai...nowww ;)
- February 25, 2008 6:22 PM
- Ishtaar said...
-
Masala chai and apple pie at german bakery in pune. Yum.
- April 05, 2008 4:29 PM
- India Unlimited said...
-
Iranian tea houses.I was wondering how an Iranian chai is different from the Gori chai. Also, i hear that their tea biscuits are to die for.
Just out of curiosity though, does anyone object to their picture being taken by you esp in a public place like a cafe ? Do you usually ask them before clicking or some such? - February 01, 2009 3:18 PM
Unknown
Hi, We are templateify, we create best and free blogger templates for you all i hope you will like this blogify template we have put lot of effort on this template, Cheers, Follow us on: Facebook & Twitter