A forgotten Bangalore

Bangalore was a getaway destination when we were in college.It spelt fun,friends and no rules and the gardens,roses and the climate were added incentives to go there.Over the years its moved from nice little cantonment to a city of no character.Someone described it as a pub city,poor garden city,an apt name perhaps but what a sad commentary on the city.
Since a long weekend was on us and considering our host promised that going to their house meant sidestepping the city,it sounded like a good idea.
The roads were beautiful so the beginning was good.Our hosts live on sarjapur road which was once a village but is now dominated by gated communities which seem so popular in this city.I find it too exclusive.In my mind gated communities right in the middle of a village seem to be missing out on all the splendor of village life,but considering that most of the inhabitants are US returned NRIs who have picked up all the paranoia of their American stint,I am not too surprised.
When out host pointed out a quaint looking restaurant right outside their home and raved about the great food that they serve up,I was more than a little sceptical.All these new fangled,so called authentic places get me all suspicious but decided to keep an open mind.
Despite being at our doorstep so to speak we had to take the car and reach it in a roundabout fashion(typical of Bangalore where even the simplest things become complicated,must be something to do with writing too many software programmes).Once there we climb up a long staircase to the rooftop.
The place looks like a huge veranda open on all sides,lovely wooden beams and tiles give it a warm feeling and the subdued lighting adds to the warmth.Even the furniture looks functional but is comfortable.I took the trouble not to forget glasses especially if i wanted to study the menu but I may as well have left them at home.One can hardly read the menu but looks like most of the guests know their favourites.The place is called kanua after a forgotten grain of rice popular on the Konkan coast.The place itself swears to serving only authentic konkan food and only the veggies of that region is served so forget about the cauliflower and the fancy foods.Our hosts swear by the ghee roast and I decide to forget my waistline for the moment and dig into it.Well it was well worth the effort.The chicken was succulent and rich with the aromas of spices and ghee.The pomfret fry was equally good and so was all the rest of it.One has to take ones own wine along as they don't serve any.After the starters my appetite firmly back in the saddle and I cant keep darting looks kitchen ward.They are kind enough to let me in and I enjoy a good half hour discussing ingredients and recipes.Being from the same coast means that we speak the same language and I watch as the cooks stir the ghee roast around.I realise why it takes so long for the order to come along unlike conventional places with their high speed cooking.Here at last is a bit of the laid back Bangalore that I once knew.Here there is a healthy respect for time and the essence of slow cooking so we stand and chat while I am allowed to wander around and marvel that they still use palm jaggery(not very many people do) and sweet potato and kokum(so much a part of our lives on the konkan coast).I am happy to linger and examine the store cupboard and eat slowly and enjoy the night far from the madding crowds of the pub crawling,twenty something Bangalore where working late and partying late is so much a fad that the glories of a slow life have long been forgotten.I must admit though that after that very satisfying gastronomic experience all thought of climbing the wall back home was thrown to the winds,I was more than happy to sink my bulk into the seating of the car and be driven home.Kanua is a nice place for the unhurried person.