This post originated from an RSS feed registered with Ruby Buzz by Premshree Pillai. Original Post: Why I don't like eating out in India Feed Title: Premshree's Personal Weblog Feed URL: http://premshree.livejournal.com/data/rss Feed Description: Premshree's Weblog Latest Ruby Buzz Posts Latest Ruby Buzz Posts by Premshree Pillai Latest Posts From Premshree's Personal Weblog

I used to eat out a lot when I lived in Bangalore. Like everyday. I always liked good food, but really I liked eating pretty much anything that tasted remotely good. Even growing up in Bombay I used to eat out a lot. Everyday. I would eat two dinners: first, whatever mommy made; second, after mum and dad went to bed, Vinod and I would order food in. We thought it was our little secret, except mum knew about it but never said anything about it to us and let us believe that it was our little secret.

Some three years ago I moved to San Francisco, and I ate some of the most amazing foods at some of the best restaurants in the world. (Also, in NYC.) It's really hard for me to eat out in restaurants anywhere in India anymore. I am not much of a fan of Indian food, and most restaurants that serve other cuisines are pretty bad. It's not just the food, it's also the feel of the restaurants. I always felt like there was something lacking in restaurants in India. It became clear to me when Nicole gave me her perspective: she told me about how Florence Nightingale — who laid the foundation of professional nursing — had managed to significantly reduce the death rate in the army by making improvements in hygiene. I never realized the absence of women in pretty much any restaurant in India. It's all mostly just commerce.

Of course there are exceptions. Caperberry in Bangalore, for example, is pretty good; and also has a decent wine selection (the lunch, though, is entirely skippable; and they could also do without the whole cryo thing). I wish there were more such restaurants here.

While I'm rarely ever excitable about any restaurant here, I'm able to go out and eat: food here is what it is and I gotta enjoy it for that.

If you're curious, a lot of what I've been eating over the years is documented here.