food, travel, and authenticity

This essay is a flex at most—and I don’t want to let this story pass because not everyone gets as lucky as I did with food …and here comes the flex: some of my first food experiences (new categories) were from the most authentic places possible.

To name a few,

• First Biryani in Hyderabad

• First momos in Dharamsala

• First Misal Pav in Pune

• First Vada Pav in Mumbai

• First variety of fish in Mulki and Kakinada

• First Lassi in Amritsar

If you think about it, you find most of these in your city, but the true taste is diluted compared to the local places.

I am from Hyderabad. Although the Misal pavs and Pav Bhajis here taste decent, they don’t have the Pune and Mumbai magic (the downside is you crave the same taste when you get back home and you won’t find it elsewhere—maybe that’s why it’s special.)

When I travel with my family, they eat the same food everywhere. It’s either Daal Chawal or a South Indian breakfast. Honestly, this is annoying and the most important reason why I am writing this.

Leave the earlier generation out, a few of my friends do it as well. If you’re visiting a new place and not trying the local food, WHAT ARE YOU DOING??!!! What’s the point of travel if you’re not exploring?—and food is such a beautiful genre to explore.

You can’t always be lucky to have your first coffee in Coorg. But you can always have a coffee in Coorg.