In India, you'll adopt a more vegetarian diet if you're not one already. This diet is high in starch (rice/roti/nan almost every meal) and stewed vegetables in sauce. This diet is also the most common, so it's easy to dine where the locals eat and try traditional Indian dishes (veg restaurants). With the language barrier and the general pasty consistency of sauces, it may be difficult to determine what's in the dishes at the local restaurants. Many dishes use a yogurt or cream for thickening which may pose a problem for some. Little cafes such as Santosha's, Anokhi's and Anu's offer dishes/smoothies that meet special dietary requirements (allergies, vegans, etc.). Many people with special diets end up buying local produce and cooking for themselves. I have spoken to many Shala students who do this and they haven't had a problem. It's recommended that you wash your fruit and vegetables with drinking water. Loyal World (see previous blog for directions) also has a full stock of granola, cereals, packaged dried fruits and juices.
If you're a meat eater you'll have to visit specific restaurants to find meat-based dishes (non-veg restaurants). Some restaurants serve meat dishes (chicken, mutton) after a certain hour (like 7:30 pm). And if you're a beef eater, forget about it. I think the bigger cities such as Bangalore serve beef, but I'm not totally sure. Don't expect McDonald's to serve you a cheeseburger. I heard it's all chicken sandwiches. I saw a kabob restaurant in Ooty called the Kabob Corner. Apparently it comes highly recommended on Lonely Planet if you want to let your "inner carnivore scream"...or something like that.
If you've adopted the more veg-diet in India, I would use caution when dining out on foods normally not found in these dishes (i.e. fried foods, meat, etc.). These foods are more than likely prepared just fine, but if you have a sensitive stomach, this can shock your body. Probably smaller portions or samples will be easier to digest. The odds will not be in your favor if you decide to down a whole plate of fried mo-mo's or tandoori chicken after 2 to 3 weeks on a primarily vegetarian diet.
If you're a meat eater you'll have to visit specific restaurants to find meat-based dishes (non-veg restaurants). Some restaurants serve meat dishes (chicken, mutton) after a certain hour (like 7:30 pm). And if you're a beef eater, forget about it. I think the bigger cities such as Bangalore serve beef, but I'm not totally sure. Don't expect McDonald's to serve you a cheeseburger. I heard it's all chicken sandwiches. I saw a kabob restaurant in Ooty called the Kabob Corner. Apparently it comes highly recommended on Lonely Planet if you want to let your "inner carnivore scream"...or something like that.
If you've adopted the more veg-diet in India, I would use caution when dining out on foods normally not found in these dishes (i.e. fried foods, meat, etc.). These foods are more than likely prepared just fine, but if you have a sensitive stomach, this can shock your body. Probably smaller portions or samples will be easier to digest. The odds will not be in your favor if you decide to down a whole plate of fried mo-mo's or tandoori chicken after 2 to 3 weeks on a primarily vegetarian diet.
No comments:
Post a Comment