Mysore Panch/ Street Food Spectacular

I met a fellow New Yorker who bragged about his knowledge of a night street full of delicious street food, in particular the Baddam Milkshake. I met a woman at Odanadi who read a script that I wrote and we decided to film it with her as the lead actress. This naturally happened right up to the minute of my departure. My last night in Mysore I made myself take a trip to "Chat Street" .

I started with vegetable stirred fried noodles, a Chinese Indian Fusion Food that has become popular . They were hot, oily, and delicious. 

Next my companions graciously shared bites of their selections, yellow rice with peanuts and onion Pakora with Coconut Chutney and pickled young Mango, a bitter delight.
Next the three o us decided to split a Ragi Dosa just so we could order from the coolest cart on the block. Ragi Dosas are made from rice and lentil flours like regular Dosa, but they have onion and sometimes tomato added in. You can ask for no oil which transforms it into one of the healthier street food options.

Finally we got to order our much bragged about Baddam Shake.

I am  rare creature that does not like ice cream or ice cream products. I don't hate it, but if I choose sweets I tend towards chocolate or baked items. I adored this shake and immediately regretted not ordering two. I did not let this known to my companion and proposed that I knew of an equal sweet contender within walking distance. 

Mysore Char/ The Orphans

I soon became crazed by being done with what I had to do at 6AM and jumped at the opportunity to work at an orphanage. The first one I joined on the last day of the volunteer program but got to enjoy drawing and a celebratory cake in honor of those who had volunteered for a month or two . You can connect with this orphanage through facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/group.phpgid=332441649051&v=wall&viewas=0.
The woman who brought me told me about another Orphange that may be interested in Volunteers and thus my time in Mysore became two, not one month.

http://www.odanadi-uk.org/
Odanadi is part Orphanage part Shelter. I was immediately accepted and asked to help with a horticulture garden that a volunteer from Australia named Kate had begun. What Kate did in her time there was amazing and Odanadi will have fresh vegetables after the rainy season.

If you volunteer at Odanadi you are offered lunch and chai  everyday. On Friday meetings and anyones birthday you are given sweets. I almost cried every time.

       

Odanadi can always use volunteers. You can teach yoga, work in the garden, teach martial arts, give accupunture treatment, they are very open to experimental programs especially arts related and therapeutic. 

Mysore Teen/ The Wonders Of Home Cooking

If I could marry this woman I would. In fact I am also rather fond of her husband as well, and nephew. Perhaps we could all be married and live in delicious Indian Food bliss. This is Tina of Tina's which I heard about upon my arrival in Mysore. It took me moving from Gokulum, where Tina's is located, and the rains to start for me to start eating there. India does not have a health Department so many people do "home cooking", which is a system where they cook at home and serve it until it runs out (Tina's method) in a sort of restaurant or they actually serve food in a room of their house.

You can get a basic Dal with a few Chiapti and be set all day from Tina.Her house is close to the new shala, just off the KRS Road near the Hare Krishna temple, phone: 2416668, email devinasasson@yahoo.com

In Gokulum Shalia also cooks lunch in her home. This is a great option if you are extremely hungary, because the food is bottomless.

Address: No# 1015/A, 9Th Cross, 3rd STage, Near Doctors Corner, Gokulam, phone 0821-2513265

In Laksmipuram a magical man is creating Tofu,Tahini, Pesto, and wonderous banana bread with dried fruit and nuts. Located near Bahal Circle you can stop by at anytime for a few items or place an order and the next day it will be made fresh for you. The Banana bread saved my life after my fifth episode with Delhi Belly.

Prabhakar 952/1'A' 2 Main, across 

Opposite Maruthi Showroom

prabhastofuniveditha@yahoo.com

Bylekuppe is the largest Tibetan settlement outside of Tibet. I was invited to celebrate Easter with a family who's mother came from Tibet and father is British.

This is the first time I had and Tibetan Noddles. 

The neighborhood kids came, all the chocolate was found, and my mouth rejoiced when I was offered a handful of imported from London chocolate eggs, chocolate in India leaves something to be desired. 

Mysore Do

After a week of doing Ashtanga I quickly releized that it was close to training to become an Olympic Athlete and that my need for fresh, clean calories was dominating my life. This is when I started my love affair with the various fruit vendors. 

Above center is my favorite fruit stand, Gokulum, up the hill from the coconut stand. They will really give you the ripest Papaya or tell you that your better off with mangoes or melon instead. They are also open incredibly late for Mysore. 

Mysore has an Organic Framers Market on Saturdays. This is the only place where you can get proper fixings for a green salad. It is very popular with Yogi's and locals so ask around about the time and location. Arrive early, everything gets grabbed up quickly. 

When you get tired of eating the abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables Mysore is full of spectacular street treats. Like this puffed rice creation availabe in front of The Mysore Palace.

On Chamumdai hill you can find the best fresh Pakoras near the temple. Insist that she creates a new batch for you. Try the green chili, at first bite it is hot, but the chickpea batter that Pakoras are made with quickly adds some sweetness. A fascinating combination. Everytime I visit an Ayurvedic Docotor they tell me I need to eat more Ghee, Oil, and Fat...

Something which is readily available in Mysore, which you will miss anywhere else in the world, is Idili. This is created by steaming lentils and rice to create an easy to digest spongy cake which is served with coconut chutney and a fried chickpea batter creation (you can skip this to make an extremely healthy breakfast). This is available from numerous street vendors in the morning and costs around 6 rupees. It is served on a banana leaf.

Mysore Ek

            

Mysore captured me with Ashtanga Yoga, I stayed a month longer than planned, making a film in the end. Mysore has architectural beauty, opportunities to volunteer, yoga, an inspiring artistic community, and of course food.

Down the street from Mantra House 3RD Stage in Gokulam is a small hole with no name in which you can get Idli with Coconut Chutney. On Sunday they also make lemon rice with peanuts. This will cost you 12 rupees.

In Gokulum down the road from the Coconut Stand is Iyengar Bakery. This establishment creates a delicious sweet bread called Plum Cake which is fresh out the oven right in stand if you have a 5:30 AM start at the Shala. Often this is served with a compliment as well. 

One shop separates Iyengar Bakery and the place in which I found my favorite Samosas in India, due to the chutney. This being a spicy creation balanced by mint.