While I was going to the Great Rann of Kutch from Mandvi, I asked My Siddiqui (the taxi owner and driver) to stop somewhere on the way for breakfast. A little ahead of Mandvi he stopped at a roadside stall and asked if I would eat something there. I had a small restaurant in my mind but I have no qualms about having a roadside breakfast. It is water that scares me more as I have had almost all waterborne disease in my childhood. And I am in no hurry to repeat the experience. I settled on Dhokla and tea. There were two stalls next to each-other on the road. There was a bench behind the stall where I planted myself. For tea, the person from this stall yelled to another person across the road who was making tea.
While I was waiting, I realized it was a bus stop of sorts. Two young girls came and asked if the Bhuj bus had already left? When the answer was in the affirmative, they settled down on the nearby benches asking for some snacks. Before that there were people who actually managed to catch the 8.00 am Bhuj bus.
The dhokla was surprisingly nice, the chilies contrary to their looks not too hot. Once I finished this lot they asked me if I would like to have some more? I am not a morning person at all, so I said thank you and declined even though the dhoklas were really good.
Then came the tea vendor, with my tea in his kettle. He started filling up the up and I was wondering how tiny it was. I am used to mugs of tea rather than tiny cups. When he filled it to the brim, I reacted thinking it will spill over. Then I remembered that in Gujarat you were supposed to drink from the saucer and not the cup! I carefully sipped the overfull cup without spilling a drop, I needed all of it. It was surprisingly good tea, with less sugar, the way I like it. It was the kind of breakfast that you yearn for on a lazy Sunday when you are sitting at home on a quiet day.
New info for me that in Gujarat you have to drink tea from the saucer. thanks.
I love dhokla…:-D
breakfast on the roadside is always better than in restaurants, Mridula! i remember having some lovely alu parathas in uttarakhand, and some of the best idlis i have had in the south have been from roadside stalls too 🙂 and i love dhoklas too, but have yet to have them on the road.. which, i guess calls for a gujarat trip now!
I love Dhokla and therefore love this post 🙂 Nice info about Gujarat roadside breakfast.
I love dhoklas ….yumm yumm
I love Dhokla! Often on trips, we discover the best of roadside food!
I don’t like tea.. What will I yearn for on a lazy sunday (which never shows up).
My sundays are usually super crazy.. 🙁
I am so craving dhokla and tea right now! 🙂
Roadside stalls are fun, specially in small towns and villages. One gets to know far more interesting stories sitting there, sipping on cups of strong milky tea.
Mridula ji, are you based out of Delhi? Would love to meet you for tea/coffee and dhokla! 🙂
I love the combination of Dhokla and Tea 🙂
I like the overflowing cup of tea. 🙂 that’s the true style of Indian tea drinking!
Nice post! I know Dhokla only after watching 3 Idiots 🙂 I had also watched Dhokla making in some cookery show too. But, I am feeling like trying it only after reading your post 🙂
Regards,
Sindhu
Tantu
The Arts & Me
Looks so yum..Next time you are taking me with you ( giggles 😉 ),I love roadside food.
Even though served on a paper,dhokla looks very tempting…these roadside eateries are a blessing.