A lovely lunch

Malayalis sure know how to treat a guest.

This afternoon, all of us had 'Onasadya' lunch at M Manorama owner's house. 'Onasadya' is a special Onam meal, prepared only for the festival.

It began with 'appam'(which looks like a small dosa) with a side-dish that was superb. Then, the customary rice and dal and sambar followed... There was atleast a dozen varieties of curry, ranging from cabbage to cauliflower.

The owner's wife(a pretty and young mother of two small kids) sure knows how to make 'pavakka'(bitter gourd). This was one occasion when I enjoyed eating it - she had made it like wafers. As she said while her servants served, "This is bitter gourd, not so bitter though...". Very true.

The 'jevarisi' payasam served at the end was excellent.

They served three types of pickle -- but there was no curd. I wonder what purpose it served for the others; for me, it served none.

One more crazy thing -- they serve ghee(good, tasy I must admit) with ONION wafers .. ever heard/tasted such a combo? It was crazy, and I hated it.

Chips and appalam were very good, as usual.

All the dishes were "introduced" by our host's wife(for the benefit of 6 Sri Lankan journalists, who are visiting our insti and joined us for lunch).

A pretty house and wife, nice lawn and cute little children, a wonderful collection of books and cars -- the host of our lunch(owner of M Manorama -- actually the owner's son) -- is a rich man indeed.

But you got to admit that he knows how to treat guests.