another great breakfast …

Another great breakfast favourites (ha! breakfast nation) among Singaporeans would be the South Indian breakfast dish Dosa.

Very quickly – Dosa is the South Indian version between a pancake and a crepe. the batter is mainly long grain rice and urad dall/split lentils, which is soaked and grind to a paste. It is cooked over a hotplate (tava) and could either be served plain or with a potato filling, my favorite (masala dosa). There is also a very thin version known as “paper dosa”. Dosa’s are served with chutneys. mainly Coconut and onion, also together with a split lentil gravy (dall).

So far the restaraunt with the best reviews for a good dosa is found along Selegie road so that was where we were heading!!!

On the way to the restaurant, i realized how much the area has changed since i left Singapore. The familiar coffee shop where i spent most of my teenage years was gone. The area where my mates and i used to patronize all torn down. New buildings were erected in the area where most people back then would rather not go is now buzzing with retail and food establishments. Change, as i always say, change is good in all aspects. We just need to accept change, embrace it and move along. however not forgetting what is was before.

Returning to the topic, when we entered the restaurant, heads turned and it seemed like we were in a western movie where “we were not from around here and they dint want no trouble with no stranger”. Then I said the magic words… “1 dosa masala, 1 plain dosa, and 2 masala tea please. “

The dosa was light and fluffy for both dosa’s, however I would have enjoyed it better if it was slightly sharper in flavor. But even when dipped with the chutneys , all the character of the dish came through nicely. the potato filling was flavourful and tender. Not mushy or too soft. And the coconut chutney (for me at least) was to die for ! However the only mistake was having the masala tea (lets just leave it as that).

As i looked around, the restaurant breathes of a nice past, where you still see customers chatting away with the staff. Friendships established over the years of having a nice breakfast. Where they have been through quite a fare bit and learned from the lessons of life with full attention. Makes you wonder if you would be able to live in the same class standards as them. If you notice the older folks seem to be much more chatty and approachable when to comes to speaking to strangers.. . maybe they did not have MP3′s & MP4′s in their time, hindering them from using their human senses…. but as i said, them being  “scholars of life” , can vaguely see through the young walking in with their cameras, touch screen phones and smaller than a pack of cigarette MP3 player, and smile. “Uncle, 1 dosa masala, 1 plain dosa, and 2 masala tea please. Thank you.”