A Southern Specialty: Waffle House

I grew up in a part of Florida that is for all intents and purposes the deep south. We're talking Watermelon Festivals replete with crown-bedecked Seed Queens and catfish and fried okra-filled menus around town.

Certainly, you might call me a fair weathered Southerner. I've picked and chosen the qualities I've chosen to retain. For instance, the accent can stay below the Mason Dixon; it's just not suited to an Indian American working in San Francisco. There are, however, a few culinary gems that I'll proudly flaunt.

One of the shinier ones is the best joint for a consistently tasty breakfast - any time of the day and in just about any Southeastern state. Waffle House! Those of you who have driven through my home region will undoubtedly recognize the trademark black and yellow signs that line busy interstates proclaiming the approach of a Waffle House franchise. But have you actually stopped in one?

If you haven't yet, you should. And you have plenty of options to choose from; today, there are over 1500 Waffle Houses across 25 US states. The first one is still open for business in Avondale Estates, Georgia. The fare is a step up from fast food, but I warn you it's essentially a Southern diner. Prepare for the short order stations behind a raised counter and bar stools. The smell of smoky bacon grease adds some extra charm.

Ironically, the items I recommend most on the Waffle House menu are not the waffles (although those are also quite tasty). It's actually the omelettes, hash browns, and grits. Go ahead and order them all together!

The secret to Waffle House omelettes lies largely in technique, not any special ingredient. If you watch carefully while your order is prepared, you may catch the cooks running your eggs through an industrial blender - which is reserved expressly for this purpose. Yup, they blend their eggs. Sure beats hand-whipping or electric mixers. The machine seriously aerates the eggs and makes them a bit frothy - allowing for a much thicker and fluffier omelette. It tastes like a yellow cloud, coated in cheese and sprinkled with mushrooms and green peppers (if you get my standard order, anyway).

And the hash browns? They're the perfect mix of soft, preboiled potato and golden-crisped strands. Nicely covered in oil, of course. The grits are a southern signature, and when mixed with a touch of butter and some salt and pepper, they're usually very well cooked. The result is a soft and flavorful mouthful of cooked ground corn. . . enjoy !

New food blog! (but keep reading this one too)

So the posts up here have been pretty sparse lately. I have a good excuses. Let's just say it involves hospitals and a few painful incisions.

But, I'm back to blogging and have an exciting announcement! Continuing the great family tradition of sharing favorite food tidbits, my cousin Hima Bindu has decided to start her own food blog. Awesome! And it certainly has such aspirations (of awesomeness).

By way of background, Hima has a background in the restaurant business and has been a lifelong foodie. She's possibly more into adventurous eating and cooking experimentation than I am. Her foray into gastro-writing is titled "Dewdrop Recipes." Hint: it's related to the western translation of her name.

Admittedly, the blog is just getting off the ground. So feel free to send Hima suggestions on future posts, layout, URLs, etc.

So, if you're not getting your fill of Mylavarapu food posts here at Global Glutton, check out Dewdrop Recipes. . . just make sure you come back here to read the next post!

Yes, Real Indian Fusion Food Exists

For all of its complexity, diversity and deliciousness, Indian food rarely comes in hybrid forms. I love my palak paneer and naan as much as the next person, but sometimes it's just too heavy. And seeing the same dishes on Indian menus around the world does get a touch dull after a while. Especially when the cuisine has the potential to lead to all kinds of exciting culinary experiments and hybrids.

So imagine my pleasant surprise when I discovered someone had the same idea. Over thirty years ago. Just a short, scenic drive away from my house. A Punjabi visionary named Avatar Singh it seems saw that Indian food could, as perfect as it is, be something more. And drawing on new world influences, he created a menu of creative concoctions melding Mexican and Indian cuisine. The result still shines over thirty years later in a Sausalito restaurant with his name, Avatar's, which his family still runs. I suppose if an Indian Mexican restaurant were to happen anywhere in the 1970s, it would be in the Bay Area!

Try the punjabi enchiladas. The flavor combinations have a lot going on, but are consistently delicious. I'd strongly recommend the curried rock shrimp. For the more creative, you can even design your own fillings. And for those needing more guidance, one of my favorite things about Avatar's is Ashok Kumar. Ashok is Avatar's brother and hosts at the restaurant regularly. He rarely forgets a face or an order, and in just two minutes will have such a good read on you that he can suggest personally tailored orders. I haven't been dissapointed by his recommendations yet.

If you find yourself hunting for an adventure outside San Francisco, or crossing the Golden Gate bridge around dinner or lunch, make a stop at Avatar's. The meal will be an adventure on a plate. And I can guarantee you'll be eating something you probably won't find anywhere else.

Avatar's Restaurant
2656 Bridgeway Blvd.
Sausalito, CA
415.332.8083