Sunrise Rooftop Restaurant- India

SUNRISE ROOF TOP RESTAURANT

Varanasi, India

July 2015

I eat every meal at a rooftop restaurant right about my balcony, in the hotel.  This restaurant is a huge convenience for me as it saves me from the daily burden of finding a place that is clean, has someone who speaks English and a chef who will cook my food just the way I like it.  “OK, not too spicy”. Every meal is freshly made and everything I have eaten has been wonderful, flavorful and not too spicy.  What more could I ask for?

I think the chef is in love with me as I shower him with compliments, which he receives with great joy ad pride. He is impressed that I will try something new with each meal. Today he told me, “OK sometimes you chose and sometimes I chose, OK? That arrangement works for me.

Our restaurant overlooks the Ganges River and is encaged to keep the wild monkeys at bay.  At breakfast, they climb all over the walls of the cages.  There can be a dozen at a time, trying to get inside the cage. Some of them will sit right in front of me and watch my every move. I like to get into a staring contest with them.  I always win and that brings me a worthless sense of victory.

Some of the monkeys bring their babies with them. These infants suck away as the mother begs for food, just like too many women on the streets here.  If I bring my camera out and snap a few photos, that seems to scare them off, at least for a brief period of time.

I don’t eat lunch because the heat zaps my appetite. So I have dinner around 8PM and by that time, the monkeys seem to be down for the night.  So this meal is a bit more peaceful.  Bu the multitude of bugs is now the nuisance of the moment.

When I started the trip, I vowed to drink only beer, coffee and tea.  Even the bottled water is suspect here. So I drink that sparingly. I can’t find any beer and coffee is instant coffee only and I wont drink that. So I am left with drinking the delicious teas of India.

I started with hot lemon, ginger and honey water and I am smitten with this beverage.  Its spicy, sweet and tart, all in one confusing, refreshing taste.  Then there is the ginger tea and the tinsi tea, the herbal teas and the mint teas, all with uniquely refreshing tastes I think if I had these teas at home, maybe, just maybe, I would drink less beer; just maybe, though.

On my first day, I asked the chef to describe everything before I made my choice. Now I just pick an item from the menu because I know it will be enjoyable.  This complete confidence in the chef just flatters him. Sometimes I am not completely sure what I am eating but I ‘ve liked everything so who cares. It’s only a meal.

A young boy serves me but the chef stands beside me as I take my first bite. He holds his breathe until I give the thumbs up.  He asks for clarification each time, “That means good Madame”?

“Delicious as usual”, I tell him every time.

And he giggles with pride and delight.

What luck it was to find this culinary delight right above my balcony.


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