JOIN USParks are usually frequented by walkers who are health-conscious, kids who want to play and those who just want to relax. But the Bugle Rock Park in Basavanagudi is mostly visited by those who not only burn their calories by talking a walk inside the park but also those who gain some through some ‘chat-pata’ treat. The well-maintained park has a line of eateries that can make up for a mini-food street alongside the park.
Tangy and mouth-watering ‘bhel’, hot and spicy chaats, ‘masala mix corn’, fried tasty ‘gobi’...the list goes on. While the park inside is quiet with trees and plants, the premises outside the park is always frequented by people who meet over a cup of ‘by-two coffee’ and hog on a variety of food available.
On one side of the road, there are two brothers, Rajkumar and Arun Kumar, busy burning the corn and mixing them with fruits to give a spicy, yet tangy taste. ‘Pineapple Mango American Corn’ is the signature delectable of this cart shop. The cart, which is flooded mostly with college-goers, has become the dinner joint for many.
On the other side is another corn cart who does the classic American corn mixes. Unlike the corn carts you find in malls, this cart man Venkatesh has introduced new flavours in American corn mix that includes the ‘Tomato Chinese Masala’ and ‘Mint Mexican Corn’. Perpendicular to the corn cart is the ‘By 2 Coffee’ shop that has customers crowding to get hold of a plate of hot and crispy ‘Idly Vada’ served with fresh ‘chutney’. Half cup coffee served hot, is the high point here.
A plate of idly, single vada and a cup of by two coffee costs you just Rs.30. Providing fresh food every minute, they also use food graded vessels and only use mineral water to make their signature coffee. The ‘chaat’ shop besides ‘By 2 coffee’, is noted to have the yummiest ‘pav bhaji’ and some tasty ‘tava palav’ along with ‘dabeli’ and ‘masala puri’ in the ‘chaat’ section.
They also have a man serving ‘gol gappa’ to the lined customers outside the shop. While the foodies prefer to have ‘pav bhaji’ and ‘tava palav’ in this joint, they shift to the ‘chaat’ cart beside the shop to have hot and spicy ‘masala puri’, ‘pani puri’, ‘aloo puri’, ‘sev puri’ among other yummy chaats.
The most crowded eatery here is the ‘Prakruthi 99 variety dosa’. ‘Prakruthi special’, ‘vegetable dosa’, ‘sweet corn green peas dosa’, ‘spring onion dosa’, ‘baby corn dosa’, ‘palak paneer dosa’...there is no end to innovations in ‘dosas’ here.The owner of this shop Chandru, who does customisation on 99 variety of dosas, says that he does not have a count on the number of ‘dosas’ he makes each day.
The ‘dosas’, that are made using high quality ghee and butter, are priced on a range between Rs 40 and Rs 70.
Beside this is the ‘bhel’ guy who is specialised in making ‘tikki puri’, ‘nippat masala’, ‘congress masala’ and ‘bhel’. When asked for the story behind this special taste, the owner of the cart, Jayanna smilingly says, “I have magic hands.”
Finally, the ‘gobi’ cart leaves your mouth watering at the aroma of the fried cauliflowers. Gobi ‘manchurian’, baby corn ‘manchurian’, gobi rice, gobi noodles are some of the specialities here. To make up for all the spice, ‘All Cakes’ that has been recently opened near the Park, completes the craving of a person with a sweet tooth.
A regular customer in this mini-food street, Sonu, who likes to give his tongue a change in taste every time says that he comes all the way from JP Nagar to have these delicacies. “A weekly visit to this place is a must for me,” he adds. So, if you are foodie who also likes some exercise and fresh air, then Bugle Rock Park can give you that perfect experience.