The secret ingredient

Vijayasimha V writes about the foodies’ equivalent of the elusive philosophers’ stone

While on the one hand restaurants draw customers by boasting of offering ‘homely’ food, people at home, on the other hand, are desperately trying to unravel the secret behind the elusive ‘restaurant-style’ masala dosa.

It’s probably only the migrant workforce, tired of the atrocious paying guest fare, that longs for home food. Even the fussy diner, who scorns at the slightest transgression by the chef at his favourite eatery, is not averse to a little adventure now and then and is willing to try out the new outlet that has come up in his neighbourhood.

Foodies are known to post their exploits in the kitchen on social media with images and videos of ‘restaurant-style masala dosa’ or ‘Iyengar bakery-style’ bread toast.

Their posts are flooded with likes and requests for recipes, which are shared and swapped. And so, with the secret recipe finally acquired, the others embark on a quest for what they consider is the foodies’ equivalent of the elusive philosophers’ stone.

With all the ingredients and proportions noted down, they get down to the mission, following the steps to the last grain of salt. The flame is at the right intensity and cooking timed to the last second.

Finally, it’s done. The lid is lifted, the right camera filter is chosen and the creation is ready to be posted on social media, garnishing, lighting, and all.

And now, for the taste. There’s a great sense of anticipation as the first morsel is popped into the mouth with eyes shut. Mmmmm! Something missing. The foodie opens his eyes and checks the floor to see if the morsel has eluded his mouth. It has not, it’s firmly in the mouth but it’s the restaurant taste that’s eluded the dish again! It’s now back to the foodie group to seek answers to what might have gone wrong. Was there another secret ingredient that’s probably been left out inadvertently?

A wisecrack on the group deduces the problem immediately with the comment: “Restaurant-style taste requires restaurant-style washing. Home-washing rids the veggies of the secret ingredient!” You can achieve the restaurant-style looks but to give it the restaurant-style taste requires some adventure for which the foodie has no stomach. And so, he posts his creation on social media with another hashtag #Don’tTryThisAtHome.

(This column looks at some food fetishes and secrets from a city of gastronomes and beyond.)