Labour Of Love: You eat first with your eyes

Hello all,
I was away on vacation for the past two weeks visiting the states of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand with my parents. We all had a really good time,shuffling between grand old palaces and monuments in Lucknow to the religious towns of Haridwar and Rishikesh,and finally to the picturesque valley of Dehradun nestled between the Shivaliks and middle Himalayas. We were awed by the incredible Nawabi architecture, we re-visited the history of the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny,we offered puja and floated flowers and lamps in the Ganges,we immersed ourselves in a divine evening of bhajans in an Ashram,we experienced the simple beauty and warmth of a Tibetan Monastery and we explored a beautiful 1200 acre Forest Research Museum.In between me and mom shopped to our hearts' content in the bustling lanes and bylane markets in Haridwar for Puja items, explored Rajpur Road and Indira Market in Dehradun for woollens,and literally emptied our pockets in the Chikan outlets of Old Chowk,Lucknow.But most importantly, we ate. We tried to sample as much of the local favourites as we'd heard of. We tried the shudh shakahari thaalis in Awadhi establishments,we went mad with joy inside Tundey Kebabi,we stood in a long queue fighting for space with numerous other Bengalis to experience the hallowed Dada Boudir Veg Thaali in Haridwar(steaming hot Dehradun rice,gawa ghee,beguni,muger dal,shukto,alu-potol,chutney,papor bhaja,and that too only Rs 40 a plate!),we almost fell sick after over-indulging in the cashew-khoya redolent Garhwali specialties, we shared tables with unknown Europeans in an Italian joint in Rishikesh over the yummiest cheese pizzas,we even went to the extent of going to a very dingy,hole in the wall Sardar establishment in Lucknow and a super-posh,uber-costly,Chinese Restaurant in Dehradun just because they both happened to sell our daily bread of fish and rice,albeit in their distinct styles. And since all three of us have a humongous sweet tooth,we didn't miss out on the sweets anywhere. From Pinnis and Kaju Barfis in Lucknow to Jalebis,Anjeer ke Barfi,Magadh ke and Churma ke Laddoos in Haridwar to Balushahis in Rishikesh to Hot Gulab Jamuns in Dehradun and back to Pedas and Malai Rabri in Haridwar,now that's one droolworthy dessert list!

Here are some selected pictures from our gastronomical adventures,of what we loved the most. Go ahead,feast your eyes. And some day,if and when you visit these places,make sure to try them.Someone who takes her food very seriously assures you that you won't be disappointed.

Crispy Golden Puris,Garhwali Aloo Tamatar ki Bhaji, Nimbu ka Achaar and Cardamom scented Milk Tea - the best breakfast we had in Rishikesh,made by Surinder Joshi, one of the the most humble and simple men I've ever met.