#10 Paneer Butter Masala Dosa

I’m currently writing this for you from Kochi, Kerala.

Diwali is right around the corner, so I'm on my annual solo trip.

The views are nice from my rickety homestay.

But the spoons are not.

Or maybe they are. I don’t really know.

I had Swiggy-ed some Malabar Parotta, Paneer Butter Masala (Yes, I’m that guy), and Masala Dosa for lunch + dinner that I was hoping to finish in one sitting.

Plates weren’t available at the homestay, cool whatever.

I called the caretaker for a spoon, the basic unit of cutlery.

Turns out, her shift was done. So the pantry was locked. Nobody else was there at the property.

Unfortunately, the Paneer Butter Masala hadn’t been sufficiently relinquished by the parotta.

And I felt helpless. So much masala. So much flavour. No spoon in sight.

But then I noticed, the dabba that housed the masala dosa hadn’t been opened yet.

So I did the unthinkable. I did the undoable.

I smashed a dollop of coconut chutney on top of the Masala Dosa so that it doesn’t feel left out, and dunked it into the bowl of Paneer Butter Masala.

And I waited.

It was the melding of two worlds.

The loud North and the silent South.

The streets of Karol Bagh and the fishnets of Kochi.

The garam chai and the filter kaapi.

The Paneer Butter Masala. And the Masala Dosa.

And if I’m being honest? It was kinda delicious.

The amazing meal was prepared Hotel Aryaas Park. And assembled by yours truly.

But turns out, they’re not the only ones cooking some stuff…

Cost to Company

If you’ve been wondering as to where this newsletter randomly disappeared in August and September, it’s because my amazing colleagues and I at The Ken were creating this narrative podcast, which is being consistently rated and reviewed as one of India’s top business shows.

It’s a weekly podcast about careers, workplaces, and office culture.

Follow it, the next episode drops on 1st November. (which happens to be my 25th birthday!)

The Bear

One of the better shows to come out this year, The Bear tells us the story of Carmy, a star chef who is called to manage his elder brother’s popular yet rustic Chicago beef joint after the latter’s untimely death.

If you love fast cuts, donuts, and a healthy dose of dramedy, check out this series on Hotstar.

The Big Forkers

If Rocky and Mayur were a a part of your childhood, welcome Shanky and Sid Mewara , aka The Big Forkers to your adulthood.

They’re loud. They're abrasive. They're honest.

And they're super duper fun to watch.

Highly recommend the season that they shot in Goa last year.

Check them out on YouTube.

This Is A Great Song [TIAGS]

Fever by Kings of Convenience: It's a great song for the beach, tbh.

Conclusion

Life gives you lemons.

But when it gives you Paneer Butter Masala, Masala Dosa, and no spoons…

You know what to do.

Please drop a quick like/comment so that this pops on other people's LinkedIn feed!

Best,

Shreevar