Page 42 - india

wind along the roadside. borhood.
Of course, hotels and airports will have the most modern fa- To avoid Delhi Belly, stay away from street food and cut
cilities. If you’re on the road, rely on your experienced guide fresh fruits and vegetables. We usually enjoyed breakfast at
and driver to know which stops will offer western toilets, our hotel, which included western favorites. Dinner was of-
whether gas stations, restaurants (including chains like Mc- ten snacks at the hotel’s executive club or restaurant, since
Donalds, Starbucks or KFC) or souvenir shops. When explor- we were too exhausted from touring for more exploring. In
ing urban area, hotels are a good choice for bathroom breaks. Mumbai, we discovered some superb fine dining restaurants
These facilities, as well as those in some airports, have a full and buffets with menus ranging from French to Asian that
time tender. A tip of five or 10 rupees is appreciated and even satisfied Western tastes. Before dining out, check with the
expected. hotel concierge or Trip Advisor. India also has a version of
Yelp that can be helpful in your search.
Food & Drink:
Wine, beer and spirits:
We loved the Indian food for the most part, but after a couple
of weeks, I would have traded my sunscreen for a taco. Veg- Beer lovers rejoice. Beer is the alcoholic drink of choice in
etarian food is the norm here; if there is meat in the dish, it’s India and is available almost anywhere – even in areas with
usually chicken or mutton. Beef is rare in India since cows are bans on alcohol. Kingfisher is a popular brand, but Heineken
sacred. But you’ll be able to find a steak or pork chop in most and even some America brands were available in many cities.
hotel dining rooms. Hard liquor also is for sale throughout India in hotels and tiny
shops in almost every little town where it is legal. To avoid
Chicken tikka masala proved to be one of our favorites. We bootlegged liquor being sold in brand-name bottles, make
also loved the fresh grilled flat bread called nan. Masala, we sure the cap hasn’t been tampered with and is sealed when
learned, is not a sauce or preparation. Instead it’s a ground you buy.
spice mix that varies with the dish. Countless variations of
packaged masala mixes are sold in spice shops in every neigh- Wine, our drink of choice, was a real challenge to enjoy in In-

42 Wine Dine & Travel Spring 2014