If this is not enough, we have others too. Again, many of these are not meant for daily consumption. We have the rice, sambar, rasam, kootu, aviyal, curry, appalams and vadam, pickles, paruppu usilis, vetha kuzhambus, and so many others for this purpose.

But take vadai, bonda, or bajji. They are taken only occasionally or during functions when they are invariably served with meals.

The 'ottai' vadai, with a hole in the middle, is sure to be an all-time favorite with everyone. The danger point here is oil, as is the case with the others I have mentioned above. But what a taste. Bonda and vadai, with similar ingredients, I think, have different shapes and miraculously offer different tastes too. How? Taken with sambar and chutney—these days the restaurants give five different chutneys—they are heavenly. Vadai may be medu vadai, masala vadai, or amai vadai. Vadais are also taken as thayir vadai, a great favorite—vadai soaked in curd with some additions, sambar vadai soaked in sambar, and rasam vadai soaked in rasam, all with the combinations giving unique tastes. Bajjis and pakoras are different. Bajjis have different vegetables inside like onion—a great favorite with many—vazhakkai, i.e., raw banana—very traditional—tomatoes, potatoes, apples, and maybe you can try out your own. Pakoras with onion or cashew are crispy and tempting. And the Bonda’s favorite sibling: potato bonda. Who would not love this? These sambars and chutneys are always their companions in this taste feast.

Adai, protein-rich, taken with butter and jaggery, is a delicious dish but very heavy. You can take them with aviyal too.

Having talked about these super delicious dishes, I am at a stage where I can rarely taste them. I am mostly restricted to bland dishes with fruits and salads. Maybe on rare occasions, I make a foray into one of these. But somewhere, age and health have to play a part in your food choice. Right?

One thing that beats me, though: like clothing, vegetables and dishes are region-specific. You take what is suitable to the region where you live. Isn’t that why different vegetables and crops are grown in different places depending on the conditions? With economic growth and the availability of speedier transportation, everything is available everywhere, and almost everyone enjoys whatever is available. Economically, very good. But health-wise? No idea.

Continued in 301A - The Never Aging Walking Stick - Part 1