The Taste of Freshly Made Breakfast Served with Love

Early Days

Early twenties, just out of business school, full of dreams. I shared a room with my classmate’s brother, who was preparing for his CA exams. He was a foodie.

Near our lodge was a lovely small restaurant. It was managed by a couple and had limited seats. Most bachelors used to frequent this place because they served a wide variety of tasty food— idlis, dosas, appam, idiyappam (rice noodles). This was complemented with veg and non-veg dishes as accompaniments.

The one I loved most was egg roast with appams. The egg roast was too good. Sliced onions, sautéed till they shone brown, with the right blend of masala as the base. Two eggs immersed in this gravy made it even better.

Every time I went back home on a holiday, I discussed this dish with my mom, sister, and cousins. All of us tried our luck making it, but the outcome was never close to what I had at that lovely restaurant.

Chasing Breakfasts

Growing up in my career meant changing jobs—and therefore places. I was lucky to find joints that served lovely breakfast options. It wasn’t luck alone. I explored options wherever I stayed, wherever I travelled.

The Palakkad Mondays

Every Monday I had a trip to Palakkad from Kochi. Travel options were limited during those days—bus or train, period. I always loved unconventional travel options that saved time.

I was introduced to an old man by one of my colleagues. He had an Ambassador car—1975 make—painted black and yellow: the “kala pila” taxi for Mumbaikars.

He drove every day, carrying The Hindu newspaper from Coimbatore to Kochi. After distributing newspapers, he would come to Aluva at 7:00 AM and wait before the Periyar Bridge. People who knew him for a long time availed his service to travel from Aluva to Coimbatore. Some got off at Thrissur, some at Palakkad. It was all about efficiency and comfort. Today we fondly call this model cab-share.

I was excited to meet him and avail his service. He was a gentleman, working hard to make both ends meet. He gave me a very comfortable ride and saved a good one and a half hours, as we could drive on the bypass, avoiding small towns and bus stations en route.

A Small Tea Shop with Big Flavor

My earlier explorations during travel had revealed another lovely tea shop on our way from Aluva to Palakkad. This was the courtyard of a small home converted into a tea shop, serving limited but easy breakfast options.

The curries they had as accompaniments to puttu and appams were amazing. The tea shop was managed by an old man.

Lured by the taste of the food, one Monday morning I convinced the taxi driver and the co-passengers to make a short stop at this place for breakfast. As expected, everyone liked the food.

I paid for the taxi man’s food too—not out of compassion, but pure thrill. It became a routine thereafter.

What Time Took Away

Many years passed. I shifted to Chennai. The highway got widened. This small tea shop disappeared too.

I made many attempts to track down this place and the man who managed it. I haven’t been successful yet. Even today, when I drive on this highway, my head turns right—searching for the man and his shop.

The taxi driver, who was then in his seventies, also would have left for heaven. But the variety and taste of breakfast still linger in my mouth.

I don’t know whether it was nutritionally complete, whether it would comply with FSSAI regulations, or whether it was made in a very hygienic facility. But one thing was sure: the taste of freshly made breakfast served with love.