Chilli bhajji - well done

If you have ordered it yourself or been at the restaurant when someone on your table ordered a steak, you might have heard the waiter ask "How would you like it done" The typical choices offered usually are "Rare" , "Medium" or "Well Done". The choice made is an instruction to the chef on how long the steak is to be cooked (In some restaurants, a response of "Well Done" might put the customer into the "what a woos" category).

Anyway, I'd like to share an experience at this desi restaurant that does not serve steak. For me, every other Friday evening dinner is usually a biryani from our favourite local Andhra restaurant "Hyderabadi Biryani House". I personally feel that there is nothing else that can follow a couple of evening drinks like a Biryani and I must say this guy makes one of the best. And for those who claim that Biryani is best only if it is is meat based, you should try the Vegetable Biryani here, it will make you drool for a long time. This place is also responsible for giving me the infamous 'Biryani Belly'.

My wife on the other hand does not have this 'fixed' Friday evening dinner choice. While she loves the biryani, she sometimes just gets the starters at this place and picks the main course elsewhere. One of the starters she particularly loves is the "Chilli Bhajji" (Hot Chilli Pepper Fritters). Now, this is another delicacy because they add some secret ingredients making this appetizer really addictive.

However, it so happened that on one of the days when we got home after picking the food she noticed that the chilli bhajji was still raw and undercooked. So, the next week, when we went back there and she wanted the same appetizer, she tells the guy at the counter that the last time she ordered this appetizer,it was not cooked well enough and that he should inform his chef about it. 

He says "Not a problem ma'am" , opens the door to the kitchen and yells to the chef "Hey, one order chilli-bhajji's - WELL DONE"

And that was when we realized that ordering chilli bhajjis here is like ordering a steak - you have to specify "WELL DONE" if you prefer them to be fully cooked. The last time we had not specified this and the chef had assumed we liked our chilli-bhajji to be "RARE" ....another lesson learnt