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The French connection

Once it was girls, today it's food. Alliance Francaise continues to fascinate RAHUL VERMA

Illustration: Tony Smith

I joined the Alliance Francaise when I was a young boy - not because I wanted to broaden my horizon by learning a new language, but becauseanother perceived French language enthusiast told me that I could meet a lot of young girls there.

Those were the days when we were looking for fun in the most unlikely of places, and I suppose in the simplest of ways. I remember how it gave us - a group of boys - immense happiness to just call up the office of the Alliance Francaise and say, "Parlez vous francais?"

We were expecting an "Oui" in reply. Instead, the person who answered burst into fluent French. So we said, "Merci" and quickly hung up.

This past week, when I was walking up to the Alliance Francaise in Lodi Estate, I was reminded of all this. This time I was at the Centre not for the French, nor for the girls.

A friend had told me that the canteen there was very good, and I had gone to check that out. After one visit there, I can honestly say that it really is one of the best little places for French food in Central Delhi. Run by Ritu Dalmia of Diva, it has a great menu, affordable prices and a nice ambience with sparkling glass windows.

There is an Indian food section, too - and I suppose there are people who would like to go there for a masala dosa (Rs.60), chicken kathi rolls (Rs.65) or idli sambar (Rs.35) - but I hope I don't know them.

There is a curry of the day served with steamed rice, vegetables, pickle and chutney (Rs.70).

Interesting dishes

But my favourite, of course, is the French food section. There is an excellent soup, a broth with pesto (Rs.75), spinach and cheese puffs (Rs.55) a quiche Lorraine for Rs.150 and a two-egg omelette with chives, cheese and onions for Rs.70. Vegetarians can have an eggplant mousse (served with melba toast) for Rs.75.

But I suppose if you want a full meal, you should opt for the dish of the day - plat du jour - which comes for Rs.180.

There are some other interesting dishes there as well, including a mushroom and spring onion salad with thyme and a potato and cheese pancake with or without grilled sausages (with, Rs.130; without, Rs.70).

The crowd there - and the fact that the food gets over rather soon - indicate that the food is good. I anyway have a great fondness for French cuisine and have been trying to fathom why it doesn't do well in Delhi.

Quite a few French restaurants have opened up, and died a quiet death.

But I am sure the crowd of young people (no doubt consisting of girls who want to study French and boys who want to study the girls) will ensure the canteen flourishes.

As we, the French-speaking-types say, "Merci beaucoup."

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