VISAKHAPATNAM is a city of contrasts as far as food and eating habits go. It is a city of vegetarianism and temples. And fishing harbours and non-vegetarian restaurants. It is authentic and traditional Andhra sweetmeats being made in old-fashioned mithai shops. And shopping malls selling packaged tamarind and branded pickles and chutneys. It is eating curd-rice out of banana leaves and tamarind-rice out of silver thalis.

The people of Vizag understand and talk food almost as well as their neighbours do in Hyderabad. And they are not taken up by fancy eating places, for the simple reason that Vizag does not have too many of them. Much popular are the small carts offering all kinds of Andhra savouries on the road. And the ice-cream parlours with such delightful names as Jack Frost and food courts like Food Ex.

Tiffin dining has always been of vogue in Vizag. And if all it offered was Idli and Wada Sambar, Masala Dosa and Pongal, Upma and strong filter coffee, which most people have at home anyway, why should it be popular at all, the visitor to Vizag asks! The answer is the service and timings of the tiffin room. No other restaurant in the city can offer Idli Sambar at midnight and curd-rice at dawn! A tiffin room does, however. The menu runs through the day. And it is cheap but good wholesome food.

The people are deeply religious. Saturday nights when they observe a non-vegetarian fast in worship of Lord Balaji, the vegetarian restaurants do roaring business. And even the non-vegetarian eateries observe the fast. Doesn�t matter if its clientele goes hungry or goes elsewhere that night, but Lord Balaji will not be disappointed, Vizag is that kind of city. And if they are vegetarian, they are adventurously vegetarian. Their menus are exciting and unusual.