The dressed up egg

Sunny side up, poached, hard-boiled, half-boiled, scrambled, roasted, omelette, as curry, roast, masala or more - an egg is not just an egg. It is every harried, hungry non-vegetarian’s go-to food - known also for its versatility, for being adaptable and nutrition-packed. Oscar Wilde called an egg an adventure where “the next one may be different.”

Thattukadas come alive at night to the sounds of eggs being cracked open to make sizzling omelettes or the popular bull’s eye. Trays after trays of eggs give way to more. Had with dosa, parotta or puttu or bread or rotis or even with rice – an egg makes a meal special. Celebrating this special food is the World Egg Day, which falls on the second Friday of October every year. The day was chosen by the International Egg Commission Vienna in 1996. Across the world events are organised to commemorate the day of the egg.

It is serendipity then that one lands up at the bright yellow themed The Egg Stop, Palarivattom. With all the yellow around, it’s almost like sitting inside an egg. An omelette café is a first, in the State.
In fact, it’ll be the country’s first fast food chain dedicated to that oval of health. Even the plates are reminiscent of eggs and they are yellow too!

It is a ‘why didn’t I think of this’ idea. “It is not rocket science. Even I thought why no one else thought of it. In fact, omelettes are possibly the most sold food in Kerala. At night wayside eateries sell huge amounts of eggs daily. The egg is possibly eaten the most, in terms of numbers, the world over,” says Dr. M.A. Babu, a dentist who has found his calling in food. The result of more than five years of research, The Egg Stop is a good food idea. Everybody eats omelettes but nobody ever put a brand on it, till now, in India.

Armed with more than a decade’s experience in the food business – he has been involved in the development of brands such as Fishy’s, BBQ Square and Chicking. The first outlet opened a few months back at Nedumbasserry, near the airport. Babu also factored in low wastage, low human resource requirements and minimum space requirements – as little as 100 sq. ft. Apart from its branches in Kerala, it will soon open one in Chennai. Babu hopes to take the brand to the entire country and the world.

As testimony of our love for eggs comes the information that the city’s three outlets see at least 1000 eggs, sourced from certified units, being sold daily. Indian, Mexican, Spanish, chocolate, French, Jamaican, Chinese noodle, smokin’ chicken, smokin’ beef…there are close to a dozen varieties of omelettes done differently, to choose from. For hardcore egg lovers there is also egg burji, bread eye and French toast. In order to break the bread-and-egg monotony there are burgers, kathi rolls and sandwiches too. Yellow Cup, a co-brand, is an egg-based snack place.

Egg soda is an adventure that reminds one of Oscar Wilde’s words. Egg in a beverage that’s not eggnog is the least bit encouraging. Shockingly, or surprisingly, it is more than palatable – a combination of egg white in a mint-lemon flavoured soda. “The menu is the result of the work of experienced chefs. The menu is customised for each of our outlets – be it India, Malaysia or the United Arab Emirates. Unlike us, Malaysians like a curry kind of gravy with their omelettes and the Arabs like it to be something like our burji.” For the health concerned – there is an egg white menu as also ‘healthy’ egg foods.

Healthy or not, we live the National Egg Coordination Commission’s motto ‘Sunday ho ya Monday….roj khao ande!’

Egg facts
● Eggs contain the highest quality protein you can buy.
● Egg yolks are one of the few foods that are a naturally good source of Vitamin D.
● Eggs age more in one day at room temperature than in one week in the refrigerator.
● A large egg contains only 70 calories and 5 grams of fat.
● Egg protein has just the right mix of essential amino acids needed by humans to build tissues. It is second only to mother’s milk for human nutrition. (Source: Egg Nutrition Center)


Source : www.thehindu.com