Eating In Translation

Hoysala

(This venue is closed.) Curd rice, also known as yogurt rice in recognition of its two principal ingredients, is a common accompaniment to South Indian meals. Not only does it douse the burn of spicier dishes, but in cases of overindulgence — the plate shown below was just one of several, enabling me to try every item from Hoysala's bottomless buffet (lunch, $13.95) — curd rice can serve as an end-of-meal stomach-settler, too.

Hoysala
Highwood Plaza, 2 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Somerset, New Jersey
732-247-4300
www.HoysalaRestaurant.com
Closed Monday

Artesanias Pochtlan

(This venue is closed.) This came from that — message seen and understood. Agua de chilacayote (Chee-lah-kah-Yo-tay) is prepared from a squash also known by the English names figleaf gourd, Malabar gourd, and cidra or sidra. And, yes, it tastes like squash, in a full-bodied, sweet, refreshing manner all its own. My cupful was compliments of the proprietor and his family, whose shop features a variety of Mexican clothing, kitchen items, and keepsakes as well as a smaller, selective inventory of hard-to-source produce and other edibles. Many of the foodstuffs, alas, come and go very quickly.

Artesanias Pochtlan
22 Joyce Kilmer Ave. (Welton-Redmond Sts.), New Brunswick, New Jersey
862-290-6168
www.Facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004989198748

New Brunswick Hungarian Festival

I'm happy, too, with the old song and dance, provided that goes double for the food.

Krauszer's

The store has the look of a throwback, too.

Tido 'N His Junkyard Dogs

Route 46 is a U.S. Highway that runs east-west across northern New Jersey, home territory deep-fried hot dogs. Rutt's Hut, in Clifton, which specializes in this style, has gone so far as to codify the degree of doneness, from "in and outers" (which spend little time in the fry oil) to "rippers" (cooked long enough to split) to "cremators" (blackened though not utterly incinerated).

At Tido's, which serves more than two dozen named dogs, the Rte. 46 ($2.50) is served wrinkled, not ripped. But if spicy mustard, raw onion, and a pickle spear aren't spirited enough for your taste, I suppose you could ask for "well-done."

Tido 'N His Junkyard Dogs
139 Easton Ave. (at Stone St.), New Brunswick, New Jersey
732-246-8980
www.rutidos.com

Thomas Sweet

True to its name: chocolate-covered-strawberry ice cream (small, $2.25).

Thomas Sweet
55 Easton Ave. (Condict-Hamilton Sts.), New Brunswick, New Jersey
732-828-3855
www.ThomasSweet.com