13 Catt. 3: In re Rolls on Rolls

JEREMY, C.J., delivered the opinion of the Cart. CATTLEYA, J., wrote a separate concurrence.

A long day of hearing cases already behind us, we arrived at Rolls on Rolls (“ROR”) to sample its “delicious BAKED samosas.” The truck’s name, “Rolls on Rolls,” refers to the “kathi,” or “kati,” roll, a typical Kolkatan street food. However, judgment of ROR’s kathi roll will have to await the light of another day. In this instance, we granted cartiorari to consider the samosa.

First, we must consider whether the samosa is “street food.” If it is, we must affirm ROR’s samosa unless we can show it is a significantly flawed dish. See In re Big Cheese, 6 Catt. 2 (2012). We have defined “street food” as “the kind[] of food[] that can be cooked in front of you and [is] meant to be eaten with your hands, without forks, while standing up.” In re Eat Wonky, 2 Catt. 5 (2011). The samosa clearly meets this test. Because we find no significant flaw with ROR’s samosa, we must affirm.

ROR’s samosa is a not atypical samosa. It is as good a samosa as any I have had. It gave the impression of a fried samosa, but I am informed by ROR’s Facebook page that is baked instead. I am therefore pretending it is an entirely healthy snack. The samosa’s filling, primarily potato, was tasty and well seasoned. The accompanying chutney was fresh and complementary. Service was adequate, and the price ($2 each) was reasonable.

In the end, this is a rather lilliputian decision, primarily because ROR’s samosa was a competent samosa without discernible flaw. A $2 samosa is a quick and delightful mid-day treat — in other words, everything street food should be.

AFFIRMED.

CATTLEYA, J., concurring.

All too often, baked versions of foods that are meant to be fried pale in comparison to the real thing. Baked Cheetos, for example, are mealy and lack the hard crunch of real Cheetos. And the powdered cheese sticks more to the fingers than to the actual snack piece. For these reasons, Baked Cheetos can never replace original Cheetos in my heart, mouth, or stomach.

ROR’s baked samosa, on the other hand, did not have me rushing out to find a fried version. There was crispness. There was flavor. There was even some grease. If the Chief Justice hadn’t repeatedly pointed out that we were eating a “healthy snack,” I wouldn’t have noticed that the samosa was baked.