Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Kadhi Sadi Gali Bul Ke Vi Khaaya Karo Ji


Street Food I Love


I bite into my just out of the tandoor kalimiri chicken roll, the spicy marinated chicken painted with even spicier mint chutney hits me. And for a second I can’t make sense of my surroundings. When I come to my senses I give a look to the rollwaala, I want to ask him whether he used all his masala in one day or in one roll. He stares at me back. Somewhere behind me a cab screeches past. On the radio, Govinda sings “Tujhko mirchi lagi toh main kya karoon. Touche.

Am sure all of us have our favourite ‘khopchas’, where we indulge the glutton in us. We may dine at the finest of the finest, but will go back to these, even if it means an appointment with the doctor the next day or loads of digene or gelusal at night. Infact I think doctors should pay homage to these street food guys, after all they are the sole reason why the medical industry from pharma companies, chemists to doctors and hospitals are alive and kicking. I remember visiting the gastro specialist sometime back with my grandmom and there was line people waiting that stretched much outside his clinic, the guy had 3 assistants and didn’t have time to talk. He even has a gold plated stethoscope! Hail street food!

Eating at these places is a convivial experience in its self. Leaning against your car, listening to the blaring music playing of the cars of the ‘bhade baap ke bhigde huye bacche’, drinking from the Re 6 chotu thumsup bottle (yup thumsup! It tastes better than coke or pepsi specially with junk food), ordering for more and more until the waiter gets fed-up of you and paying not even quarter of what you would pay at a five star restaurant. Orgasmic.

So here is the first part of my series on ‘My Favorite Street Food’

1)      Idris and Ayubs – A favorite amongst the ‘party-goers’, who partied till 4 baj gaye and were kicked out Idris and Ayubs stay on till the wee hours and serve similar kind of food - mouth-watering tikkas & kathi rolls. At Idris my favorite is the Chicken Kalimiri roll – succulent pieces of chicken painted with green chutney rolled in roti. And as I mentioned earlier, piquant as hell yet appetizing. At Ayubs, the Chicken Tikka Roll its simply delicious. The vegetarian stuff is not far behind either. The Paneer Tikka is awesome both in the roll and just as is form. So after you have partied really hard and your stomach’s growling for some khaana head to either. An average meal for 2 here would be 200/- Timings for both are 6:30 pm onwards.
Location:  Ayub's - Shop No. 5, 43, Dr VB Gandhi Marg, Fort, Mumbai -400023 9821199147, Near Rhythm House. Idris – Outside World Trade Centre, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai-5.

2)      Dhiraj & Anand Vada Pav – I just had this yesterday, and one bite into this melt in to this potent dish is like watch MJ dance – smooth, punjent and Electrifying. Yes the 2 stalls opp Mithibai college – Anand Vada Pav and Dheeraj serve just that electrifying vada pav coated with butter, green chutney and red masala that makes you ‘Beat It’ MJ style. The standard rate for vada pav here is Rs 10/-  
Location: Opposite Mithibai College, Vile Parle (W), Vile Parle West, Mumbai.

3)      F Road Bhel Puri – No I am not trying to abuse here. This Bhel Puri guy is really located on ‘F Road’ Marine Drive and serves up the most amazing Bhel Puri and Sev batata Puri. Am not quite a bhel person myself, but the one here is irresistible. The garlicky pungent red chutney combined with the dulcified imli chutney generously doled up in the bhel or sev batata puri make an toothsome evening snack especially after an evening walk at marine drive. I know wat your thinking – first the exercise and then eating, whats the point? Well my mantra is workout and eat, don’t starve. I take it from the gujjus of Marine Drive you see ;).
Location - Outside, Patan Jain Mandal Marg, F Road , Opp Kisco Cutlery Shop, Marine Drive, Nariman Point, Mumbai - 400002

4)      Modern Juice Centre - A small stall located right next to Mumbai’s Apollo Bunder, this place is popular amongst Arab and Middle eastern tourists who flock to this place for their homeland food and fresh juices. The Chicken Schwarma - a thick maida roti wrapped around voluptuously tender grilled chicken pieces and pickled cucumber and carrots coated with mayonnaise is just scrumptious and very filling. Topped it with a fresh Fruit Cocktail or a Kiwi Juice and you’l be sorted for a long time. A little on the expensive side the Chicken Schwarma costing Rs 60 while the juice anything between Rs 50 – Rs 80, Modern gurantees quality so you won’t be disappointed.
Location: Opp Near Radio Club Colaba, Mumbai-400005 +91-22-22812457
                                                               
5)      Dadar Tibbs Frankie – When we are talking about street food how can we forget Frankie and when we are talking Frankie how can we not talk Tibbs? However not many know that Frankie is actually a variation of Schwarma. What happened was out very own Jat Yamla Pagla Deewana Mr. Amarjit Singh Tibb, on a stopover flight from England in Beirut, tasted a sumptuous roll of pita bread with stuffing. He altered it to please the Indian palette by using a soft, yet crisp naan as the pita and a spicy and juicy meat or vegetarian curry with chunks of tender meat or spiced vegetables as the stuffing, and thus the TIBBS FRANKIE was born!  I ate the Chicken Tikka Frankie at the Tibbs stall in dadar and thought it was brilliant. Chicken cooked in fiery red gravy tossed in a egg roti topped with onions and loads of ‘Amchur’ (dried mango powder) make this dish a mouth watering, saliva pooling in the mouth snack. The frankies cost between Rs 35 – 60.
Location: Near Bal Mohan High School, Shivaji Park, Dadar West



6)      The Right Place – Even our very own hoity toity Breach Candy has its share of posh yet street food. The Right Place located next to Amarsons Malls has been serving the just the right kind of sandwhiches and other snacks since decades. Be it their over sized veggie and cheese stuffed grilled sandwiches, vegetarian pizza’s or their famous and my favourite Khala Katta or Watermelon Slush, The Right Place is the just the right place after your done with a swim at Breach Candy Gymkhaana or visiting an ailing yet super rich relative at Breach Candy Hospital or simply your shopping spree at Amarsons, Premsons and the rest of the sons. Also another must try at this place is the Chic Choc Ice cream Sunday. Don’t blame me if you get hooked. Open from 9:00 AM to 12:30 AM
Location: Opp Breach Candy Hospital, Warden Road, Breach Candy, Cumballa Hill.



7)      Jai Jawan Bandra – What happens when Sea Food meets Street Food. Ambrosia I guess if I can put a word on it. Jai Jawan is the only place in Mumbai that can give you the taste of this ambrosia. Their Fish & Prawn Koliwada’s are just mind blowing and can be bought by the kilograms. Great if you are having a house party. Serve it with your valeyti or desi daru and your guests will be super happy or just hop in to this place when in Bandra. Timings 6:00 AM to Midnight

Location: Opposite National College, Next to Chappal Market, Bandra (W), Linking Road, Bandra West, Mumbai, Near Baskin Robbins Phone: 65592112, 9820503355.

8)      Sukh Sagar – If you have eaten the Idli Chutney here you definitely have missed something. The soft South India delicacy comes two in a plate steaming hot and the waiter pours in the cold delicious coconut chutney on it. The combination of the hot idli meshing with cool chutney in your mouth just makes you want to have more and more! Evenly the Pav Bhaji is brilliant. Steeply priced with idli’s costing at Rs 35 this place does maintain quality.

Location: Marina Mansion, S.V.P.Road, Chowpatty, Mumbai  022 23636856, 022 23679614

9)      Walkeshwar Dosa – Am sure everyone has tasted the dosas at Babulnath Dosawalla. But frankly I think it’s pretty over rated. This dosawalla is located at Walkeshwar and literally occupies a bus stop. The Mysore Sada Dosa over you is just mind blowing. Delicately spiced with South Indian Masala on the inside the dosa retains just right amount of softness and crunchiness. Come here for a Sunday evening round of Dosa and Thumsup with your friends. Opens 6 pm ownwards

Location: Opposite Vandana Saree Shop & Kamdhenu Mall 99, Videocon House, Napean Sea Road, Mumbai 400 006.

10)  K. Rustoms – Afterall this spice and food, your stomach needs to cool down and what better than K Rustomes famous Sandwhich ice cream. This quaint hole in the wall may just go unnoticed. But their old school flavours are beautiful, balmy and saporous. Have the Kesar or the Walnut Crunch. You may find a Baskin Robbins and a Gelato in every nook and corner of Mumbai but there is only and only one K Rustom. And it’s the best, I say.

Location:  87 Stadium House, Veer Nariman Rd., Opposite Lladro Showroom, Opposite Ambassador Hotel, Churchgate, next to Titan Tanishq Showroom 22821768. Timings 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM

You know the best thing about these places is that they usually reminisces of amazing times spent with your friends. No harm reliving them once in a while. Just buy you gelusal at store it ;)

Quicktip: Take a trip down memory lane with college buddies you haven’t spoken to due to your busy routine. Go have some Chicken Kathi Roll and Thums-up and talk about ‘those good old days’ where you were fatter, cuter and you wanted to change the world.






 

4 comments:

  1. So true, nothing beats street food. You do find some of the best stuff there. And given the fact that most restaurants now serve very dull and over priced dishes, these street side chefs do seem a lot more interesting! ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hey nice article, but you missed Sardar Pav Bhaji at tardeo.

    ReplyDelete
  3. @ Rohan extremely true!
    @ Maria thanks for the suggestion. Will include it in the second part to the series!

    ReplyDelete

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