Daily Delhicacies – Page 12

Posted on March 19, 2016 March 19, 2016

BOX OFFICE CAFÉ

By Prakriti Bhat

GTB Nagar is a haven for foodies. Every restaurant or café is economical, beautiful and unique in its own way. Box Office Café is the newest entrant amongst the bevy of food joints housed in the area. At a walking distance from the metro station and in the same lane as Big Yellow Door and Subway, it faces stiff competition from the extremely popular outlets in its vicinity. However, with a Bollywood theme and ‘hatke’ ambience, I am quite sure that Box Office Café is here to stay.

Sprawled across 2 floors, the café has funky interiors that will make you stop and look at each wall carefully. Popular film dialogues and celeb graffiti lend a filmy feel to the place. While one wall is totally dedicated to pouty portraits of Bollywood actresses, the selfie wall has popular celeb selfies hung on a rope with cloth pins. One could go for low floor seating or a proper table-chair affair. The second floor has a swing seat and a cozy little canopy/tent which needs to be booked in advance. It could be your perfect date spot, ensconced at one corner of the terrace.

The owner, Gaurav Mendiratta seems to have put his heart and soul into the café, taking care of each little detail. Chef Shailendra has curated one of the most unique menus. There are categories like ‘Main to Raste ja raha tha’ (for chaat), ‘Sunny Leone ke Hot Kebabs’ and ‘Dimsum urf Momos’. You are spoilt for choice and forced to ogle at the menu with greedy eyes and a hungry tummy. The chef volunteered to serve us dishes outside the menu as well. His passion for his job was quite evident with the eclectic dishes he brought to our table.

Amongst beverages I tried three mocktails and one shake. ‘Kiss in the Sand’ had a blend of orange juice and coke while ‘Safe Sex on the Beach’ had a fruity and tangy flavor. The Kitkat Shake was served in a bulb shaped container. In fact that was the sole reason for my ordering it! However, it wasn’t cold so the overall experience was dampened a bit. Guava Lava is another mocktail that you could give a try.

The meal began with a German potato chicken salad. The potatoes were mixed with shreds of chicken and sprinkled with parmesan cheese, parsley and powdered sugar. Some of the potatoes were a bit hard but the crunch gives a good overall effect. The next dish was Maggi Sandwich. Conventionally, a sandwich is prepared with some kind of filling between bread slices. This one was made entirely with Maggi. The noodles are shaped into tiny discs which are placed one above the other with a filling between them and a cheese slice on the top. Innovation at its best! Pan Grilled Cottage cheese with spaghetti in pesto sauce was another delicious ride. Two doughnut shaped thick slices of cottage cheese were grilled and served with the spaghetti. The corn nuggets here were freshly prepared and extremely cheesy. The frozen ones are very unlike the ones served here where the soft texture stood testimony to the freshness.

Box office café was one of those rare places where I couldn’t settle on a favourite dish. Chef Shailendra has a penchant for working on different permutations and combinations to whip up a novel set of dishes. To get the best of Bollywood and food, Box Office Café is definitely a must visit.

Anubhav Sapra

Anubhav Sapra is an avid foodie! He is a Founder but proudly calls himself a Foodie-in-chief at Delhi Food Walks. He is also a street-food and Indian regional cuisine connoisseur and loves to write about street-food.

http://www.delhifoodwalks.com

Posted on March 19, 2016 March 19, 2016

RAJU BHAIYA KE RAJMA CHAWAL

By Prakriti Bhat

Student life means grueling lectures, all nighters, nearly empty pockets and a forever rumbling tummy. The lunch that you take along vanishes before the lunch break (courtesy like-minded hungry souls) and by the ned of the day, you become a hunger struck maniac. Looking for pocket friendly places becomes a your chief concern and you’re ready to gobble it all up.

It was on such a day that I stumbled upon a tiny cart parked outside Law Faculty that served Rajma Chawal and coffee. The man, Raju has been feeding the North Campus crowd for about 10-12 years. After enjoying a wholesome plate of Rajma Chawal and a cup of coffee, I proceeded to ask him how it all began and the story was quite interesting.

His father was a businessman in Rawalpindi and shifted to Saharanpur around 2-3 years before partition. His business suffered a setback there after which the family shifted to Maharashtra. Raju bhaiya was only 2 months old when they shifted, yet again, to Delhi. About 10-12 years ago, Raju Bhaiya started off by selling tea and coffee. He then graduated to selling Maggi too and was a quite a hit amongst the students. He says, “We had to stop the Maggi business because it took quite some time to be made. It was getting quite cumbersome.”

About 2-3 years ago, he strated selling Rajma Chawal. Around 12-12:30 p.m., you will always find a teeming crowd of students near his stall. Unlike other street vendors, he serves the food very gently and pours just the right amount Rajma; neither less nor too much so as to flood your plate. And the quantity is good enough for two people as well. The plump grains of rice and Rajma make quite an impressive heap on your plate.

The Rajma is not very greasy or spicy and therefore can be eaten with ease even by the health freaks. This simplicity of preparation reminds you of home cooked food as it will taste similar. Boxes of salt, chaat masala and pickles are kept aside if you want to add more flavor to your meal. And the best part is that a plate of Rajma Chawal costs only 80 bucks. An inexpensive and piping hot plate of Raju bhaiya’s Rajma Chawal is just what you need to refuel your body after college. They serve one of the best coffees you can ever find on Chhatra Marg. Each cup is sprinkled with cocoa powder; a tradition that is gradually vanishing in favour of coffee art at big restaurant and cafes.

Location- Outside Law faculty, Chhatra Marg

Cost for two- Rs. 80-90 (approx)

Anubhav Sapra

http://www.delhifoodwalks.com

Posted on March 18, 2016 March 18, 2016

Gadre Seafood

Crabsticks – Gadre seafood

– Ayushi Mathur

Gadre premium seafood, one of the largest exporters of seafood in the country, recently organized an event for the launch of their new frozen product called Gadre Crabsticks. The event hosted over thirty food, travel and lifestyle bloggers and photographers. Held at Cafe Public Connection, Connaught Place, the event had an assortment of dishes prepared using crabsticks as the main ingredient. The various dishes prepared with crabsticks included cold coconut crabstick soup, crabstick spring rolls, crabstick salad and crab cakes. All the dishes were prepared with unique recipes by Chef Vikas Khanna, who endorses the brand and its range of products.

Gadre crabstick is a ready to eat frozen product which can be eaten right out of its packaging. As demonstrated at the event, it can be incorporated into different recipes, ranging from salads to drinks. The crabsticks taste like real crab meat however these are not made with crabs. Yes, Gadre uses a Japanese favourite called Surimi for the preparation of Crabsticks. Surimi is a fish product made by ground meat from the white fleshy fish and is widely used in Asian cuisine to imitate meat flavours like crab, lobster and other shellfish. There are various benefits of using surimi in the place of real crab meat, one of them being the low fat content in surimi. Surimi is also a cheaper alternative to real crab and lobster meat and thus becomes one of the highly consumed seafood in various communities and cuisines.

Gadre is the largest producer of surimi in the country and markets a variety of frozen products that serve as imitation meats, for instance crab claws, lobster bites and crabsticks. The crabsticks are light and easy to use. They have an authentic delicious crab flavour and are packed with protein. A 250 gram pack contains 16 sticks that have a shelf life of over a year. The crabsticks are precooked and can be eaten straight out of the pack or used in different recipes, including curries, snacks and salads. All this at just Rs. 150 for a pack sounds amazing!

Gadre is the first and only brand to introduce Surimi in India and by the looks of it; I believe this will bring a huge change in the seafood consumption patterns in the country.

Anubhav Sapra

http://www.delhifoodwalks.com

Posted on March 17, 2016 March 18, 2016

Cafe Dalal Street

Cafe Dalal Street – M Block Connaught Place

-Ayushi Mathur

In some respects, Cafe Dalal Street is the most exciting opening to hit Delhi this year. As the name suggests, the restaurant presents a unique way of serving drinks ranging from cocktails to smoothies. The price of each drink is based on a demand and supply model. The higher the demand of a drink, higher is the price and vice versa. With hundreds of cafes coming up each year, the sensex based pricing of drinks at Cafe Dalal street definitely ousts the monotony. It is not only the pricing that is different; the bar also has some unusual cocktails to offer. One of the drinks that caught my interest was The White Wine Zing Spritzer, a concoction of white wine, gin, peppers, jalapeno and strawberries. However outlandish it may sound, this drink is undeniably a treat for cocktail lovers like myself.

Not to worry foodies, this place has got your interests covered too. Cafe Dalal street head Chef, Mr. Hemant Kumar has crafted an enticing multi-cuisine menu that brings an extraordinary range of finger food to the table. The idea behind the food was to give the customers a fun menu to go with the drinks and my experience was definitely amusing. I started my culinary adventure with Butter chicken golgappas, which being an original creation combines the everyday street food with north Indian all time favourite butter chicken. The traditional potato stuffing is substituted with diced chicken chunks served with tangy butter chicken curry and this appetizer is simply ambrosial. I also had the chance to try wasabi prawns and jalapeno poppers. The jalapeno poppers are stuffed with an admixture of Cheddar and Gouda cheese along with jalapenos and olives. The poppers are served with sweet and spicy salsa containing honey which gives it a unique flavour. The wasabi prawns were the right balance of crispy and soft. Even though, it is always difficult to find fresh seafood in a non-coastal city like Delhi, the prawns served at the restaurant taste incredibly fresh.

The allure of this joint does not end with food and drinks. The staff is extremely amiable and alert to the needs of the customer. The ambience of the restaurant is very welcoming as well. The cafe is lit with dim orange-red light and the music is not very loud in the sitting area, working well for a perfect lunch or dinner conversation over drinks. If all this doesn’t excite you already, let me tell you that this is one of the few places in Connaught Place that also has a dance floor.

Cafe Dalal Street is a place that truly gives you the 100% feeling. The ambience is good, the food is great and the concept is exciting and so this joint will definitely be on top of my recommendation list to anybody looking for a fun experience in Delhi.

Location: M-89/90 M Block, outer circle, Connaught Place

Cost for two: INR 1000

What to look out for: The new limited summer menu that includes refreshing dishes with ingredients like mango.

Anubhav Sapra

http://www.delhifoodwalks.com

Posted on March 14, 2016 March 12, 2016

Annapurna Bhandar

Annapurna Bhandar – Chandni Chowk

– Ayushi Mathur

Bengal is known for its numerous ambrosial delicacies and when it comes to desserts, Bengalis surely make some of the finest. The well-known sweets from Bengal are easily available around the city but to indulge in the most authentic form of Bengali dessert, one has to travel to Chandni Chowk market. In the ever so crowded streets of the market, lies a small and peaceful shop, known for its delicious sweet treats, called Annapurna Bhandar.

In 1920 Late Mr. Mohinimohan Mukherjee moved to the city of Delhi as a railway employee but unfortunately ended up losing one of his legs in an accident in the following year. Unable to continue as a railway operator, he decided to open a small sweet shop in the city in the year of 1922 to cater to the small Bengali community that resided in the area. Within seven years it grew in popularity and the final version of the shop was ready in the main market. The shop, then, had similar interiors to that of a railway coach. However in order to keep up with the wear and tear, the interiors had to be changed to its present form. The shop, Annapurna Bhandar, today is owned by the third generation in Mr. Mukherjee’s family and still retains its former glory despite its modern design.

The shop offers a wide-ranging menu right from the traditional spongy Rasgullas to the lesser known yet exquisite desserts like Kadambari. As I entered the shop, seeming perplexed by the umpteen choices available, Mr. Mukherjee asked me if I was looking for an extra sweet dessert or one that wasn’t too sweet. I decided to go with lightly sweetened and was suggested to try Rasomadhuri and Mishti Doi. I have to agree, I was hearing the name Rasomadhuri for the very first time and this made me even more excited to try it. Rasomadhuri has a very lightly saccharine taste and feels granular while chewing. It leaves an aftertaste of fresh pistachio in the mouth. Mishti Doi is velvety and flavorsome. The sugar in both the desserts was well blended and did not taste like extra sweeteners had been added.

All the sweets in the shop are made with cow milk and prepared fresh every day. Even with the immense popularity of the shop, Mr. Mukherjee remains uncertain of the future as the following generations are not keen on maintaining the family business. Despite the uncertainties, I am sure Annapurna Bhandar will continue serving delectable sweets for years to come as it is not just any family business, it is a legacy.

Anubhav Sapra

http://www.delhifoodwalks.com

Posted on March 10, 2016 March 10, 2016

FOOD YATRA AT THE GATEWAY, KASHI

FOOD YATRA AT THE GATEWAY, KASHI.

By Shreya Chowdhury

“ Banaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together” – Mark Twain

Banaras or Kashi is one of the oldest cities of the world, dipped in culture and spirituality, and is famous for its delicious cuisine comprising of thandais, lassis, kachoris and plenty more. As we commence our journey of discovering the hidden gems of this city, what could have been a better start than with the face of Banarasi gourmet world, Executive Chef Anup Gupta of The Gateway Hotel Ganges, which is one of the favorite luxurious getaway havens for the locals and an escapade for tourists who wish to bask in spirituality and culture.

Food connects us all. Talking to Chef Anup Gupta, who began his Banaras Chapter in 2012, one can easily notice the passion for creating and serving food, bringing smiles on faces every day. We were welcomed with a delicious glass of chilled thandai, the Taj version of the street side thandai found in the older parts of Banaras. It is a beautiful rich concoction of milk and saffron loaded with malai and almonds, a refreshing drink for a hot and sultry day.

Banaras is known for its temples and temple cooking is its soul. A beautiful rendition of this concept is seen in the Saatvik Thali at the Varuna restaurant of The Gateway, where a specially hired homemaker prepares the items herself. The thali laden with minimalistic yet delicious Saatvikbhojan is indeed a treat for the taste buds and light on the stomach. The puris are light and non-greasy, while the yellow daal brings back nostalgia from grandma’s kitchen. The aloomethi, adrakgobhi and the laukikisabziending with rasmalai makes this thali a complete, balanced meal perfectly in sync with the calm and spiritual ambience of Banaras.

For travellers who want to freak out and delve into some amazing Awadhi food, the Muslim GharanaThali is the ultimate! It is a big plate full of flavor and spice and everything nice. The mutton kebabs are soft and juicy with the perfect amount of spices. The beautiful warqiparantha goes perfectly with the rich and creamy dal makhni, the slightly tangy alootamatar and the haramurg. The biryani is a delightful combination of saffron, succulent mutton and caramalised onion. However, the star of the Thali is definitely the NalliGosht. The beautifully cooked mutton, in a spicy and rich curry is like Christmas in the mouth. The sewai is the perfect end to the hearty meal.

The Gateway spreads over acres of land, with manicured lawns, beautiful gardens,lovely kitchen gardens where the Chef grows his produce for the kitchen, serene ponds filled with swans, guava and lemon orchard with stunning peacocks dancing around. Amidst all this scenic beauty, there is a hidden colonial gem known as the Nadesar Palace built by the Maharajah of Varanasi. The building is like a time machine which teleports you to the times of the British Raj. Beautiful Victorian vases and statues, paintings mounted on sturdy wooden frames, archaic furniture. The experience is surreal, straight out of a Jane Austen novel, right here in Varanasi. The cuisine served here is as exclusive as this place. The menu has some very interesting items such as the Dak Bungalow Chicken, Memsahib’s Cheese ball curry, Devilled Chicken. However, the champion of the menu is definitely the Railway Mutton, which has its origins in the traditional KoshaMangsho of Bengal, found in colonial Calcutta in the railway retirement rooms. The combination of caramalised onion, rich gravy and potato and mutton will invariably transport you to the world of AmitavGhosh’s Sea of Poppies, with this beautiful East-meets-West dish. Ah, what a royal treat!

Banaras is a beautiful city, painted in myriad colours and culture and the Taj experience encapsulates this essence which is translated in their service and belief in AtithiDevoBhava.

Anubhav Sapra

http://www.delhifoodwalks.com

Posted on March 9, 2016 March 3, 2016

KedarNath Halwai

BEDMI PURI

The smell of a unique kind of spicy gravy coupled with the sizzling sound of hot ghee in the kadhai holds a special allure for the morning walkers of the old Delhi area. Desirous of satiating the hunger of their stomachs after the tiring walk, with traditional breakfast dishes offered by one of the oldest eateries in the area, the walkers rest their exhausted bodies on the lone wooden bench that lies outside the shop. The puri is made of a special dough which is constituted by a combination of udad daal and coarse wheat flour. It is double fried in a huge kadhai in pure ghee, till it turns a delicious shade of golden-brown. The puris are crisp because of the coarse wheat flour in the dough and the double-frying. They are served with piping hot bedmi which is a traditional gravy with potato pieces in it. The gravy is cooked with the boiled potato pieces till it enshrouds them with a balanced mix of spices which may lean a bit towards too hot for those who are unused to the Indian taste-palette. A green chutney made of methi and pudina is also served along with the bedmi and puri. Its subtle flavour perfectly complements the crisp and coarse texture of the puri and the strong taste of the bedmi.

The dish has pleased the taste buds of the residents of Old Delhi for many decades. It forms a regular part of the Sunday breakfast for a large number of families in the area. It is regarded as one of the consistently well-liked traditional dishes for those who have managed to keep away from salads and fruits as breakfast options on weekends. They instead, treat themselves to extraordinarily fulfilling breakfasts from some of the oldest kitchens in Chandi Chowk that have somehow survived the surge of modern chains of eateries.

The Kedar Nath Premchand Halwai in 13 Kinari Bazaar, Parathe Wali Gali, boasts of serving the best bedmi-puri in Chandni Chowk. It was established in 1958 by Sri Kedar Nath who had migrated from Haryana. It is currently managed by his son, Vinod Kumar. The owners claim to use nothing but pure ghee for the preparation of their foodstuffs and the shop is renowned for its breakfast food and snacks like nagori-halwa, trikoni mathri, sev-boondi and khoi peda. The shop remains open from 8 a.m. to 9p.m. on all days.

Anubhav Sapra

http://www.delhifoodwalks.com

Posted on March 8, 2016

MasterChef Canada

MASTERCHEF CANADA PREMIERES TONIGHT ON TLC

Excitement, joy, passion and victory all packed in the biggest culinary battle – MASTERCHEF CANADA will air every Friday – Sunday at 8 PM on TLC, the home of travel, food and lifestyle.

The battleground will shift from drawing rooms to the kitchen on Indian television with the premiere of MasterChef on TLC.An intense battle will playout between home cooks, fighting to win the coveted title of MasterChef. Proving the adage that ‘No Dream Is Ever Too Big’, MasterChef Canada will celebrate the home cook’s ability to perform at the highest level. From backgrounds as varied as a chemical engineer to stay-at-home parent, the only thing that binds the contestants is their shared love for food and cooking.

The contest will test their skills, creativity and ability to perform under pressure in the kitchen as theybattle nerves, anxiety and tough challengesat every stageto dish out the best food and impress the judges and audience.

Testing and challenging the home cooks will be three of the most renowned chefs in the world – MICHAEL BONACINI,eclectic chef and co-founder of Canada’s leading fine dining restaurant companies, ALVIN LEUNG, self-proclaimed ‘Demon Chef’ who has been awarded three Michelin starsand CLAUDIO APRILE,a visionary chef known for his experimental cooking techniques. They will put the contestants through rigorous challenges that will test them to the limit until only the best remain.

The viewers canbe part of the excitement and win an exclusive MasterChefMystery Box by participating in a contest on www.tlcindia.co.in.

Watch the exciting battle between home cooks on MasterChef Canada, only on TLC!

Anubhav Sapra

http://www.delhifoodwalks.com

Posted on March 7, 2016 March 3, 2016

Aslam Chicken Corner

ASLAM CHICKEN CORNER

ADDRESS- 540, Bazaar Matia Mahal, Jama Masjid

PHONE NUMBER- 9312281022 ; 9811469795

TIMINGS- 5:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.

Tracing its origins to the 1950’s in the kitchens of the famous Moti Mahal restaurant of New Delhi, the Butter chicken has charmed the taste buds of food lovers all over the world. Many creative adaptations of the original recipe have emerged with varying combinations of spices and cooking styles being put to work in accordance with the tastes and preferences of the diners. Aslam chicken corner lays its claim on a unique interpretation of the butter chicken which has stunned the chicken lovers of the Walled City for the past 18 years.

In the midst of the chaos that is characteristic of the Old Delhi area, the street lying right across the main gates of the Jama Masjid houses the four-storeyed building of the Aslam chicken corner. The entrance is deceptively small and is made tempting by the alluring display of chicken and fish being cooked slowly on a large chulha. The place does not have a large number of options for the visitor- just chicken and fish dishes with soda and cold drinks. However, the limited options owe mainly to the owner’s knowledge of what ‘Aslam’ does best.

The butter chicken offered by Aslam’s Chicken Corner is a unique combination of the tandoori chicken and the original butter chicken. The chicken pieces are first marinated in a special combination of spices which remains a well-kept secret of the owners and chefs of Aslam. One would receive nothing more than a proud grin in reply to an enquiry about the specific spices that go into making the lip-smacking dish. The crowning glory of the dish however is the butter gravy which is prepared by mixing a curd-like ingredient with butter. A separate chulha is used to heat large blocks of Amul butter which is then combined with the curd and poured generously over the scrumptious chicken pieces. The melted butter seeps into the chicken thereby softening it and the curd lends a tangy taste to the dish which perfectly complements the buttery effect of the gravy. The chicken is served in a steel container with a basket of rumali roti- a unique type of thin bread which is known for its softness. The sight of the chicken floating in a pool of butter is a torturous one for the health conscious gym-maniac. However, one is sorely tempted to give in to the overpowering instincts of the uninhibited food lover that lies buried within layers of control enforced by an increasingly weight-conscious society. The extra hours of workout is totally worth the pleasure of biting into the succulent chicken dripping with pure hot butter followed by greedy gulps of cola to wash down the heavy gravy.

Having succeeded in reserving a special niche in the hearts of chicken-lovers, despite the heavy competition meted out by older and more renowned chains like the Moti Mahal, Aslam’s chicken corner is most definitely an eatery which any non-vegetarian foodie must visit in order to get that one precious taste of this unique interpretation of a well-loved dish. During the visit, do try to take a look at the massive chulhas that are placed on the terrace with hundreds of chicken pieces lying ready to be cooked. If you have a penchant for cooking or are likely to fall into a trance at the sight of marinating chicken, you might as well get enchanted by the view in the open terrace whereby skilled chefs expertly handle the barbecue rods, sending magical drifts of a spicy scent into the busy breezes of Old Delhi. The chatter of the merry passersby and the hypnotic sound of the namaz being read out in the beautiful mosque often combine with this alluring smell to produce a charming atmosphere that dreams are made of.

Anubhav Sapra

http://www.delhifoodwalks.com

Posted on March 7, 2016 March 3, 2016

Siyaram Chhole Kulche

Siyaram Chhole Kulche – Lajpat Nagar Market

Ayushi Mathur

The number of malls in the city is ever increasing and so is the mall culture with sophisticated outlets providing all sorts of fancy assistance. But ask anyone here and they would have shopped in the streets of Lajpat Nagar at least once. Lajpat Nagar Market is almost always included in our top suggestions for anyone visiting Delhi for the first time, and why not? It is one of the oldest markets in Delhi that offers a variety of products from clothes to kitchenware. So after shopping to their hearts content, what do the visitors seek? A plate of rewarding food to satisfy their hunger and this market has that covered too. Yes, Lajpat Nagar Market has some excellent choice of street food to gorge into. One of the numerous options of street food found in the market area is a group of Chhole Kulche vendors called Siyaram Chhole Kulche. Located in Lajpat Nagar II, near the main market area, these vendors sit next to the park and serve over 300 people in a single day.

Even though, this does not look like an establishment, Siyaram Chhole Kulche has been selling delicious food for over sixty years in the same area; which is a true testament to the quality and flavour of their food. Despite the fact that they only offer one item, they sell enough Chhole Kulche each day to support 4-5 families. Yes, you read it right, this joint alone provides for the families of all the owners.

At just Rs. 35, the Siyaram Chhole Kulche are an absolute delight to both the tongue and the tummy. The best part is that 4 Kulchas are served with a bowl full of delicious Chhole which are spicy as well as tangy. The Chhole are topped with a generous amount of onions, ginger and coriander and the Kulchas are soft and fresh. This proves to be a very gratifying meal after a day of tiresome shopping.

So the next time you are in Lajpat Nagar Market, don’t miss out on these incredibly yummy Chhole Kulche. And don’t worry you’ll find them there every day of the week from morning till late in the evening.

Cost for two – Rs. 70 Location – Lajpat Nagar Market, Lajpat Nagar II [The garden near Button gali]

Anubhav Sapra

http://www.delhifoodwalks.com