delhi street food – Page 6 – Delhi Food Walks

Posted on August 5, 2015 August 5, 2015

Delhi 6 se 19

Street food festival at Singh Sahib, Eros Hotel

By Anubhav Sapra

Singh Sahib at The Eros Hotel is one of the few five star restaurants in Delhi which has a loyal fan following. I visited the hotel on a weekday and the restaurant was bustling with patrons. I got to know there that the restaurant is hosting a Street Food Festival by the name of Delhi 6 se Delhi 19. The name signifies the food it intends on celebrating : The old Delhi street food which covers the areas of Delhi 6 (Delhi 6 being the postal code of Old Delhi) and Delhi 19 (Delhi 19 being the postal code of Nehru Place).

To exhibit the flavors unique to the old Delhi street food palate, live counters of the dishes have been put up in the ongoing festival. On offer are the popular street food dishes – golgappe, chaat, desi drinks, sweets, kebabs, omelets, biryani and quintessential chhole bhature. The dishes are being served on disposable plates to provide an authentic experience of eating out in the streets.

I began with aloo tikki and papdi chaat. Both of these dishes were made with the right interplay of spices and served with saunth and dhaniya chutney. Next from the chaat counter, I had golgappas which were served with pudina ka paani (mint flavoured water) and saunth.

After trying small portions of chole bhature, rajma chawal and kadi chawal, my carnivorous drive got me straight to the kebabs and biryani counter though the first iem I tried was egg bhurji. The biryani looked distinct, different from the regular mirch masala biryani which we get on the streets of Jama Masjid. The other mutton biryani was surpassed by any other that I have had. It had tender pieces of meat, cooked in basmati rice which was mildly flavoured.

A lot of effort has gone in to conceptualizing the street food festival; as the presence of a variety of snacks and sweets are ensured. from the Halwai counter. The sweets on offer are balushahi, milk cake, besan laddu, burfi, jalebi, and halwa parantha. I was surprised to see parantha being served with sooji ka halwa. This shows that the Chef has really travelled to the interiors of Old Delhi to bring out the best of the dishes. Halwa and parantha is a popular delicacy in Nizamuddin and Jama Masjid. I have seen evenings in Chitli Qabar, when Halwa Parantha walas on pushcarts cut paranthas into small pieces and serve halwa on them. Although the halwa was a bit sweet for me, I really enjoyed Jalebis which were thin, crisp and slightly flavoured with saffron.

My street food journey ended with a rabri kulfi stick. Indeed, it appeared to be a good attempt to showcase the variety of street delicacies under one roof. The festival is on till 6^th August and priced at Rs 1650/- per person without taxes.

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 July 30, 2015 July 30, 2015

North Campus Food Joints

By Prakriti Bhat

Another phase of your life begins as you enter college. Getting into Delhi University is no piece of cake but you made it. Classes have started and you’re getting used to the DU culture. North Campus is the hub of University activities. Allow us to be your food guide through the food joints popular in and around North Campus.

KAMLA NAGAR

Chache Di Hatti– Want a taste of Dilli ke Chhole Bhature? Well, this is the place where you can get that desi feel of street food. You have to stand in a queue to place your order. The long queues here tell their own story. Meal for two- Rs.150
Shawarma Wala– Located in the lane adjacent to Mc. Donald’s; this place has gained popularity in the last few years. Their shawarmas are a hit amongst the students. Try out their Chicken Shawarma, Paneer Shawarma, Garlic Chicken Kathi Roll and virgin mojito. Meal for two-Rs. 300.
Shake Square– So you are exhausted after a series of lectures and need a quick break. Shake Square is your solace. With an array of shakes and desserts, this is bound to become your best friend. Their Oreo shake and Mocha shake are absolutely delicious. You won’t need to shell out more than 300 bucks for a quick meal of shakes and sandwiches or stuffed kulchas.
Café Youngistan– Theme restaurants are always cool. And this one promises you a pocket friendly meal as well. With jungle themed interiors, this place has gradually become a campus favourite. It could be a fancy pick for birthday treats as well. Meal for two- Rs. 1000.

GTB NAGAR

Kori’s– This one is for those who like to experiment with their plate and palate. Kori’s serves Korean cuisine and is widely known amongst the student crowd. Feast on regional delicacies like Kimbab and their much loved burgers which are quite huge. All this comes in combo meals as well. Cost for two- Rs. 500.
The Vintage Avenue– Go for a trip down the memory lane with this place. The interiors remind you of the simplicity of a bygone era. The food is absolutely delicious ranging from Italian to Indian cuisine. Their pizzas, pastas, Chicken Tikka and shakes are quite famous. Must try their Oreo shake and Kitkat shake. Meal for two-Rs. 750.
QD’s– One of the most famous student food joints. It has branches near both the campuses of Delhi University. One just can’t ignore their huge Tandoori Momos with the delicious green chutney. They also have economical Chinese combos. Again a good place for birthday treats with its funky decor! Meal for two- Rs.600.
Ricos– Walls covered with graffiti and one whole wall dedicated to a bookshelf. Interesting isn’t it? This café offers a wide variety of cuisines like American, Lebanese, Italian, Mexican and what not. Their pitchers, Chicken Stroganoff, pastas and desserts are a must try. Cost for two- Rs. 900.
Wood Box Café– In the lane adjacent to Axis Bank you will find a cottage like café with rooftop seating as well. With colorful and offbeat interiors it gives a very cozy feeling. Their shakes are just awesome, served in neatly cut bottles of Heineken. Also try their Spaghetti Aglio Olio, Chicken Lasagna, Caesar Salad, and Mushroom Sandwiches. Munch away! Cost for two- Rs. 650.
Big Yellow Door– With a cute little tedha medha yellow door as its entrance, this place sure grabs a lot of eyeballs. Warning: there is always a long waiting queue outside so try to book your table in advance. The interiors are quite good and the rates will bring a smile to your face. It’s a nice place for group hangouts. Try their Paninis, cheese bomb burger, cheesy nachos and beverages. Cost for two- Rs. 500
Cent Percent Bakery– One of the most popular bakeries in the area, this place comes to your rescue for ordering birthday cakes. With a mélange of cakes, pastries and homemade chocolates, this bakery is quite a hit amongst the North Campus crowd. Cost for two- Rs. 250.
For God’s Cake– The newest bakery in town, the place is doing quite well. It’s a bakery café so it serves food like pizzas, burgers, sandwiches and pastas, etc. Try their oval shaped pizzas, shakes, red velvet cake, cake jars and cupcakes. Also, it has charming interiors. Meal for two- Rs. 500.

CIVIL LINES

Moets– Located near the Civil Lines metro station this place serves some tasty Chinese food. Prices are a bit on the higher side but it makes for a nice option for occasional splurges. Go for their Manchurian, spring rolls and soups. Cost for two- Rs. 900.
Momos stall outside metro station– The man selling momos has been around for a long time. Joking around with the customers he always has a smile on his face. A large hearted vendor is he who gives extra chutney without creating a fuss. He is one such man! Within 40- 50 bucks you can have a sumptuous plate of momos.
Roll Club– Situated near the petrol pump, this place whips up some of the most appetizing rolls. Paneer roll, Chicken roll, Chicken egg roll, Double egg roll, Chicken keema roll are some of the best here. Meal for two- Rs. 250.
Gulab Singh Tea Stall– This modest tea stall serves the simplest snacks in a humble and loving manner. There is just one long iron bench and table. Enjoy a quiet cup of tea with bun maska or bread. Cost for two- Rs. 50-60

D SCHOOL’S CANTEEN– Perhaps one of the most sought after canteens in North Campus, D School has a lot of options to calm your hungry tummy. Some of their best dishes include Plain Dosa, Mutton Dosa, Chowmein, etc. However, the main adda at D school is JP Tea Stall which is frequently thronged by students to relish Raju Bhaiya’s hot aloo patties, muffins and their famous masala coke.

MAJNU KA TILA

Coffee House– One of the best and cheapest cafes you will come across. With doughnuts priced at Rs. 20, you are going to fall in love with their cakes, coffees and ambience. You just HAVE TO try their Mud Cake and Iced Mocha. Also check out their breakfast options. They have free wifi too! Meal for two- Rs. 150.
Ama Café– With comfortable couches and Tibetian décor, it’s a peaceful refuge from grueling schedules. Regulars swear by their Tiramisu and Cappuccino. Check out the beautiful Latte art on their hot coffees. Cost for two- Rs. 450
Tee Dee’s– If you want to try out authentic Tibetian cuisine, this is the place you should go to. It is quite pocket friendly and supposedly serves the best thukpa in Majnu Ka Tila. Other mouth watering dishes include chilly potatoes, chilly pork and Singapore noodles. Meal for two- Rs. 900

Have a flavorsome life at DU!

Anubhav Sapra

http://www.delhifoodwalks.com

Posted on July 28, 2015

South Campus Food Joints

Compiled by Prakriti Bhat

Mithas, Anand Lok- Located bang opposite to Gargi College, this is one place you do not want to miss. A meal costs will cost you around 200 bucks and it’s definitely worth it. Their chilly garlic chowmein, sandwiches and burgers are a huge hit among the students here.

Diggin, Anand Lok- This fairyland is famed for its décor in not just south campus but all over Delhi. The slightly high prices won’t hurt you much given the prompt service, beautiful interiors and unique dishes. When here, ordering zucchini fries is a must. Meal for two- Rs 1200

34 Chowringhee Lane, Satyaniketan– Tracing its origins back to Kolkata, this franchise is known for its absolutely delectable tikka rolls and chicken egg roll. This branch is located right opposite to Venkateshwara College and is thronged by students who rush in for a quick bite. Meal for two- Rs. 300

QD’s, Satyaniketan– The first thing that comes to my mind is their gigantic tandoori momos, popular across the town. A MUST try. Chilly potatoes, chicken sandwich and shakes are some of the widely popular dishes here. It’s always crowded and that speaks volumes about its quality. Meal for two- Rs. 500.

Big Yellow Door- The quirky yellow door is sure to catch your eye. Bomb Chicken Burger, Cheesy Fries, Baked Nachos are some of the dishes students drool over. Don’t get disappointed by the waiting line. It’s worth a wait. You could also reserve a table in advance. Great place for birthday treats. Meal for two-Rs. 500

Bombay bhel puri wala, Outside LSR- A humble snack of Bhel Puri and Sev puri can do wonders for your rumbling tummy in between classes. Each of these dishes doesn’t more than 20 bucks which makes it an ideal place for grabbing a quick bite. Give in your spice preference and munch away to glory.

High on burgers (HOB), Satyaniketan– Situated opposite to Venkateshwara College, this place specializes in burgers and finger foods. Though the menu is quite short, it provides a wide variety of burgers. Try their Chicken sausage burger and Super Cheesy Burger. Meal for two-Rs. 250.

Idliss, Satyaniketan-This one is for all the Idli-Dosa lovers. The place serves authentic South Indian food with delicious chutney which will leave you asking for more. Rava Masala Dosa, Mysore Masala Dosa, Button Idli are the most ordered dishes here. A sumptuous meal for two will cost around 250 bucks.

Dude food-With a funky décor, Dude Food has a huge footfall. Awaken the dude and dudette in you with their juicy Dude Lamb burger, Dude Chicken Burger and Dude Chicken Pizza. And don’t forget to get clicked with the cool Einstein poster! Meal for two- Rs.700

Al bake, New Friends Colony– known for its lip smacking shawarmas, regulars will often coax others by saying, ‘yeh nahi khaya to kya khaya?’ Quick service and pocket friendly rates make it one of the best places to hog on shawarmas and other delicacies. Meal for two- Rs. 500

Chocolate Square, Satyaniketan– Best place to order birthday cakes and get them customized. Since this is quite close to south campus, it receives a lot of cake orders. It is loved for its desserts like chocolate balls, black forest cake and other pastries. Meal for two- Rs.300

Café 101, Satyaniketan– With a colourful décor and a vast menu ranging from juices to pastas and wraps, this place is a one stop shop for all your foodie desires. With over 30 varieties of pastas and 10 flavours of pizzas to choose from, this should definitely be on your list! Meal for two- Rs.650

Picco Licko, Satyaniketan-So you are done with your meal. What next? Of course dessert! To get some respite from this scorching heat, come here for a delicious scoop of ice cream and waffles. They have loads of variety. Slurp away! Meal for two-Rs. 300

College Canteens-The college canteens have their own gems of flavor. LSR’s café has its own signature dish-Chicken Tikka Rolls. Venky’s Masala Dosa and Idli with their superb chutney and sambar can be seen on many a table in the canteen. Similarly, Jesus and Mary College has it very own bhel puri and sev puri wala, a plate of which reminds you of saddi dilli’s street food.

Anubhav Sapra

http://www.delhifoodwalks.com

Posted on July 17, 2015 July 17, 2015

Ghaseeta Pehalwan Pakodewala

By Anubhav Sapra

It has been my observation that Pehalwans are generally obsessed with food. And due to this inclination, they turn out to be real food entrepreneurs. Majority of them have opened restaurants and food joints across Delhi. I remember, Pehalwan Lassi Wala in Vijay Nagar, who offers their patrons a big glass of lassi with a thick layer of cream on the top, at just Rs 25. I used to rush to him after examinations at Delhi University. The Lassi was the only respite from the hangover of reading political philosophers day and night. In addition to its cooling effects, it also causes drowsiness and made me sleep for hours after that.

At Churiwalan, in Old Delhi, Pehalwan’s Changezi Chicken is a well known name. The most famous Butter Chicken Shop in Matia Mahal, Aslam Chicken Corner is owned by Aslam Pehalwan. Another shop owned by a pehalwan in Old Delhi – Ghaseeta Pehalwan sells amazing pakodas. Recently, rains became an excuse for me to visit the pakoda shop to savour some Kalmi Vada Pakoda.

Making one’s way through Paranthewali gali, one can arrive at the junction called Tiraha of Gali Paranthewali, Nai Sadak and Kinari Bazar. There, at the corner of Gali Heeranand is a small shop which tends to attract everyone with the delectable aroma of freshly made pakodas. The shop is famously known as Rajesh Pakodewala where the portrait of Ghaseeta Pehalwan in his traditional attire hangs on its wall. He is the third generation owner of the shop. His grandfather, 70 years ago, was the purana ghaseeta pehalwan. Interestingly, he started a new venture along with his wrestling profession, which was the pakode ki dukaan.

I tried moong ki dal ke pakode and kalmi vada. Although the chaat of Kalmi Vada can be found at many chaat joints in Old Delhi, the kalmi vada pakoda is quite rare to find. All the doubts are laid to rest right from the first bite. It is prepared using urad dal, ginger, green chillies, black pepper and other important spices. Kalmi vade ke pakode are made from chana dal. You also get amazing mix pakodas, stuffed with aloo or gobi, at Rs 20 per plate.

The pakodas are served in a dona with dhaniya and amchur chutney and aloo ki sabzi, with a heady aroma of heeng. Heeng is widely used as a substitute for Onion in Old Delhi. So, the ingredients at Ghaseeta Pehalwan’s shop include no onion, no garlic. The pakodas were crisp and fried to perfection. The batter of chickpea flour with spices was a perfect concoction that can be relished at the Pehalwan’s shop.

If you know any food joint owned by a wrestler or a pehalwan, do write to us at delhifoodwalks@gmail.com

Anubhav Sapra

http://www.delhifoodwalks.com

Posted on June 30, 2015 June 30, 2015

11 Old Delhi Eateries You Must Not Miss This Ramzan

By Anubhav Sapra, Founder, Delhi Food Walks

Published in Huffington Post. Here is the link to the post- http://www.huffingtonpost.in/anubhav-sapra/11-musttry-iftar-eateries_1_b_7685156.html

In the holy month of Ramzan, Muslims from all over the world fast from dawn to dusk to come closer to God. Abstaining from food and drink during the day, the faithful Muslim may eat two meals a day – the pre-dawn suhoor and iftar at dusk.

During iftar, Old Delhi becomes a paradise for food connoisseurs. The lane opposite Jama Masjid – Bazar Matia Mahal – is filled with heady aromas from big heaps of keema samosas, vats of buffalo biryani, grilling botis and kebabs and hot paneer jalebi. To cool down, there are drums filled with Rooh Afza sherbet and dishes of dahi vada.

But with so many choices, where will you find the best feast? Here are 11 of my favourite iftar joints (some essentially nameless and known only by their specialities) in Bazar Matia Mahal.

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1. Kallan Sweets
Studded with framed newspaper cuttings of visits from India’s biggest chefs, Kallan Sweets overlooks one of the gates of Jama Masjid. Started by Mohd. Shaan in 1939, its doors stay open from 7am until midnight, with a break at 2pm to prepare a fresh batch of sweets and snacks for the evening. One of their specialties is the bright orange and thick paneer ki jalebi, which uses a cottage cheese paste in lieu of much of the flour that goes into the more common jalebi. It is extremely popular in Ramzan, along with other festive delicacies such askhoya samosa, keema samosa (shaped like gujiya and stuffed with minced meat) and paneer ke pakode.

Address: Shop no. 4-5, Jama Masjid, Gate no. 1, Matia Mahal.

2. Haji Mohd. Hussain Fried Chicken
Established 40 years ago, this shop has been dishing out fried chicken in Delhi far longer than KFC. I call it JFC – Jama Masjid Fried Chicken. The chicken is first marinated in different spices and chickpea batter, and then half-fried. For maximum crispness, the chicken is cut into small pieces to be fried in huge pan of boiling oil. The end result is crunchy outside, moist and tender inside. It comes served withrumali roti, onions and special tangy masala chutney.

During Ramzan, Haji sa’ab also sells keema goli, which are small balls made out of minced meat, and served with onion and chutney.

Address: 113, Bazar Matia Mahal, Jama Masjid.

3. Aslam Chicken Corner
This eatery is famed for its unique interpretation of the butter chicken, and has been a Walled City favourite for 18 years. The cooking technique includes a stint in the tandoor for the chicken before it is bathed in creamy gravy. The chicken pieces are first marinated in a special (and top secret!) combination of spices. A separate chulhas is used to heat large blocks of Amul butter which is then combined with 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 and cuts through the butter. The chicken is served in a steel container with a basket of rumali roti.

This Ramzan, Aslam Chicken Corner has also started offering chicken seekh kebabs, with a nice flavour of green chillies and Amul butter.

Address: 540, Bazaar Matia Mahal, Jama Masjid.

4. Kebabs at Qureshi, Lallu Kebabi, Bhaijaan And Kale Baba
The iftar feast is incomplete without kebabs. Right opposite Gate No. 1 Jama Masjid are two well known kebabchis famous for seekh andboti kebabs – Qureshi Kebab Corner and Lalu Kebabe. Both of them make excellent kebabs of buff smeared with Nutralite, onions, and spicy chutney.

The new entrant, Bhaijaan Kebabs in Chitli Qabar sells fibrous shammi kebabs deep fried in oil. Another kebab shop in Sui Walan, Kale Baba ke Kebabs, is popular for their sutli kebabs – these are so soft, they have to be held together with a twine of thread. You actually have to hold the thread tied over the kebab from one end, and it spreads on your plate, when unfolded. Sutli kebabs are served on a green leaf, with radish and mint chutney.

Addresses: Qureshi Kebab Corner and Lalu Kebabe, Opposite Gate No. 1, Jama Masjid; Bhaijaan Kebabs, Shop No. 2202, Bazar Chitli Qabar, Opp. Flora Bakery; Kale Baba ke Kebab, Sui Walan, Chitli Qabar.

5. Changezi Chicken
Originally established as Hotel Maidah in 1986, the name of the shop was changed to Changezi Chicken in 1990 after their signature dish. Changezi chicken is served in a tangy gravy of yogurt, tomatoes and onion. The chicken is roasted separately in a roast machine by l-Halabi, a brand established in Dubai, and then shredded into boneless pieces by hand before it is put in the gravy. This dish is the brainchild of the founder of the shop, Mohd. Fazil, the Mr Delhi of 1971! You can also have beef biryani, paya, nahari and a multitude of chicken preparations at the many branches of Changezi Chicken. The restaurant occupies a long stretch on Churi Walan Gali and buzzes with customers during Ramzan as it remains open from 6pm-midnight.

Address: 2614, Churi Walan Jama Masjid, Delhi-06 and 3614, Netaji Subhash Marg, Daryaganj.

6. Laung Churey Kebab
A small stall outside the Hamdard shop in Chitli Qabar sells something that vegetarians are delighted by: laung churey kebab, made from besan, aata and onion. There are three varieties – fried, kebabs which are soaked in water after frying and long vegetarian seekhs, all of which are made in a small shop nearby. These kebabs are served with chutney of red chillies, amchur, salt and garam masala. The shop was run for 15 years by Mujahid and his son Mohd. Nurshid took over six years ago. For Rs 20 a plate, this is one deal vegetarians cannot pass on.

Address: Outside Hamdard shop in Chitli Qabar, Jama Masjid.

7. Cool Point
Established 25 years ago by Muhammad Zahid, the place is currently managed by his son, Zohaib. Cool Point is mainly famous for its shahi tukda (bread deep fried in pure ghee and then dipped in thick cream and sugar syrup) and phirni (a mouthwatering dessert of milk and crushed rice served in clay containers). Cool Point is also known for its kesar milk, badam milk, lassi and mango and vanilla ice cream.

Address: 973, Bazar Matia Mahal, Jama Masjid.

8. Nawab Qureshi’s watermelon shake
A much frequented food cart or thela belongs to Nawab Qureshi, originally from Uttar Pradesh, who sells a refreshing drink during the hot summer months (he sells fruit in winter). Fondly called “Pyaar Mohabbat Mazaa” (affection, love, fun), this drink costs just ₹ 10 per glass, and is indeed filled with love and fun. The pink concoction is made from fresh Amul milk (cartons of which are stacked on top of each other in his cart) and Rooh Afza, a typical drink of the summers. Qureshi adds a twist to this by adding freshly cut watermelon cubes for crunch and a fresh taste.

Address: Pyaar Mohabbat Mazaa is available all summer long at Nawab Qureshi’s stall in front of 1149, Matia Mahal, near Jama Masjid, Delhi-110006.

9. Ameer Sweet House
Ameer Sweet House, decorated with pictures and framed articles about its founder, has been selling sweet and savoury food for about 100 years. Managed by Haji Zafruddin, the shop sells special dishes like keema and khoya samosa during Ramzan, from 4-7pm. You will find mouthwatering sweets like balushahi, besan ke laddu, chamcham and gulaab jamun , as well as chhole bhature and pakoras.

Address: 957, Haveli Azam Khan, Bazar Chitli Qabar, Jama Masjid.

10. Pehalwaan Biryaniwale
Pehalwaan Biryaniwale, also known as Biryani Mirch Masala, is right opposite Ameer Sweet House in Haveli Azam Khan. The owner, Haji Mohd. Anwar, opens up at 5pm and sells biryani right until 2am. He also sits outside in Chitli Qabar Chowk for an hour in the night. The meat, marinated in salt and chillies, is cooked separately and added to the rice. After adding masala, the dish is cooked on low heat (on dum) in a big tub covered with cloth. This type of biryani does not need complementary dishes like raita and the smell itself is enough to make your stomach growl.

Address: Shop no. 701, Haveli Azam Khan, Chitli Qabar, Jama Masjid.

11. Gur ka Sharbat at Pahadi Imli
A small shop in the corner of Moholla Pahadi Imli sells a novel and refreshing drink: gur ka sharbat. The jaggery is brought from Ajmeri Gate Market and is kept soaked in water in a big container. The brass spoon used to mix the two is as old as the shop itself, which was established in 1947. Akhil Ahmed, the son of a watch-seller in front of Fatehpuri Masjid, has seen the price of this drink go up from 1 paisa to ₹ 5 a glass. The shop opens at 8am and serves the drink until stocks last.

Address: Corner of Pahadi Imli, Chitli Qabar, Bazar Matia Mahal.

Pictures by: Yatin Arora, Kusha Saini

Delhi Food Walks organizes food expeditions to relish the food culture of Delhi and interact with the fellow food enthusiasts. For details, visit our Facebook page. And if you wish to join DFW’s Ramzan (Iftar/Sehri) Walk, e-mail us at delhifoodwalks@gmail.com.

Anubhav Sapra

http://www.delhifoodwalks.com

Posted on June 22, 2015

THE TOP 10 STREET FOOD DISHES OF DELHI AND WHERE TO FIND THEM

BY ANUBHAV SAPRA

1. Samosas

Photo: Anubhav Sapra

Kachoris are made of white flour dough stuffed with a mixture of lentil paste and spices. This mix is fried and served with hot and spicy potato curry. Kachoris are usually served with tamarind sauce or coriander mint sauce, but some vendors serve them with a delicious mix of potato curry with asafetida in a slightly large amount.

Where to find the best ones?

Old Delhi has the best kachori joints in the city:
Jang Bahadur kachori wala in Maliwara.
Narayan das Halwai in Khari Baoli.

*THIS ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED IN MATADOR NETWORK ON JUNE 16, 2015. HERE IS THE LINK TO THE ARTICLE- http://matadornetwork.com/pulse/top-ten-street-food-dishes-delhi-find/

Anubhav Sapra

http://www.delhifoodwalks.com

Posted on June 11, 2015 June 11, 2015

Brahmputra Market Street Food

Brahmaputra Market : the combination of chalk and cheese

By Priyanka Sharma

Brahmaputra Market, situated in Sector 29, Noida perceived as the “mini Chandni Chowk” by many is the quintessence of a food paradise. A large number of street food vendors dot the market place, so that you cannot step out of the area without pleasing your taste buds. This place is never without people at any point of the day. So if you are in a mood of munching something? Or not? This place is definitely going to get you spoilt for choice.

BP, as people call it in short, satisfies all sorts of cravings and serves a variety of food, be it spicy, tangy, sweet, hot, cold, frozen, healthy, unhealthy, north Indian, south Indian or Chinese, the list just doesn’t end. Alongside, there are numerous medicine shops, stationary shops, garments stores, grocery stores, vet clinic and various other doodah. Being from Noida, I’ve been more than a regular visitor of this market, and even after being a vegetarian, I’ve never been bored or exhausted by this place because of the variety it serves. There are a few grubs that should definitely be tried in BP :

Dahi waale gol gappe from Agra chat bhandar are an absolutely perfect means to soothe your palate. These dahi puris are crisp spheres or puris filled with chopped boiled potato, and onion, fresh curd, imli (red), and coriander (green) chutney, topped with sev, spices, coriander and pomegranate. Generously filled with curd of perfect consistency and freshness, crisp puris, spices and lots of sev topping is what makes this preparation worth trying. Traditionally, one of these is served to people after they are finished having pani puris. You shouldn’t be surprised if the bhaiya, while serving you the dahi puri asks you “ise tode bina khaana” because well, that’s what the rule is which is pretty interesting. (Contact number:9958981489; Cost for two: Rs 100)

Lakshmi Café House is a treasure in the centre of the market. You can sit here and guzzle some delicious variety of south Indian cuisine, especially filter coffee. Do try their fried idli that they serve only on Tuesdays. The food here won’t leave a hole in your pocket.(Contact number: 9863994444; Cost for two: Rs 300)

There are numerous ‘not to be missed’ dig – ins too, like Lucknow Zaika veg kabab plate, that’ll cost you Rs. 50. Different stalls for veg and non-veg kababs (cost for two – Rs. 100) are available. Kapoor’s balle balle will serve you the best butter chicken, which will be a treat for all the diehard non vegetarians (cost for two – Rs. 450). Now if the spices get you all sobbing and sniffling, we have Baba Kulfi Bhandar for you; if you have been crying out for sweetness, a Kesar pista kulfi will cost you Rs. 20, and Rabri falooda Rs. 40 (contact – 8800489401). If your health concerns interfere in this tasting spree then you can hit the Bhola juice corner that will serve your purpose with super – fresh fruit and vegetable juices, and toothsome shakes. Their khajoor shake which is worth trying is a unique mixture of khajoor and milk which is unbelievably delightful (cost for two – 120).

Happy tasting spree!

Anubhav Sapra

http://www.delhifoodwalks.com

Posted on June 7, 2015

Bhaiya Lal’s Pineapple Burfi

By Anubhav Sapra

Being a self confessed sweets addict, I am constantly looking out for sweet shops. Some of my favorite sweet shops in Chandni Chowk are – Chaina Ram in Fatehpuri Chowk for Karanchi halwa and sev badam, Hajari Lal Jain in Kinari Bazar for rabri and khurchan, Ghantewala near Fountain Chowk for sohan halwa, Tewari brothers near Town Hall for motichur ke laddu, Annapurna Sweets opposite Seeshganj Gurudwara for Bengali sweets and of course, Dariba Kalan’s famous jalebi.

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I was walking down the Dariba street when I spotted a mithai wala selling varieties of colorful mithais beautifully decorated with chandi vrak in separate trays. These trays were laid on the stairs of one of the Jewellery shops in Dariba Kalan. The owner, Naresh Kumar evenly spread sheets of edible chandi varak over the sweets, sprinkled pistachios burada, and covered the sweets with nets to keep flies away.

Naresh Kumar sells the sweets opposite Gali Kunjas in Dariba Kalan between Ramtaur Jewellers and Swastik Jewellers shop from 5 pm onwards. He learnt the art of making sweets from his father, who is well-known as Bhaiya lal. Bhaiya lal started the sweet shop in his name in 1936 at Shop no. 3459, Hauz Qazi, Subzi Market and Naresh Kumar took over in 1962. He has been selling the same variety of sweets.

The menu consists of Bengali mithai – Rasbhari, Parmal stuffed with khoya, cham cham, lauki burfi, Pineapple burfi, nariyal burfi. All the sweets are prepared in a more or less similar way – with khoya as the main ingredient. All of them costs Rs 400/- kg. The sweets are weighed by using a tarazu (balance scale).

What intrigued me most was the Pineapple burfi, which I had tasted for the first time at this sweets shop. It turned out to be excellent because it was just the right amount of sweet. It was prepared adding pineapple syrup to roasted khoya.Another Bengali sweet, Rasbhari which are small rasgullas were different from the ones we usually get. Rasbhari was not soaked in sugar syrup, it was dry from the outside and the centre was filled with thickened sugar syrup so that as soon as one bites into it their mouth fills with the sweet syrup. Other sweets, cham cham, lauki burfi, and nariyal burfi were equally amazing.

I am delighted to add Bhaiya Lal’s sweets to my list of favorite Sweets shops in Chandni Chowk!

Anubhav Sapra

http://www.delhifoodwalks.com

Posted on May 31, 2015 June 7, 2015

Sardar ji ke Poori choley

By Anubhav Sapra

Despite the proximity of Daryaganj to Chawri Bazar and Chandni Chowk, the way food is prepared in these areas differ. While the food is mildly spiced in Daryaganj, in Delhi 6 it is hot and high on spices. Delhi Food Walks conducted its Sunday breakfast walks in these three places, and the highlight of the one at Daryaganj was Sardar ji’s Chole poori.

The shop was started by late Nand Singh ji and is currently being run by his son Kuku Singh. Originally from Rawalpindi, the family migrated to Delhi after the partition and shifted the shop to the current address on Ansari Road, Daryaganj, twelve years back. One can identify the shop by the board outside which reads, “Jeha Caterers” however the shop is well – known as Sardar ji ke poori choley ki dukan in Daryaganj.

At Sardarji’s shop, the menu changes as the day progresses. It starts with Poori Sabzi, offers rajma and kadi chawal in the afternoon and in the evening serves traditional snacks such as – samosa, kachori and jalebi.

This famous Sardar ji’s shop is proud of serving Punjabi poori. It is different from the regular Bedmi poori available in other places in Old Delhi. The dough of Bedmi poori, is made up of wheat and is coarse in texture. Whereas, the dough of Sardar ji’s punjabi poori is a mixture of wheat flour, white flour, ghee and salt. It is stuffed with urad dal ki pitthi (paste of yellow lentils), saunf (fennel seeds), jeera (cumin seeds), red chilies and the hing ka paani (asafetida water) and is deep fried in oil. The mixture of all the spices especially hing leaves the poori light and crisp and does not have any after effects like heart burn.

The aloo chole sabzi is mild in spices without onion, garlic and tomatoes. The sabzi is cooked in curd with masalas. The gravy of the sabzi is thick in texture and simply outstanding in taste : not too spicy, not too bland.

A plate of poori sabzi is accompanied with sitaphal ka achar (pumpkin pickles), sliced onions and methi ki chutney (fenugreek chutney). In winters, the pickles served are of gobhi and gajar (cauliflower and carrots). The pickles are also mild and light flavoured.

Apart from Poori choley, Sardarji’s shop also offers sweet malai lassi which is served in a kulhad and besan ke laddu. You can wash down the Poori choley with these if you find it spicy.

Cost of one plate Poori choley : Rs 30

Contact number of the shop owner : 9717031008

Anubhav Sapra

http://www.delhifoodwalks.com

Posted on May 9, 2015

Desi Roots

By Anubhav Sapra

There are very few restaurants in Delhi which have a “pull” factor. Desi Roots seems to be one of them. It is delightful how the dishes are experimented with and yet have their “desipan” intact. Its ambience which has already been talked about a lot is worth mentioning here for its creativity and how it instills a re-learning of the childhood days. It does make you observe how things have changed since then.

Here, you will be greeted with the relaxing sound of a bell. The ambience reminds you of your past especially if you were born in the late ’70s or the ’80s. The wall is painted beautifully with children’s games – which today seem to have been lost somewhere – like lattu, kancha, stapu and many others. I can associate with this very well; I remember how I used to play lattu the whole day under the scorching sun outside my house. Another corner of this place has a trunk that consists of comics like Champak and Chacha Choudhary. Reminding me of my early days again, it gives me immense pleasure to share it here that I had a large number of comics which I used to lend to my friends. I acted like a little librarian, keeping records in a notebook. On the other side of the café, are big milk cans, a sewing table, a coal iron, a headlight of “Humara Bajaj” scooter- all bound to make one nostalgic.

Coming to food, Desi Roots has an interesting desi menu with a modern twist. The guests are treated to a complimentary medu-vada, which is a dal pakoda served with coconut and mint chutney. It is important to mention here that the staff was very welcoming. Personally, what matters to me more than the food is the warmth with which it is served. On the recommendation of the chef, I started with lamb galauti paate with ulte tawe ka parantha. The galauti kebabs are grounded in to a spreadable paste. Galauti which means ‘melt-in-mouth’ comes with a twist where you relish a ‘bite-sized ulte tawe ka parantha’ with its pate and mint chutney, topping it with some spiced onions for an extra edge.

After this I had chipotle chicken tikka with avocado raita. The dish was served over a smoldering bed of iron. This was simply delicious; succulent pieces of chicken were perfectly marinated. This was served with thick avocado raita. I was amazed to see ‘kulle ki chaat’ on their menu. This chaat is an Old Delhi specialty and you get it only at a couple of places in Chawri Bazaar, the most famous ones being Hira Lal Chaat Corner and Jugal Kishore Ram ji Chaat Corner. I had the kulles of cucumber and watermelon which were no less than the ones you get in Old Delhi. The kullas were filled with masaledaar chickpeas; the tinge of lemon juice to it was just perfect. I also had deconstructed samosa with aam papad chutney, served with a golgappa. It had four layers of papdi filled with cooked potatoes, dry mango sauce, sev, yoghurt and pomegranate seeds. However, I did not like this dish much.

In the main course, came a mini toy truck loaded with Ambala Cantt. mutton curry accompanied with tikona parantha, mukka pyaaz with lemon and kumquat achar. I was disappointed with the quality of the mutton since it was a bit chewy for me. However, the curry was flavorful and the paranthas were amazing with their apparent soft and triangular layers. In the vegetarian section, the chef served four different varieties of khichdi – classic, juvar, quinoa, and bajra, in small clay pots and mini pressure cookers. All of them were mild in flavor and tasted more like ghar ka khaana. It was delicious!

In the desserts, I was served “Jamaulddin ki kheer” famously known as “Bade Miya ki kheer”. Every morning, kheer is sourced from Jamulddin’s shop in Lal Kuan to Saket and served cold. Another dessert which had a nice twist to it was badam halwa– baklava with shrikhand. Shrikhand was sweet and sour in taste and went well with the badam halwa.

Overall, it is a great place to be at where eating is such a visual treat. Treat yourselves with Ambala Cantt. mutton curry, chicken tikka, and the varieties of dishes along with the ambience which is ought to take you down the memory lane.

Address: G-16, Ras Villas Mall, Saket.

Meal for two: ₹ 1200.

Anubhav Sapra

http://www.delhifoodwalks.com