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BURRABAZAR FOOD WALK

 

The neighbourhood of Burrabazar is a prominent trading hub of Kolkata. We were there for a quick food walk during our Kolkata visit. On reaching here we were greeted by narrow lanes lined with old old, unkempt buildings and filled with a jostling crowd consisting of porters, traders, businessmen, shoppers etc. The place has countless wholesale shops, selling everything from textile to pharmaceuticals. Despite all this commotion, this famous shopping destination, has evolved into a popular street food destination as well. The food available in and around here is mostly native to the Sindhi and Marwari community that settled here in late nineteenth centuries after a section of them migrated to Kolkata. So come let’s see what all dishes did we try during this evening food tour across this stretch

 

We began with Kandoi Sweets, an old establishment that sells a wide array of authentic Gujarati snacks and sweets that is less available in other parts of the city. Here we tried the Gulaab Pak, a rose flavoured burfi and Urad dal ladoo, a wintertime special sweet whose base ingredient is Urad dal. The former one had a strong taste of rose that came from the rose petals used in the preparation of the burfi.

While moving to our next destination Jain Bros, we stopped by a roadside vendor to bite into some juicy pieces of Jicama which is known as Shank Aloo in Bengali. The fruit was very refreshing.

At Jain Bros we tried some green peas kachori with a thick and spicy potato curry. The sweetness of the peas infused a delightful flavour to the combo. The place is so popular that it is frequented by generations that too from different corners of the city.

 

After that quick grab we tasted some luscious carrot halwa from the adjacent shop named Panditji Halwa Wale. The unique thing about this halwa was the slight burnt flavour that came from the halwa that had stuck to the sides of the kadhai while being cooked. It is available only during the winters.

The next destination was another popular snacks shop named Ambika Bhujiyawala. They had a huge range of snacks and sweets. We decided to try their crisp and flaky onion kachori that had a spicy onion and besan (chickpea flour) filling. Along with three kinds of chutneys it was a treat.

After that spicy stuff it was time to try some sweet treats. Hence we stopped by Gopal Kulfiwala for some traditional kulfi. It is not the regular brick and mortar eatery but a makeshift stand on which Gopal bhai had set up all his containers and bottles. This kulfi was quite decent.

Continuing with the sweet trail, we reached Kaligodam, an old sweet shop famous for it’s boondis and ladoos. The sight of the freshly made golden orange boondis made us salivate. We grabbed a small helping of this traditional sweet and tried it with savoury sev. The boodis were yummy.

 

Next destination was Yadav Milk Supply shop that is known for their pure milk and malai based products. Our pick was a classic unsweetened malai roll that was definitely a treat for a dairy product enthusiasts like us.

The stroll down this lane led to Badri Kachori wala, a favourite joint for all kachori lovers over here. Their’s one was a spicy yet hearty combination of khasta kachori topped with besan potato curry and sev.

From there we went to try the Mihidana ladoos from Tiwari Sweets. The desi ghee ladoos were fresh, soft, greasy and luscious. Furthermore we couldn’t resist ourselves from trying a plateful of kulfi falooda. The drizzle of rose syrup on the top just elevated the lusciousness to the next level.

A few steps ahead we beheld a snacks seller who was doling out bhujiya mix to the shopkeepers and traders over there. We tried some of this mixture and realised how light and zesty it was. This inexpensive munchies was fun.

From there we headed on to check out the regular meal thali at a old Gujarati Basa. Basa is like a mess that serves no onion garlic, home style meals to many locals who don’t have the luxury to savour a home cooked meal. The food here was very basic but quite wholesome.

We wrapped up the tour with a glass of hot milk from Bansilaal Sharma. It’s consumed for health benefits. Since we had it quite late in the evening, the milk that we got to drink was the portion that had thoroughly reduced due to continuous boiling. As a result it had become dense and sweet.

It was a hectic yet gratifying food tour.

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Kuremal Mohanlal Kulfiwale

Kulfi, a typical Indian frozen dessert which needs no occasion to be relished. Me and my friends were wandering in old delhi in search of the best kulfi and had to stop by Kuremal Mohanlal Kulfiwale in Chawri Bazar.

The iconic Kulfi shop prepares delicious kulfis inside whole fruits. Is it fruit or kulfi? That’s one question that keeps everyone wondering as they indulge in this lovely concoction at this shop in Old Delhi.

Kuremal Family have been serving quality Kulfi, since 1908. It was founded by Pandit Kuremal, he learned the art of making Kulfi from a Old Delhi’s Halwai at the age of 14. He started his business on the cart with two basic flavours i.e. Mango and Plain Rabri Kulfi and expanded his business gradually with time.

Today their family owns two shops with name of Kuremal Mahavir Prasad Kulfi Wale, and Kuremal Mohan Prasad Kulfi Wale in the same street of Kucha Pati Ram. The outlet might be a basic one, but the preparations are mouth-watering. They have a variety of kulfis on their menu including milk based and juice based kulfis.

When we asked for their specialty, we were served a nicely-cut plate of stuffed-mango kulfi . Stuffed Mango Kulfi is one of their best sellers and the way of serving the kulfi is quite interesting. They use Alphonso mangoes for this delicious treat. The process is not simple as it is made by deseeding a whole mango which is then filled with Rabri and Plain kulfi. After the frozen process over, its skin is peeled away and served to the customers waiting in the queue.

This place serves more than 30 varieties of kulfis, which are broadly divided among Rabri Kulfi cream, Kulfi Julpeps, Tila Kulfi, Stuffed Kulfi, and some other specialties. These kulfis are not just loved by Delhiites but are a nation-wide rage.

The sweet delicacy is a must have in Delhi’s scorching summer. So what are you waiting for? head to this amazing shop today!

 

Location : Shop No. 1165- 66 Chawri Bazar, Sitaram Bazar Road, Kucha Pati Ram, Old Delhi, New Delhi, Delhi 110006

Cost for two : Rs 200 (Approx)

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Select CITYWALK, My Square- the Food Court

Select CITYWALK, My Square- the Food Court

By Anubhav Sapra

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The temperature in Delhi has touched another high of 45.5 degrees. In this heat wave, the best place to relish the different varieties of food is at My Square, the food court in Select CITYWALK, Saket.

The interiors are nicely done with the Happily Unmarried store greeting the food lovers with its quirky and funny gifts. The food court is surrounded by the food stalls with the beverages and dessert section at the centre. The seating arrangements are well laid and quite comfortable. An area is marked for performances, where the food can be relished with a dose of entertainment.

Although not functional, the food court is set to attach an i pad to each table where the menu will be listed and the orders and payment can be made right there instead of standing in the queue. I got my My Square card recharged and explored the food court which has something to satisfy the taste buds of everyone across different age groups. From North Indian, Italian, Mexican to South Indian, the variety of delicacies on offer is huge.

The iconic and the best South Indian restaurant in Delhi, Sarvana Bhawan has opened its third outlet in Select City Walk after Connaught place and Janpath. The prices and quality of food is outstanding. The North Indian, Punjabi cuisine restaurant Pind Baluchi has good thali options.

The New York Style, wood fired, create your own customized Pizza at Fat Lulu and Mediterranean inspired Pita Pit’s healthy sandwiches are popular for quick food. For calorie conscious people, Lean Chef has an interesting menu. The calories of all the dishes are listed – from no oil, no fat veggie burger (387 Kcal) to chicken hummus burger (480 Kcal).

Moving from the low calories food at the Lean Chef one can find The Toddy Shop where the food is rich in calories. The menu at The Toddy Shop has been curated from the Chef’s family kitchen, old Syrian Christian households, and from Hindu and Muslim hearths across Kerala.

The other food joints in the food court are Rrala’s Habibi, Lebanese and Moroccan specialty and the famous Mexican grill – Mex it up. At the corner of the food court is a food truck- Wanchai by Kylin serving the most famous street food of Delhi, Momos, noodles and other bowl meals.

For street food lovers, SS on the go has Chowpatty Pav bhaji, Bombay Sev puri and Purani Dilli’s famous breakfast dish Bedmi aloo and Chole bhature.

At the centre is a beverage, desserts and candies section. There is Refuel to fuel your body with shakes, smoothies and fresh juices, The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf serves beverages that is going to rejuvenate one’s soul in the heat waves of Delhi.

My Square also has a variety of option for desserts and sweets. Kulfiano with 20 stick kulfis are there to complement with freshly made gelatos at gelato Italiano. The must try at gelato Italiano are Madagascar fine chocolate, New York Cheese cake and Royal Kulfi. SS on the go serves the decent paan kulfi.

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.
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Pabrai’s Fresh and Naturelle

                                             May 16, 2014

 Pabrai’s Fresh and Naturelle

                        By Anubhav Sapra

 

After a long stressful day at work, coming back home and switching on the TV to see the same old rhetoric by political parties can make life despairing. However, a visit to an ice-cream parlor can rejuvenate the senses beyond measure. I realized this when I was invited to review different varieties of ice-cream at Pabrai’s Fresh and Naturelle at Connaught Place. The outlet is opposite to Haldiram’s in outer circle, near Bhape da Hotel. The franchise is owned by Mr. Harsh ( Cell no. . 9582812144) There is another outlet of Pabrai’s in East Patel Nagar, run by Mr. Harsh’s son-in-law, Anujeet Singh.

Bubblegum 2This Kolkata-based ice-cream parlor was founded in 2008 and has 28 outlets across India.The brand claims to deliver natural ice-creams without any artificial essence or added colours. The ice-cream is procured from Kolkata by Rajdhani Express twice a week. In fresh fruit flavors, I tasted Watermelon, Musk Melon, Chikoo fruit, Tender Coconut, Anjeer and Alphonso mango. They also have the kind of flavors that, regardless of our age, can make our heart pine for- Bubblegum and Banana Toffee.  But the ones I liked the most were Pabrai’s Nolen Gur, Chandan, South Indian Coffee and Toasted Almond. The scoops are priced between Rs. 39 and Rs. 129 (excluding taxes), and tubs (500 ml) between Rs. 222.220 and Rs. 417.780.

NGPicPabrai’s Nolen Gur ice-cream is served with real nolengur (a variety of molasses) and has chunks of jaggery in it. It is a treat to the taste buds. I enjoyed it thoroughly. The South Indian Coffee has the taste of strong filter coffee, popular in South India. The owner informed us that this flavor has seen an increase in demand since the time it was introduced.

All in all, I would definitely recommend this parlor. It certainly is worth a visit. After all they do have an impressive clientele -The Park, Sheraton, Taj and many others.

 

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.