south delhi – Delhi Food Walks

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

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 June 5, 2015 June 5, 2015

Barcelos

By Prakriti Bhat

Amongst the swarm of eating joints in Khan Market is debutante Barcelos which opened on 26^th February, 2015 under Mr. Costa Maziz. It is situated opposite Café Turtle and is adjacent to the Chinese restaurant Soy, so locating it is not at all a problem. Like the other restaurants in this area, Barcelos too is situated atop a narrow staircase. Delhi has a lot of options for Italian and other such cuisines but this restaurant promises a completely different experience by bringing the Afro-Portuguese cuisine to your plate at a reasonable cost. The food chain which began in 1993 in South Africa has now a strong foothold in over 17 countries and continues to spread its charm worldwide.

Barcelos is named after a Portuguese town. The logo of this franchise is a red rooster which can be seen on the headboard, the dips bottles and even on the miniature flags stuck on the burgers. It is also a famous symbol in this Portugal town. It is called o galo de Barcelos (the rooster of Barcelos). Legend has it that once a pilgrim was accused of stealing from a wealthy landowner. He was sent to court where the judge sentenced him to death despite his repeated protests of innocence. The judge was about to eat a rooster at that time when the pilgrim, as a last attempt to save himself said, “if I am innocent, the rooster will begin to crow”. Just when the piligrim was about to be hung, the rooster started crowing and he was set free.

The ambience is good. Walls are covered with maps, making it look like a scene out of geography class. Potted plants lend a very naturalistic feel. The interiors are quite simple, nothing out of the world as such. The food is presented well and the quantity is quite generous. The most popular dish here is the Black Burger. The black buns are prepared from some special herbs and permissible food colour in the U.S.A. The bun does not taste any different from the other regular ones, it’s just the colour that makes it special. The Chicken Black Burger has a huge and well marinated chicken fillet, lettuce and tomatoes. It is a delicious treat for the soul. The staff notes down your spice preference and makes the burger accordingly.

Chicken Picantte is a dish of chicken breast grilled with Peri Peri sauce. Perhaps one of the best grilled chicken I have had; neither very soft nor very hard. It is served with a bowl of Coleslaw or any other side dish of your choice from the menu, and potato wedges. The coleslaw is prepared exceedingly well. The Vegetarian Trinchado was a dish of yellow rice served with a bowl of vegetable gravy consisting of bell peppers, onions, tomatoes and paneer. The rice had a lemony flavor. Vegetarian sizzler came with spicy rice, grilled vegetables and potato cutlets in a smoky avatar. Amongst the mocktails, Minty Balst is a refreshing cooler. It’s like a semi-frozen version of the regular mojito.

The staff is very courteous and service is quite prompt. They take care of individual spice preferences. African music plays in the background but it’s a bit too loud making it a little difficult to hold conversations. Also they could probably play some popular songs in between which would make the crowd feel at home. “There are a lot of Italian, Chinese and Mexican food joints in the city. Barcelos introduces a completely different range of flavours. The Black Burger is just one of the many surprises that we have in store for our customers. We will be introducing new dishes after a span of every 3-4 months”, says Mr. Kuldeep, manager of the Khan Market outlet. The franchise is expected to expand itself as they hope to open about 8-10 branches by the end of 2015.

With its authentic cuisine and gastronomic delicacies, it seems like Barcelos is here to stay!

Cost for 2- Rs. 1000

Address- Shop 57, Khan Market, New Delhi

Phone no.- 01133105219

Anubhav Sapra

http://www.delhifoodwalks.com

Posted on April 18, 2015

The Potbelly Rooftop Café

TUMMY-LICIOUS

By Prakriti Bhat

Shahpur Jat is gaining recognition because of the numerous boutiques mushrooming in that area which spoil you for choice. Till a few years ago, it was not a well known place but these glamorous boutiques have definitely made it a popular shopping destination. It is common to spot people hopping from one outlet to another. It is close to Hauz Khas metro station. Amongst these clusters of boutiques lies a quaint little café atop a spiraling flight of stairs-The Potbelly Rooftop Café. It is not easy to find the place but a visit is worth the effort.

Pooja Sahu, the owner, used to work as a designer. Bored of her job, she decided to open a café which would bring the flavours of Bihar to the common Delhite’s plate. Therefore, she picked up her mother’s recipes and The Potbelly Rooftop Café was opened in Shapur Jaat four years ago. The place received a positive response from people. “We wanted to call it ‘Petoo’s’ originally but then settled for ‘Potbelly’. Our main focus is quality food. It was totally an experimental venture but the response has been amazing.” About 2 months ago, another branch in Chanakyapuri was opened owing to its grand success at the original branch.

The café is situated on the fourth floor for which you have to climb an arduous set of narrow stairs. The moment you reach the top floor, you will realize that all those stairs weren’t for nothing. The eclectic decor will sap away all that tiredness. The interiors are vibrant and homely. The makers seem to have put a lot of attention into even the smallest details. The chairs are a plain white decorated with different colours of cloth or strings. The lanterns are made with glasses which hold the bulbs and are decorated with colourful strings. The napkin holders are made of terracotta with simple designs painted on them. The walls are adorned by empty frames with beautiful and aesthetic designs. The ceiling is not a regular white washed wall but a bamboo-like structure which give the place a very rustic but charming appeal.

The place serves Bihari cuisine. The menu offers regional starters like Pakora Basket, Sabudana Basket, Baggia Basket, Keema Ghoogni Fry and Pothia Machli Fry. Main course offerings like Litti Chokha, Maithili Thali and Dehati Fish n Chips are popular here. Most of the dishes are served in terracotta bowls. Pakora Basket has an assortment of Pakoras with green chutney and tomato chutney. Baggia Basket is a very unique dish. These are rice flour pockets stuffed with spicy Chana Daal. The surface is a bit hard but not much. It can easily be cut using a spoon or fork. They are served with red and green chutney. This dish comes in two terracotta bowls joined by a handle. The presentation is excellent and has a rural touch to it.

Litti Chokha is probably the only Bihari dish most have us have heard of. The crust was scrumptious but the stuffing was a bit sticky. It is served along with Chana Daal, spicy mashed potato and mashed brinjals. Fish and chips of English origin are given a Bihari tadka with Dehati Fish n Chips. Also, don’t miss the Keema Aloo Chop. It is a combination of minced meat and potato cutlets served on a bun with chutneys and mouthwatering Sabudana Pakoras. The Golmirch Chicken is a meal in itself. The Chicken cooked in lip-smacking gravy is served with the good old Lachha Parathas. Their Mirch Masala lemonade is the perfect thirst quencher and the Oreo Shake is a super-hit with the customers. The staff is quite gracious and the prices are economical.

The Potbelly Rooftop Café stands apart due to its quirky theme. Delhi offers cuisines from all over India and the world. There are several Chinese, European, Mediterranean, Italian restaurants which open the window to global cookeries. Also, there are restaurants serving South Indian, Maharashtrian, Bengali, Rajasthani, Parsi, Punjabi and Gujarati food. However, very rarely do we find a place that serves kosher Bihari food and that too at a nominal rate. Our knowledge of Bihari cuisine is usually restricted to only Litti Chokha. Potbelly Rooftop Café has brought out this long forgotten cuisine to life by not falling prey to foreign influences and sticks only to Bihari food.

A Chinese or Italian restaurant can easily attract crowd because people are constantly looking for global cuisines to try in the city. There’s a famous saying, “ghar ki murgi daal barabar”. But to open a place like this and embrace our own culture is something that ought to be appreciated. More places like these should be established to whip out the lesser known traditional delicacies. Their branch in Chanakyapuri is probably more accessible than the one in Shahpur Jaat. However, those stairs at Shahpur Jaat are a great way to boost your appetite!

Location- 116 C, 4^th floor, Shahpur Jat, New Delhi,

Cost for 2- 800 (approx)

Contact no.- 01141612048, 9811122764

Anubhav Sapra

http://www.delhifoodwalks.com

Posted on February 13, 2015

Bulldogs

By Anubhav Sapra

I got a chance to visit the recently opened lounge, Bulldogs, in Hauz Khas Village and try out their unique delicacies. Bulldogs is spread over three levels, each one having its own unique characteristic. The first level is a bed lounge with lower seating, the second level is a sofa lounge, and the third level is the terrace, quite closer to the sky. I seem to have been dating the stars, that day. Indeed, it was a great feeling to be close to nature. Bulldogs also has the unique concept of a ‘drink exchange game’, a guest driven, all day long, happy hour where the prices rise or crash and one can buy drinks at literally rock bottom prices. Sounds interesting! Though, it is quite an audacious attempt for one who risks it.

The music was at its peak at the bed and the sofa level. For those who enjoy loud music, it seems to be a treat. However, I prefer it to be mild. On request, they lowered down the pitch at the terrace level. As I seemed to be alone at the level, it worked for me. I found myself a comfortable sofa with a bonfire stand besides it. It was quite a pleasant feeling. The staff was warm and welcoming and would do their best to make you feel at home.

I was overwhelmed to meet the chef there, Mr. Yograj Chauhan. ‘Humble’ would be just the right adjective for him. The chef graciously introduced me to some of the most exotic dishes on their menu. The chef first served me with a platter of short dogs, which are basically bite-sized hot dogs. I tried some vegetarian and non-vegetarian ones, a few of them being: mutton seekh, murgh malai tikka, butter chicken. The buns were soft and the fillings were excellent in taste. If you are fond of mushrooms, try the short dog laden with cheese and mushroom. It was simply the best! I enjoyed every bite of the short dogs I had. If you ask for a platter, you are free to choose any four short, hot dog fillings based on your taste preferences.

In Bulldog’s Quick Bites menu, I had stuffed cheese mushrooms (crispy fried mushroom stuffed with cheese), chicken popcorns (crumb fried chicken pieces), fish sticks (crispy breaded fish served with tartar sauce). All the dishes in the Quick Bites menu were delectable except the seekh kebabs which were a bit dry for me. In the main course, I could only try the juicy and succulent pork chops, marinated with Italian herbs and served with mashed potatoes, as I was already too full.

Desserts are a must for me, even with a full stomach. I had an apple pie and a choco lava cake with vanilla ice cream. I enjoyed the apple pie, usually not found so easily. The menu has a long list of interesting dishes in the main course like lemon butter fish (pan fried sole in lemon butter sauce), spicy tiger prawns (tiger prawns marinated with chillies, and served with crispy rice, salad and thyme veloute sauce) and stuffed chicken breast (chicken breast stuffed with spinach, cheese, jalapeno, served with lyonnaise potato and salad). As the quick bites were excellent, I am sure the rest of the main course would be amazing too. I am now planning to go back to try them all soon.

Address: Bulldogs: T – 6B, 2nd, 3rd & 4th Floor, Hauz Khas Village, New Delhi-110016

For reservations and enquiries: +91.9810004215 / +91.9810102306 / +91.9810088667 / +91.11.43524216

Timings: 12:00 Noon – 12:30 AM

Meal for 2: Rs.800 ++ (Without Alcohol) & Rs.1200 ++ (with Alcohol)

Anubhav Sapra

http://www.delhifoodwalks.com