Posted on

Bombay ‘ishtyle’ Chaat

Bhelpuri

Bombay ‘ishtyle’ Chaat

By Navani Satija, Delhi food walks

SO, now if I go around asking most of my fellow DU-ites about where do they head for a daily ‘let’s-have-a-snack’ break? It is most obvious that that I’d be greeted with peevish faces (primarily because of their slog routine!). But, when it comes to the all girls’ college with the most gorgeous crowd across DU, all the cheerless faces disappear. And here’s where the most loved BOMBAY BHEL PURI right outside Lady Shri Ram College For Women comes into the picture.

On being told that something would be published about his daily job, its back bone, the proud owner Shri Yaad Ram instantly said he’s been running this food point (portable that too!) from 11.00 am- 5.00 pm every day for the past 25 years and is still going strong. That’s not just it; this irresistible range of chaats can also be savoured at Central Market, Lajpat Nagar after 6.00 pm every day.

Unlike other chaat walas, Yaad Ram Ji has kept his menu short and sweet (rather tangy) limiting it to only three dishes that he offers. Undoubtedly, all three are ‘must haves’. Starting with the first one, his speciality among the three and most popular among the Elsa crowd is the BOMBAY BHEL PURI. It is an extreme blend of chutneys along with generous use of onion and coriander which make it look and taste like a Bhel puri in actuality.

Next is the Elsa crowd’s second most favourite; the SEV PURI. This too is a sweet-savoury combo with lots of onion & sev (which is the prime characteristic of Sev puri). And the last but not the least, is the Jhal moori. Less popular among the Elsa chaat aficionados but never the less, it’s definitely worth a try. It’s a dry combo of puffed rice, peanuts, etc. as against the other two items. Here, Yaad ram ji adds that the “2 teaspoons of touch of oil enhances its flavour, but, the health conscious LSR girls avoid it.”

Very reasonably priced at Rs. 20 per item, it will make you forget the lavish gourmet, you spend your bucks on. So, take out time from your slog schedule and head for a “let’s-have-a-snack” break to jerk your taste buds.

Cheers! Happy eating!

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.
Posted on

WHEN THE TONGUES ROLL-UP

1234991_528825600524716_1762212427_n (1)

While Lucky Bhaiyya is busy chopping onions and preparing chicken pieces in an erudite manner, his brother Amit gets the sauces and ingredients out on the stand for the evening proceedings. Located in National Park, Lajpat Nagar IV, the hub of happening college students,Yummy Snacks rules the tastebuds of many. People start pouring in the minute the counter opens at 5:00pm, keeping the brothers busy till 10:30. The customers visiting reaches a whopping 100, everyday. Not even a minute to spare, working meticulously, preparing a plethora of food items like Chicken/Egg/Noodle rolls, Tawa Kebabs, Keema-Chicken-Seekh and Salami burgers, Chicken salaami for non vegetarians and Paneer-Noodle Roll, Veg. momos and Tawa Soya Chap for vegetarians. With their amazing synchronization, they have been successful in pleasing their customers with their ambrosial and efficient service since six years. While one kneads the maida dough for rolls and cuts veggies for the filling, the other quickly takes the orders and deep fries the contents.

971961_528825777191365_1617707698_n (1)The delectable Chicken roll is a favourite of many. Egg rolled maida paratha which sizzles on the huge tawa, ready to embrace the orange coloured, juicy, soft chicken and caramelized onion, is basted with mayonnaise and fiery red chilly chutney. The sweet and spicy flavors of the chutney provided with all rolls and momos, meet your tongue with a bang. Expenditure on any food item is very light on the pocket. They do not provide any home delivery service, nevertheless, customers from both near and far off places horde around their small counter, ready to wait up till half an hour after placing the orders without any cribbing. A Chicken/Paneer roll and a full plate of momos along with other rolls and tawa items would cost somewhere around 50 bucks each, depending on the selection of the ingredients.

So, whenever one has had a hectic day, is sick of PG aunty’s unpleasant servings or is brooding over some life’s drama, this is a place where you can hang out with friends and feel much better without a doubt! ‘Cuz sometimes happiness lies in small and savory packages!

Foodie Correspondent:Ritika Bali

 

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.
Posted on

The Colony Bistro

IMG-20130822-WA0004

With a desire to satisfy my taste buds in a  gloomy, rainy day, I decided to visit Colony Bistro, a quaint restaurant in the fairly super crowded market at Amar Colony.

Not to sound judgmental, I was pleasantly surprised seeing this pretty little joint in Amar Colony which is famous for its roadside food stalls. The exterior is cool and summery, with a canopy overhead and cane chairs and tables. The interior is white and soothing – perfect for sitting over a long conversation and a snack. The menu is quite interesting and there are many options for a quick, snacky meal and all of it tastes good. The restaurant is populated mostly by college students, and service is prompt. The best part about the bistro is that its hygienic unlike most other places in the Amar colony market.
IMG-20130822-WA0003 As our hunger demanded a savory diet, we ordered sausage maggie  which was cooked and seasoned well, although the portion size was small. Next, we ordered smoked chicken grilled burger, the stuffing was good and was not overdone. The extra helping of french fries served with along it added to the taste. The presentation was clever as the burger  was divided into smaller crispier pieces which made it easier for us to eat. The accompanying cold coffee completed the meal, it was blended perfectly-not too strong not too sweet. Apart from these the menu looked quite appealing  from lemon grilled chicken, thin crust pizza to blueberry cheesecake. The food is light and tasteful and it does not pinch the pocket. So head to colony bistro if you are looking for some delicious food and a good time to accompany a peaceful conversation.

Foodie correspondent: Tanya kapoor

Foodie Photographer : Shubhi Kapoor

6th September,2013

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.
Posted on

Chalte Firte Momos

Chalte firte momos shop
Sector 6, rohini
Near hanuman mandir

If momos turn you on, this is the place for you. Momos in every style, for every taste and for every mood, this is without doubt the fantasy land for momos lovers in Rohini. You can’t pass by this  shop without having tasted a few of its speciality momos.

The only setback of this otherwise “awesome-blossom” shop is the delayed service (makes you wanna leave). But the momos that you get after that is worth the wait. Try anything you like but don’t miss out on the tandoori paneer momos with extra mayo (the best you could serve yourself with).

The shop entails a very cozy background and food as we know, shouldn’t be served in a outrageous surrounding. A very hush-hush place, loud only when the order gets delayed. Apart from momos, you can have maggi or pasta if you like but believe me, you don’t wanna have them.

Momos are their sort, so stick to that and you won’t regret.
When you see people parking their vehicles on this lane amid heavy traffic/ rains/ cold/ hot weather, it is definitely to have the most delicious momos in Rohini and most other places. Spicy is not the word for this shop but kinky is.
This is the place for all you foodies out there!!!

Foodie Correspondent:Ramneek Chawla

3rd September,2013

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.
Posted on

‘CHAT’-TING ALL DAY!

DSC04706

‘CHAT’-TING ALL DAY!

You will not even have to exit the Chawri Bazar metro station and the heady aroma of the dahi – bhalle, papdi and saunth would be there already in your nostrils. It is so overwhelming that it will attract you and you would be left with no option but to join all the people savouring the sweet and sour gol gappe and papdi chat. . Yes! I am talking about the much talked of Ashok Chat Bhandar right outside the Chawri Bazar metro station exit ( Chitli Qabar side) which attracts more than 700 people daily.

The place is almost 70 years old and continues to be one of the favourites among dilliwalas. Though they don’t have a very large menu to choose from, but there are just more than enough options for your tummy! Owned by Mr. Padam Singh, this small chat corner is one of the most successfully run outlet in Old Delhi and being right outside the metro station, its clientele has drastically gone up during the past many years.

Kalmi vada chaat and aloo masala are the most popular snacks served here and the other options available include dahi bhalle, papdi chat, aloo masala, masaledar pani pakodi, kalmi bada chat and gol gappas (with various stuffings). The menu is quite different from the regular chat corners and this makes Ashok Chaat Corner a distinct one among hundreds of Chaatwalas in old Delhi. The prices are not very high and worth the taste.

I had wanted to try the aloo masala and the masaledaar pani pakodi, but it was already finished due to their popularity among the people. Instead, I tried the  kalmi vada chat with papdi. Kalmi vada is a dark brown flat pakoda like thing made of chana daal, gram flour, coriander and other spices. A dough is made of the mixture and cut into small pieces and then the pieces are fried. This delicacy is enjoyed both with coriander chutney as well as part of the chat.

The spicy and crispy kalmi vada with curd and saunth was a flavoursome indulgence. The plate is quite filling and worth the price. The masala sprinkled on the top added to the delish essence. The Kalmi vada chaat would get a 7.5/10 from me. The gol gappas that I tried there were also a hit. The tangy and spicy water was the best part. The freshness of the water is still there in my mouth. I would rate them at 8/10.

DSC04713

 

Almost all the snacks are priced between Rs. 20-60. So the snacking at Ashok Chat Corner won’t burn a hole in your pocket.

There is another good thing about the place that all the things are home made. From the papris and kalmi vadas to the masala, everything is prepared at home by the owner and his family. He resides near his own shop so the transportation of the material is not problematic. All the things are freshly prepared, so you don’t have to worry about the food being stale.

So the next time you visit Nai Sarak to buy your books or stationery, don’t forget to pamper your taste buds with Ashok’s chat.

If you want to know anything further, kindly contact

Mr. Padam Singh – 9811467238

Address (shop) – 3488, Hauz Qazi Chowk, Delhi -110006.

 

Till then, happy burping! J

 

By Kashish ( Foodie Correspondent)

Photo Credit- Piyush Nagpal

 

30th August,2013

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.
Posted on

The Mini Red Bus

The Mini Red Bus            

By Navani Satija, Delhi Food Walks

Gone are those times of hailing the modern chefs for their haute cuisine. Gone are those days of relishing the lavish gourmet treat in such fine ambience. It may seem bizarre but the “in-thing” these days is the scrumptious, freshly prepared street food. And this mini red bus situated amidst the hustle-bustle of Balco market, patpurgunj (east delhi), also known as ‘Susaki’s Food’, is clearly one of the best street food eat-outs. Be it the lip-smacking Susaki special chilli chicken or the delectable Talumein soup, Susaki proves to be the haven for all Chinese cuisine aficionados, at all times and in all moods.

When asked about how Susaki came into the real picture, it’s owner Mr. Rajesh Sharma (a very jolly chap, indeed!) proudly says that it was set up in 1996 by Late Mr. Surender Chowdhary (Rajesh’s uncle) and it has been at the same spot ever since its establishment.

SPECIALITY:

They take pride in their Susaki’s special chilli chicken, Susaki’s special fried rice, Talumein soup and American chopsuey all freshly prepared, luscious and rich in a number of condiments.

Being one of the very few such joints in patpurgunj approved by the MCD, Susaki offers free home delivery and caters to various tastes and preferences. With their ‘very reasonable’ prices, daily eaters describe it as a perfect place for an evening buddy hangout or for a quick snack when you’re in a hurry.

So, if you’re a Chinese cuisine lover and wish to have a not so expensive hearty meal, then this is perfectly the place you should head for.

  redbus

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.
Posted on

Love @ first bite

IMG-20130826-WA0003

Love @ first bite

By Surabhi Bakshi

From a small shop in the narrow, dingy and conjusted lanes of kamla nagar to a vibrant, bright, , colourful and spacious restaurant in Hudson lane,QD’S has surely come a long way. This joint with graffiti at its entrance,  movie posters covering the walls, foot tapping music and pleasant ambience is a perfect hangout for college students.

QD’S has the warmth of a cafe juxtaposed with the uber chic crowd that defines this place.  All those who have or a part of Delhi University has if not visited then must have surely heard about it. This place serves myriad delicacies at unbelievable prices.  Most of the crowd is attracted to this place because of its famous “TANDOORI MOMOS”.Yes you have heard it right not steamed, not fried but TANDOORI. Chinese dumplings coated with indian spices and cooked in a tandoor giving a DESI flavour to it.These momos are surely a must have for all north campus students.

The crispy chilli potatoes with the right amount of spices  are also a big hit with the students.Another thing which you just can’t miss out on their menu is their mocktail “JUMP UP AND KISS ME” , even though the name is a bit embarrassing but it tastes amazing.

All in all qd’s is just the place to chillaxxxx with friends especially if you want to give them your birthday treat as it does not drain you of your pocket money. Don’t wait for Holi, Diwali or the next friendship’s day go today and  have a memorable experience.

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.
Posted on

College’s favourite Adda: Irfan’s Maggi Point

College’s favourite Adda: Irfan’s Maggi Point

 Last year, I entered college with little nervousness and sky high expectations. Soon after the first few lectures, I made some new friends and came across acquaintances. This is when I got a chance to finally explore the college with my new gang. Front laws, done. Library, done. Canteen (excited as anything; didn’t stand up to the expectations), done. Sports complex (most surprising part of the day), done. Swimming pool, done. After checking out 70% of the college, we took some steps ahead and came across this little cemented area enveloped between the boy’s hostel and swimming pool. I was enthralled to see how this isolated place was already so crowded. And this is when I ran my eyes at the end of the courtyard and saw a stall. I went closer and started praising the lord, it was a food stall. The canteen was a big disappointment of the day; this stall was like light at the end of the tunnel. Enquiring few seniors, we learnt that the stall was famously called Irfan’s maggi point!

Irfan’s maggi point is run by two brothers Irfan and Usman. They are a part of the SRCC staff since a decade now, fending off the hunger pangs of battalion of students every day. This brother duo has been really successful in giving a cut throat competition to the college canteen and undoubtedly, has emerged as winners, always. Oddly enough, this little tin shed stall draws in multitude of students than any other hangout of college does. The sole reason being their innovative FOOD recipes!

As the name indicates, the most famous item on this stall’s menu is Maggi. Maggi menu alone is so diverse. Omelette Maggi to sate the taste buds of non-vegetarian foodies, Soup Maggi when a cold breeze gives you chills during winters, Bhurji Maggi for that zesty taste, and of course, everyone’s favourite Classical Masala Maggi, Irfan’s stall has it all. This isn’t where the list ends. Stall is always stocked with foods to grab on a go like sandwiches, burgers, Paneer Kulcha, chips, patty (never miss the far-famed bhurji bread patty sandwich, yum!). Need something to drink with that packet of Lays? How about a cold drink, (choose from coke, pepsi, 7up, dew, fanta) or a fruit juice, or masala soda, or tea, or coffee? This hut has everything for every season.

Yes, definitely the prices bring a big smile on your face. The average price of all items is Rs. 30. It is a student friendly, pocket friendly and stomach friendly food joint. We may not attend classes everyday but bunking these Irfan’s maggi point session is improbable.

Foodie Correspondent:Vishakha Bhaskar

24th August,2013

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.
Posted on

Sukhdev Ka Dhaba

Sukhdev Ka Dhaba

A road trip without dhabhe ka food is incomplete that too if you are
traveling towards Punjab. Located on Delhi-Punjab National Highway1,
Sukhdev ka dhabha has been serving lip smacking food from truck drivers to
families, from students craving for midnight chai to couples wanting to
taste legacy. Situated amidst luscious greens this dhabha is open 24×7 and
sometimes so crowded that you will have to wait atleast 15-20 mins to find
a place to sit. “Weekend mornings are always crowded” adds Rajiv, a
frequent customer to this place, “especially if the weather is nice too.”

This place serves all kinds of pure vegetarian food and have added
continental, Chinese and other famous delicacies to their menu over the
passage of time. Considering Sukhdev from the dhabha point of view, its
phenomenal, with a huge parking lot, team of 50-60 working 24×7, clean
washrooms and even a small shopping complex selling things like garments
and groceries but considering Sukhdev from the dhabha food point of view,
of being spicy, full of flavours and giving you the typical Indian food, a
lot of people complain of it losing its essence and food quality over the
years.

I ordered it’s famous aloo ka parantha which they served with lots
of white butter and curd. The parantha though was a little bland but
appropriately stuffed and curd, its savior. The next on my list was the
buttermilk which was indeed worth the price and so was the chai, though not
as kadak as the weather. Sukhdev’s speciality, their makke di roti and
sarson da saag, is another good food on the list if you haven’t tasted it
in a while. Other food items such as Chowmein, Idli and dosas are ordinary,
hanging somewhere in between it’s real savors and Sukhdev’s personal ones.
Once upon a time Sukhdev which was famous for its extremely delicious food
is now just a place known for its specialties.

This place is totally worth a visit if you need a break from your neck-breaking driving journey and in urgent to need of good, hygienic food but not worth the hassle to specially drive 50kms away from Delhi or Panipat.

Foodie Correspondent:Sanskriti Nagar

22nd August,2013

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.
Posted on

MY KIND OF GREAT FOOD!

MY KIND OF GREAT FOOD!

my kinda street cafe

“ Eating food should be simple” is the motto of  Ankit, the co-owner of a quaint little café in a lane in Kailash Colony Market called My Kind Of Street Cafe. Two years ago, it started in the serpentine lanes of Amar Colony Market, Lajpat Nagar IV, a favorite haunt of Lady Shri Ram College girls. It has been relocated to Kailash Colony to cater to the same. Their favorite item is the famous cheese momos.The cheese-filled dumplings dished out by them are a delight for any food lover.

chicken momosThe love for this dish can be seen on the walls of the café, full of small notes plastered on the walls. Their smoken chicken white cream sauce pasta is also a delight. Another outlet of MKSC ,as it is fondly known as, is located in SDA market which mainly caters to the IITians right across the road. Their favorite is the Herb and Bacon Stuffed Chicken. A neat and complete platter completed with beans, broccoli, curd dip and garlic bread, healthy and delicious with a subtle flavor.                                                                                                                                    

 IMG_9812Over the years, their food has evolved. The pasta, banana bread, my kind of burger, lemon butter fish are amongst the other mouth-watering delight the place has to offer. The menu has a lot of variety for people who like to experiment with food. It is a do-it-yourself menu so that one gets exactly what he has asked for. To end the wonderful experience, the banoffee pie is a must for the sweet toothed. It would be a shame to miss this stunner!

 banoffie pieOn being asked about their future plans and prospects, Ankit shared a little secret. They plan to venture into the world of out-of-the-box South Indian food, which has already started functioning in the SDA outlet in a small way.

With the way these two outstanding food joints are functioning, we can expect something really exciting in the days to come, and here’s wishing them all the best for a great future ahead and great and happy eating to all the young people in Delhi!

Foodie Correspondent:Shreya Chowdhury

Foodie Photographer:Kali Walia

17th August,2013

 

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.