It’s been a long
while i am bit rusty to my blog in writing and sharing experiences through but
to be honest I missed it badly everyday. “I am back” and to this certain
thought I am gonna share some interesting foodie stuff today.
It is not merely Delhi or UP that is
famous for street food but Bengalis are too lover of “chatpati-chaat” and spicy
food. I came to this certain conclusion after my recent official visit to Calcutta (former capital of British India ).
Ask me once what
are you crazy about? And my prompt response would surely be “Spicy Street food” and why I would not be
like that? I am a proper UP girl or say a Kanpurian who is born and brought up
with this foody madness. Sometimes my close friends teased me by saying your
mommy might have taken some chatpati-chaat before giving birth to you which
came genetically. I am not foodie enough or glutton but yes I am an epicurean.
If I see
“Golgappe” at any damn place does not matter my tummy is full to the neck I
will definitely have it just to make my taste spicy. I have been to Mumbai last
year and you won’t believe I had ordered plate after plate their special “Jhurmuri
chaat” mixed with green chilly chatni , Saunth (tamarind sauce) and dalmoth and
that man at chowpaati beach has made an outstanding “Chaat”. I have spent few
days there and also had Mumbaikars special “Sevpuri”, “Ragda-Pattice”,
“Misal/Usal Pav”, “wada –pav”and “Bhelpuri”
Macdonald’s
burger, Cheesy Pizza of Pizza hut or Dominos and Chinese/Italian food might
distract my eyes for some time but Paranthas of Chandni-Chowk`s Paranthewali
Gali, Golgappe at every corner roadside in CP, Chatpati–Chaat in Greater Kailash,
Bitoo Tikki wala in District Centre, Janakpuri will always be reminiscing if I
ever have to leave my lovable city, Delhi. I never missed any chance to have
street food while shopping in Delhi
like Karol-Bagh, Rajouri-Garden, Kamla-Nagar or Central-Market. All that places
are famous for many Chaat Bhandars and street cuisines. Those who are non-vegetarian can not afford to
miss out place at Khaan-Market especially Khan Chacha`s famous shahi-kababs.
Daryaganj is another place for Non-Veggies well-known for Butter and Tandoori
chicken. I am pure vegetarian but I know some of these places because of my
other crazy kababi friends.
Back to the recent
Kolkata trip, my eyes got stuck for sometime at foodie stalls out there when I
was about to enter my Calcutta Office building. I was feeling jejune having
similar food of Hotel and in office cafeteria and thus I was keep asking my
colleagues for some place of best street food. One day, it was bit late in having lunch so I
went out from my office to have something. It was seriously untidy place to
have anything. Many buildings were under construction near by and roads were
little mushy. I huddled with two of my friends in dusty area and they warned if
I am okay to have anything there. Oblivious my eyes were only on multiple
stalls as hungry rats inside me were hoping badly. I first had wada Sambhar and
Dosa Special at south Indian stall and frankly it was much better than daily
food I was having and forgot about the dust and mush around. I was full but still wanted to taste more so
in the evening refreshment I had “Samosa-Garam” or “Singara” (in Bengali) and
it reminded me the taste of U.P. hands. I asked to little boy, Are you from
U.P? He gave me some haunted look at an instance but yeah his uncle reverted
with a smile “Yes Madaam- Hum UP gaon se hai, pehle Gurgaon mein bi chalate
the” (We are from some town in Uttar Pradesh , also worked in near your gurgaon
office and now moved in Kolkata some years back). I appreciated the taste and
really enjoyed 3 samosas only cost rupee 3 each.
In the same
evening, my friends and I was not feeling like to go back to the hotel so we
rush nearby City-Centre mall and I saw “Golgappe”. I rushed out there and it
was little too early because the man was still preparing batasha`s water. I
waited for 10 minutes worthy for me to have Golgappas.
All of sudden, a
little boy asked something in Bengali and I only understood two words- “Phuchka”
and “tikki”. With bit of confusion I said- I am not from here and I do not
understand, what did you say? The same thing happened here his uncle
reverted and asked- Madaam you want “Phuchka”?
I had given again strange look “Phuchka”? he meant with Golgappas Ohhhh so now
I know many names of my favorite street cuisine “Golgappe” in Delhi
“Batashe” in U.P., “Pani-Puri” in Bombay and “Phuchka”
in Calcutta , wow
isn’t? The taste of Pani was bit salty but yeah I managed to gulp and filling
was bit different than UP streets.
All in all, the
days I had spent there, I tasted many different specialities of Kolkata like in
sweets almost 10 types of “Saundesh”, “Jhal-Muri” (puffed rice mixed with
ginger), “Phuchka”, singara, “Kachauri and Pakoras”, “Pav Bhaji” and many guess
I am forgetting some names. So, if it is street food you are looking for in Calcutta , It will not
disappoint you either.
Here I ends my immense
love for street food and disclosed some of my experiences.
Disclaimer: Street
food is not as hygienic as our home foods so have it at your own risk.
Last but not
the least-
“Jo baat street ki
chatpati-chaat mein hai wo Haldiram`s ki Rajkachori mein nahi”
ES//Jasmeet
there is nothing like street chaat ... mouth watering post dear ..
ReplyDeleteohh yeah :D We r Upians
DeleteHalidram's Rajkachori is best,,try MGF mall one,,,delicious..
ReplyDeleteYes it is but still i love street chaat :)
DeleteNow, my mouth is watering! Donno what magic they add to the food! we never get the same taste when we prepare at home
ReplyDeletePani puri my all time favorite!! <3
exactly ..especially we grls r crazy for golgappe or say Pani-puri ;)
DeleteAbsolutely, there is nothing like street food. Be it any city in the country, it is the street food that is the best.
ReplyDeleteyoo Srishti :) east or west street food is the best :D
Deletewhen it comes to street food (for that matter tasty food) there's no parallel of Kolkata\
ReplyDeleteI love love love phucchka of kolkata and never have golgappas in delhi, as they spoil the taste of my tongue of the kolkata phucchkas!!!
nice post!!
http://www.myunfinishedlife.com/
Ya Sushmita :) even i ended my post with calcutta, loved by being there and njoyed to the fullest
DeleteI was salivating like a greedy old fox when I read your post! :P
ReplyDeleteWill watch this space more often
Kindly visit
www.rinzurajan.blogspot.in
Thank you
Hey Rinzu, Welcome dearie
DeleteStreet food is actually like that can make anyone avaricious...;)