Delhi Diary

"Main toh raste se ja raha tha, main toh bhel puri kha raha tha...."

you know what is the best thing about this 90’s track, it depicts the typical Indian street food scenario. Calcasian at heart i prefer to call myself a global citizen . As part of my job and out of passion i have met people in all the nooks and corners of India and abroad as well. I like to explore places, eat the local cuisine and for that moment live that parallely..

I do not need a reason to hang out at the roadside bhel puri-waala or Punchka-waala. Whether it’s a movie break or waiting for friends at the momos-waala-bhaiya at Rabindra Sadan,Kolkata. i just can’t resist the urge of digging into these not-so healthy, yet so-scrumptious roadside delights!

Can you imagine strolling through Gariahat or Dakshinapan in Kolkata without having the lip-smacking Phunchkas/golgappe or walking through the crowded Dacres lanes of Kolkata without grabbing a Spring chicken with baby potatoes, carrots, onions, green beans and papaya in a milky white stew?

When it comes to street food, India is one proud nation where every state – every city has its own specialty.

This time (29 th October to 4th November), i was in Delhi for absolutely no business - just to spend some quality time with my only sis and "bhagne-Madan"

For long I had been wanting to take a heritage walk clubbed with some authentic eateries excursion in old Delhi and was rather disappointed why this was not happened during my previous stay at Delhi for many occasions.

My friends at New Delhi say it’s an adventure, i say it’s a memory. It was DELHI-CIUS journey! The food walk in Old Delhi ( 3.11.22 ) was a great experience and by far the best way to see and taste Old Delhi!!!!

Starting at 6.30 AM from South Delhi was quite soothing to be in the worst ever Delhi's weather (AQI 550) for more than two hour as we ( i along with my sister & nephew Sam ) started with Jama Masjid which has to be seen in the open - wish they could have opened the gate early morning - The shrine mosque has numerous gate and we tried every circumambulatory passage for an entry but with no success. 

Our first food stop was an authentic Mughlai cuisines food joint - "Al Jawahar". As we entered there for breakfast, no matter what time you get there you will see some classic Mughlai cuisines coming out of there kitchen filling up the place around with some great aroma. I am not a morning person but if you ask me out for Mutton Paya with Khamiri Roti (slow cooked lamb stew with fermented bread) at Al Jawahar I will be that early bird to catch the chunks. 

Next we tried the famous Jalebiwala on Chandni Chowk . This Chandni Chowk-based shop is enormously famous for the piping hot, thick and juicy, freshly made jalebis that they offer. Their USP is that they use desi khandsari sugar for making the syrup instead of regular sugar, and the jalebis are prepared using desi ghee, cooked over coal-fire.

 The melt-in-the-mouth Jalebis are a must try!