Thus Speaketh A Foodie

What is your favorite restaurant?

I have learnt of late that even a foodie’s taste buds do not always crave the same type of food all the time. With age, health condition,  nutritional requirements and mental state gastronomical yearnings change.

My first preference is home food. But sometimes one surely requires chatpataa (delectable) food to get over the boredom of daily routine. Let me once again emphasize that the longings of the stomach are not always related to the gut. It is purely psychological. Lack of excitement in life can also prod one to go for spicy stuff just to bring in that extra zing absent from the daily rut.

Before the advent of Zomato and Swiggy, lunching or dining out was a must with occasional outings. I am talking about my childhood days…

I remember Karachi Sweet Shop in Ajmal Khan Market, Karolbagh, used to be our favourite joint for a plate of lip smacking chhole bhature post window browsing/regular shopping. Subsequently, Karachi Sweet Shop fans got smitten  by Roshan Di Kulfi located in the same market. The latter’s eponymous kulfi faluda was something to die for.

Udupi, in Channa Market, was another family restaurant which served traditional South Indian food. As soon as one entered the premise, the  typical aroma of dhosa, idli, vada and sambhar filled the nostrils. Choices at that  time were limited but what was served in terms of   price,  quality and quantity was most satisfactory.

Yet, in those days it was not fashionable to eat out. Rather friends and relatives were invited home for elaborate meals, especially, during Bijoya Dashami, soon after Durga Puja. My mother was an excellent cook. We, as a family, believed in treating guests as gods. They were to have their fill.  Mother would spend the whole day preparing exotic food – mutton cutlets and chops with rashogollar paayesh – a dessert made out of condensed, sweetened milk in which swam mini rasagullahs or sweet  dumplings. Sometimes the paayesh would get replaced by chhaanaar jilipee – jalebis in the shape of concentric circles made out of paneer fried and immersed in thick sugary syrup till each piece  got fully soaked and dripped. Those were the days !!

With the passage of time,  Karolbagh’s transition from a purely Bengali (nicknamed mini Kolkata) residential hub to an out and out commercial area, robbed the locality of its vibe and dramatically altered the social landscape. The householders ensconced for eons gradually migrated to the suburbs or the upcoming Chittaranjan Park which then came to replace the former in all its quintessence.

We too moved towards the north-west wherein Delhi  lost its prefix “new” and grudgingly  came to be acknowledged as a necessary extension of the dilwaalon ka shahar (the city with lots of heart).

In due course, North-west suburb developed  into one of the most happening places of the NCR or the National Capital Region. The Metro tracks (Red Line) was the first to be laid here. A network of other lines – proud engineering marvels – followed suit. Underpass (first of its kind again) coupled with  strings of flyovers,  District Court and a number of hep Malls are prestigious  local landmarks.

But what is most revelling is the number of eateries lining the main road just a stone’s throw away. Prem Se is a bakery which excels in eggless cakes, pastries and cookies. Bansal’s sweets made of pure desi ghee (clarified butter) are gastronomical delights. The famous Gulab competes fairly with Bansal’s. The crowded Food Courts in the Malls have a wide variety of offerings. 

Notwithstanding the essentially vegetarian culinary fabric of the locality,  mouthwatering kebab joints,  roadside barbecues,  Behroze’s Biryani and Moti Mahal’s signature delicacies also have a strong foot hold wooing the die hard non vegetarians. Not to mention the staple brands – Haldiram, Bikanervaala, KFC, Domino’s, Pizza Hut and McDonald’s – for the GenZ. All are readily accessible.

Notwithstanding the local availability,  Delhites are adept at snooping out their respective  hang out places far and wide. Be it the unassuming kiosk in Jantar Mantar for a plate of Utthapam and Kesar Halwa or waiting patiently at Sarwana Bhavan for a wholesome South Indian fare, the irresistible melt-in-the-mouth mutton steaks of Hotel Ambassador or the aristocratic Ginza’s understated Chinese, Connaught Place (CP) is Central Delhi’s all time family favourite. Nirula’s has always been the college bunkers most frequented icecream parlour.

Oho! Did I not tell you about Wenger’s established in 1824 to serve tea and confectionery to British troops settled in Delhi? It was my father’s favourite – the elegant chicken sandwiches, the rich cakes and pastries and the swoon worthy mutton shami kebabs!

And how did I forget Kwality next to Regal Cinema where my maternal uncle took all us kids for softies. Kwality has transformed itself into a posh and fine dining restaurant in due course. It serves Delhi’s most expensive Chhole Bhature. It’s bombastic bhatura is the talk of the town!

Delhi is a foodie’s paradise. There is O!Calcutta for a lavish spread of authentic Bengali cuisine in Greater Kailash Part – II. Their boneless hilsa fish is a must try. The Kathail (Jackfruit) Biryani along with Puri Basket with an assortment of chutneys or the tantalizing Veg Thali on a desultory afternoon at the  Potpourrie in  Bihar Nivas is ideal. If you wish to explode your taste buds with  variants of state cuisines at one spot Delhi Haat should be your pick. If you are a momo addict rush off to Sikkim House.  Are you salivating for Spicy Biryani?  Check out the day they serve it in Hyderabad House. O! you are the street food type then your go-to place is Bengali Market. And if you have a sweet tooth don’t miss Annapurna Sweets in Yusuf Sarai Market right behind the IndianOil Building. You will go berserk once your tongue implodes with the delightful mishtis or sweets of Bengal.

Alas! My only lament being in Delhi for over five decades is that I have not been able to  experience the food haven of the older part of the city – Chandni Chowk or Sadar Bazaar! Of course, I have had the good fortune of savouring the mutton at internationally acclaimed Karim’s right behind Jama Masjid ! But I am yet to visit the legendary paranthe wali gully where your guts are put to real test –  each parantha fried in pure desi ghee is equivalent to two! My to-visit list also includes Haldiram near Chandni Chowk Metro Station which is said to be the original. All the rest in other parts of the city are mere franchises.

So, now you know how hugely impossible it is for a Delhite to single out one particular restaurant as the favourite ?