Sometimes I think, if it hadn’t been for street food, a lot of things in life would be amiss. Other times I think, uh, well, that is a deep thought concerning street food. Anyhow, I have come to realize, that street food is not only the very essence of the streets, it is also the identity of many. We refer to many lanes and alleys referring to the aromatic, the tangy, the magnificent, and the immense variety of food they offer. The real master chefs of India reside right there, delivering to a million. The best thing about the high calorie and the highly dangerous cuisine is that even if one is struck by cholera, or typhoid, or jaundice, the faithfulness to the haven of the Golgappa, Vada Pav, Appam and stew, and Mughlai Paratha doesn’t reduce. One returns to it, as one returns to a temple even after God hasn’t granted the wishes.
Every Saturday evening as I look at Chowpatty, I see a multitude of people, flocking around the very engrossed Pav Bhaji Walas, and the Pani Puri Walas. The ‘chefs’ work like clockwork, and well, people surround them like flies to a sweetmeat. But yes, even the thought of Pani Puri in Mumbai, or a Phuchka in Kolkata makes my mouth water, and there is a sudden urge to stop typing this very minute and grab myself a good serving of Pani Puri. The gift of dysentery or paratyphoid is completely irrespective. We Indians whole heartedly in,”Jab tak suraj chand rahhega, pani puri ka naam rahega!” we like using it in our minds with different street preparations, of course.
Mola Puttu, and Thuttu Dosa are some of the most relished experiences in kerala. Thousands of Malayalis indulge heavily on these creations. In Hyderabad, the Chaakna or spicy stew, the kebabs and Biryani invite people from far and wide. I wouldn’t be exaggerating when I say that every time I would see someone from Hyderabad, I would always pop the question nonchalantly, ‘doesn’t it have some really great food?’ It has hardly ever mattered to me that when it comes to street food, I am a sinner in the eyes of God; I am a glutton beyond par.
Kolkata was a celebration of Puchkas(Golgappa or Pani Puri), Jhal Muri, and Churmur, it has now emerged as a monarch of all the street food! The streets of Kolkata are saturated with the tang of fish chops or cutlets, Mughlai Parathas, which are the extremely calorific indulgence of Aloo Paratha lined with egg. That’s not all; Kolkata has serves Kachuri with Telebhaja which means oil fries. “Any under-weights in the house? Come relieve yourself of that misery and immerse yourself in the wonders of the streets of Kolkata and emerge with the curves you had always hidden!” this can be a real slogan!
Mumbai is another super power in the realm of the Streets. Dhabeli, Pav Bhaji, Masala Pav, Vada Pav, Bhajia Pav, Ragda Patice, Pani Puri, Bhel Puri, Sev Puri, and there is the Jain version of all the above! Another paradise of culinary indulgence, streets brim with people on weekends.
Street food is even used in Bollywood as an essential part of romance. We Indians cannot romance without the show of street food on screen. Golguppas and chaats are specially used to show the sensitive side of the heroine, making the hero fall more in love with her, or definitely noticing her. It is used to show the carefree and bubbly nature of the Indian heroine as she says the word,’ teekha’ in her sweet voice to the chaat wala, and the hero watches, as if blinded by the light bulbs hanging on the cart. Movies like Aarakshan, Singham, Ghajni, and many others love using street food as the one last blow on the hero.
Aah, street food. The food of the happy, the food of those in love, and well, the food of everyone who is up for real indulgence, danger, and gluttony.
Every Saturday evening as I look at Chowpatty, I see a multitude of people, flocking around the very engrossed Pav Bhaji Walas, and the Pani Puri Walas. The ‘chefs’ work like clockwork, and well, people surround them like flies to a sweetmeat. But yes, even the thought of Pani Puri in Mumbai, or a Phuchka in Kolkata makes my mouth water, and there is a sudden urge to stop typing this very minute and grab myself a good serving of Pani Puri. The gift of dysentery or paratyphoid is completely irrespective. We Indians whole heartedly in,”Jab tak suraj chand rahhega, pani puri ka naam rahega!” we like using it in our minds with different street preparations, of course.
Mola Puttu, and Thuttu Dosa are some of the most relished experiences in kerala. Thousands of Malayalis indulge heavily on these creations. In Hyderabad, the Chaakna or spicy stew, the kebabs and Biryani invite people from far and wide. I wouldn’t be exaggerating when I say that every time I would see someone from Hyderabad, I would always pop the question nonchalantly, ‘doesn’t it have some really great food?’ It has hardly ever mattered to me that when it comes to street food, I am a sinner in the eyes of God; I am a glutton beyond par.
Kolkata was a celebration of Puchkas(Golgappa or Pani Puri), Jhal Muri, and Churmur, it has now emerged as a monarch of all the street food! The streets of Kolkata are saturated with the tang of fish chops or cutlets, Mughlai Parathas, which are the extremely calorific indulgence of Aloo Paratha lined with egg. That’s not all; Kolkata has serves Kachuri with Telebhaja which means oil fries. “Any under-weights in the house? Come relieve yourself of that misery and immerse yourself in the wonders of the streets of Kolkata and emerge with the curves you had always hidden!” this can be a real slogan!
Mumbai is another super power in the realm of the Streets. Dhabeli, Pav Bhaji, Masala Pav, Vada Pav, Bhajia Pav, Ragda Patice, Pani Puri, Bhel Puri, Sev Puri, and there is the Jain version of all the above! Another paradise of culinary indulgence, streets brim with people on weekends.
Street food is even used in Bollywood as an essential part of romance. We Indians cannot romance without the show of street food on screen. Golguppas and chaats are specially used to show the sensitive side of the heroine, making the hero fall more in love with her, or definitely noticing her. It is used to show the carefree and bubbly nature of the Indian heroine as she says the word,’ teekha’ in her sweet voice to the chaat wala, and the hero watches, as if blinded by the light bulbs hanging on the cart. Movies like Aarakshan, Singham, Ghajni, and many others love using street food as the one last blow on the hero.
Aah, street food. The food of the happy, the food of those in love, and well, the food of everyone who is up for real indulgence, danger, and gluttony.
No comments:
Post a Comment