Traditionally, puffed rice is not a part of Delhi’s street food. Two iconic puffed-rice Indian street food dishes are bhel puri and jhal muri, both belonging to two extreme corners of India. Bhel puri belongs to Mumbai and jhal muri is from West Bengal, down South if not puffed rice, you have the good old…
The apple of my taste buds in Majnu Ka Tila
At 10.30 am, I start from my home at Jamia Nagar for a meeting to R K Puram. I reach my destination after an hour. I, constantly, keep looking at my watch because I am next headed to Majnu Ka Tila in North Campus for lunch. From R K Puram to Majnu Ka Tila, travelling…
The new love of my life ‘donne biryani’ at Sanadige
Most of us in India have grown up perceiving biryani as a dish with a strong yellow colour. In present days, it’s less of saffron and more of the yellow edible colour. And if it is the Kolkata aloo anda biryani, then it accompanies a strong kewra essence, too. So, for someone like me, who…
All the jazz about Lanterns Kitchen and Bar
Correct me if I am wrong, being Delhi-based, I see a phenomenal growth in the restaurant, pub and food business in Delhi NCR. Perhaps, the scene is same all over India. But, how many of these pubs do we visit because of food or drinks? Ask yourself? Outings these days are for food or because…
Eid ki kachoris
If samosa is the king of Indian snack then kachori is the queen. Stuffed with dal or onion, kachori is had with different accompaniments. We, all know of the different khasta kachori walas that roam the streets of Delhi. Crispy kachoris served with a mild tangy aloo sabzi. Now, the trivia here is that kachori…
Alvida Ramzan
We bid adieu to Ramzan today, and with full gaiety, we celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr tomorrow. And with the end of this holy month, this practice of helping the travelling rojdars (Muslims, who are fasting) open their fast will come to an end. At many places, prevails this custom, where volunteers of charitable organisations stand on the…
Kuch naya kuch purana this Ramzan in Jamia Nagar
Whether, it’s Jama Masjid, Jamia Nagar or Nizamuddin, the scene just before iftari in these places is always pulsating. From students, office goers to kids, everybody is busy buying iftar — keema pakora, pyazis, meetha samosa, jalebis. Some prefer to eat something heavy after Maghrib prayers, so apart from the snacks some also take home…
Indian Coffee House completes my social life
Recently, a conversation happened between the Delhi Explorer (DE), and a senior citizen (SC) at the Indian Coffee House. Clad in a white shirt and trouser with his grey hair nicely combed, the senior citizen was sitting in a corner alone, so DE requested, if he, too, can join him, SC readily agreed. By the…
Bihari chutneys and pyazis
There are always two sides to everything, if someone says; “Delhi kisi ka nahi hai”, then the opposite would be “Delhi saab ka hai”. Delhi has a huge migrant population, belonging to different socio-economic strata, and they have brought their food habits with them, gradually these food habits have become a part of Delhi’s street…
Delhi’s T4: Tamil food treasure trove in Trilokpuri
With a plain black shade to protect from Delhi’s scorching sun, Saraswati stands with a few utensils and an idli-maker, selling two types of quintessential vadas and no prize for guessing hot-soft tender idlis. Clad in a saree, Saraswati would perhaps be in her 50s. She is not alone, just next to her is Raju’s…
Jamshed, the boy who sells burger with an A
Delhi’s merciless heat is getting on him. On top of that, with rising temperatures business has taken a dip. Meet Jamshed, a 16-year-old Afghan lad in Lajpat Nagar-1, who sells Afghan Burgers. The lane, next to the Bata showroom in Lajpat Nagar Central Market leads to many Afghan eateries and business enterprises, amid all these…
The man, music, and his muse (Turquoise Cottage)
If you catch him running around the restaurant, controlling his staff, with his tiny ponytail and grey hair, you may very well mistake him for Big B (Amitabh Bachchan) from the film Cheeni Kum. Well, he is not any less than Big B’s stature, when it comes to Delhi’s pub scene, meet Gaurav Soral, who…
Delhi Explore 