City as a feeling — Vikaram in Food
“If you had to describe Mumbai as a feeling, what would it be? — Vada Pav
When we have to express about a city — food based — it could be individualistic. Still, most of us might agree on one, just like the Vada Pav above. It’s a staple of rich and poor people there and is primarily affordable. At my first job in fag at the end of the 90s, that was my resort for Breakfast most days, as there would invariably be a vada pav the ( Joint) on every corner and especially at the metro station. They used to cost 5 Indian Rupees; for a newbie, it was the preference to go to. Grab and Go is the service model on which these thelas operate. No hassles and no frills. I wouldn’t have a photo of the dish I have taken, so I would use a picture from the web.
Back home, Thrissur, what would be that? What is the “Vikaram” sentiment? A masala dosa from the iconic Bharath Hotel, I would say. I’m not a masala dosa fan, but this dosa cannot be missed. The dosa, rice pancake, is crisp to the T and filled with yellow potato masala, seasoned with mild spices and prominent green chilly. So is their Curd Vada or Tayir Vada, 2 small chunks of dough dipped in a mildly sweetened curd, simmered with a tadka(seasoning) made of mustard seeds, red chilies, and curry leaves. The crowd in this place is well known, and even if we have to wait for minutes before sharing a table with some strangers, we thrissurites don’t mind.
Namma Bangalore is a land of many iconic joints and Vikaram food references. It could be the donna biryani, military biryani, Umesh’s Dosa, or the iconic ice cream from Corner House. I started eating them in the early 2000s, and they still have the same consistency, taste, and quantity. The quality that they provide at the most affordable price is commendable. Sharing an ice cream was a one-time date idea; it is a bonding exercise that friends take together or indulge in after lunch indulgence on Sunday now.
Delhi, a short stint there, and the food options which we have there are tremendous. But the one which is not to be missed is the chicken butter masala from Moti Mahal Deluxe restaurant in Old Delhi’s Daryaganj. That tangy tomato gravy, ofcourse, loaded with cream, which Delhiites can’t do without, and that seasoning of dried methi leaves makes you ask for more. This can be paired with the tandoori roti or butter naan, also loaded with butter. What are you eating if you don’t eat butter with it? This dish was a make-do dish, which was created on need, but which had grown to be known as the dish that represents India in Indian restaurants till a decade ago before chefs abroad realized we are more than this.
Amritsar is yet another city known for its food and abundance of food. They say no one there sleeps hungry, as free food is available in the famous Golden Temple at any time of the day. Here, we always flock to eat the parathas in Kesar da Dhabi, more now because it’s a habit from yesteryears. Many other dishes and places need savoring, like the kulfa — a sweet dish they prefer to call kulfa instead of Kulfi. A deadly combination of concentrated milk, khus seeds, some jujubes and noodles and ofcourse loads of sugar. There are many places where stuffed naan is served in a factory setting. You enter, sit on a bench crushed between a hefty Punjabi and intrusive Punjaban, preferences collected for spice levels, and then you are served the butter-dripping delicious stuffed naan on a bit of paper with green chutney. You savor it, and it’s a treat above everything; you forget in which conditions you are eating. After you are done, don’t relax and burp; scoot out of the bench space as there are takers for your few inches, discard the paper, pay, and leave. There are few varieties, and there is no fancy cutlery, but there is always a long queue to get in and eat.
Not to forget the simple but superbly delicious Punjabi food they serve in the Golden Temple, which is from a community kitchen where you can also contribute to cooking it. The Kada Prasad — wheat halwa — which they serve as the offering in the temple is also out of this world. It’s not to be missed. The goodness of this kitchen is that it’s functional all through the day, with a small break late at night, and it serves everyone and anyone.
Calicut, with its kozhikoden Biryani and not to forget the snacks which they make the best.
Newyork and their legendary slice pizzas. Have had experiance of standing in queues for housrs for tasting that one slice.
Amsterdam is known for its crispy fries and dough balls. None of the stalls on streets which served these could go wrong with these. For the health consious there was sweet potato fries on offer.
Brussels is known for its Waffles and here is a sugar overload which cannot be missed.
What is your citys food vikaram?
