City Food – Kailashji Samose Wale, Kotla Mubarakpur
Small town taste. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] The bazar is a haze of moving faces. A sense of stability is gained by focusing on the unmoving landmarks rooted to their spots—Chhabra Bag House, Hans Furniture, Intimate Laundry…
City Food – Khajla, Ameer Sweet House & Elsewhere
Season’s delicacy. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] It looks like a giant golgappa, or an extra-large raj kachori. Some might confuse it with the enormous bhathura served in a landmark Connaught Place restaurant. But it is neither of…
City Food – Jaggery Sherbet, Pahari Imli
A rare drink. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] But why can’t he give us his recipe? Aqeel Ahmad turns his head towards the blurry bazar crowd, smiles like an enigmatic visionary and says nothing. A very special institution,…
City Food – Summer Mulberries, Munna Bhai’s Shop
In search of the elusive berries. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] There are papayas, grapes, apples, bel, pomegranates, guavas, bananas and even the early mangoes. But mulberries are nowhere to be seen, here in the Old Delhi lanes….
City Landmark – K & R Pickle and Murabbas, Matia Mahal Bazar
Pickle with monthlies. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] The pungent aroma is heady. This is Ali Baba’s treasury of pickles —mango, karela, carrot, lemon, ginger, garlic, shaljam, amla, bamboo, lesua, tela, green chillies, and red chillies. Each red…
City Food – Dolly Sharma’s Lunch Van, Shankar Chowk
From the world of rajma chawal. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Tej patta leaves are floating underneath the thick red gravy. Whole roasted lal mirchi too can be spotted. The dish is so hot you can see steam…
City Food – Bittu’s Moong Dal Samosa, Tiraha Bairam Khan
An unusual samosa. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] There’s more than one Eiffel Tower in the world. They are in Hangzhou, Slobozia, Tokyo, Les Vegas, Blackpool, and there’s one in our Delhi too. The purists however insist that…
City Food – Muhammed Hafiz’s Biryani, Chitli Qabar Chowk
A culinary landmark. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] This gentle soft-spoken man is like the Jama Masjid. He’s always seen here, like he’s part of the landscape. Day after day after day, Muhammed Hafiz stands behind his giant…
City Food – Mr Mukhtar’s Spicy Lemon Tea, Hazrat Nizamuddin Basti
An uncommon street tea. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Such a small place, but packed with so many points of interests. Delhi’s greatest poet, Mirza Ghalib, is buried here. So is the legendary poet and musician, Amir Khusro….
City Food – Shyam Nashta Corner, Near Gurgaon Railway Station
A homey tea house. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] The large counter is stacked with very many egg cartons. A steel tray is serried with green chili and onion pakoris. Another tray is packed with bread pakoras. The…
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