City Food – Zina Tea Stall, Chitli Qabar Bazar
An unusual chai stall. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] The staircase is not always only an architectural utility. Sometimes it can be a tea stall. That’s true for one place in Old Delhi. Indeed, the little establishment in…
City Food – Chhole Cart, Outside Ambience Mall, Gurgaon
Roadside gourmet. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] There’s an eatery in Paharganj, a heritage restaurant in Connaught Place, a mithai shop in South Extension I, and a roadside shack in Amar Colony. All these spots in Delhi are…
City Food – Kalonji Miracles, Old Delhi
Tales of nigella seeds. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Some written works just must be cherished because they’re flavoured with the nuances of everyday life, and dyed with the hyperlocal shades of a particular place. Such as Kalonji…
City Food – Dal Makhani, Cosy Restaurant
A lentil excursion. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] You must agree: the universally loved dal makhani is as critical for the survival of Delhi’s food and beverage service industry as India’s middle class is for its automobile economy….
City Food – Netra-Geeta’s Stuffed Paratha, Sadar Bazar, Gurgaon
A couple’s offering. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] The temptation is irresistible. This entire lane in Gurgaon’s Sadar Bazar in the Greater Delhi Region is infused with the scent of steaming parathas. And not just any paratha, but…
City Food – Wenger’s Veg Patty, Connaught Place
Old taste. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] The magic unfolds in three steps. First, the crisp flaky shell crumbles inside the mouth. Second, the mouth gets all buttery. Third, the filling lets loose its gentle spiciness. Such are…
City Food – Mahadev-Parvati Chai Stall, Civil Lines, Gurgaon
Portrait of a partnership. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Just another roadside tea stall, you might say. But it has a picturesque setting. Under a leafy khirni tree. Outside a deliciously decrepit bungalow. Across the road from a…
City Food – Patate al Forno, Ajay Guest House, Paharganj
So not Delhi. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] This is for aloo aficionados. This dish, for once, is not deep-fried in oil. The patate al forno (210 rupees)—Italian baked potato—at Ajay Guest House is a relief from Delhi’s…
City Food – Fen, Old Delhi
Snack for all. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] At night, people in Old Delhi are said to feast on dishes like koftas and biryanis—at least in the fanciful imagination of those of us who tend to romanticise about…
City Food – Chilli Gobhi, Gymkhana Club, Gurgaon
Greasy love. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] First thing first. It’s not that famous Gymkhana, the one that’s close to the prime minister’s residence in Delhi. The restaurant at the HUDA Gymkhana Club in Gurgaon’s Sector 4 in…
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