Chandni Chowk to Gurgaon

I am a foodie... I love to eat, I love the way food looks, I love the way food cooks, I love to watch cooking shows on tv (whenever I watch TV - very rare) and I love to cook too. People who know me would agree that I have a never ending hunger for hunger. Well my romance with food takes me places. I want to travel the world but my sole motive is to experience diverse cusines. Unfortunately, being vegetarian for almost 2 years wouldn't help.

Since the world is out of reach right now, I make do with Chandni Chowk :) . Chandni Chowk is situated in the old delhi. The simplest way to get there is to catch the Delhi metro from anywhere to "Rajiv Chowk" (C.P). From Rajiv Chowk , change trains and board the one going to Kashmere Gate. I'm not sure but I think it's the 4th station on that route. Anyway, once you're there take the "Chandni Chowk" exit , NOT the Townhall. Almost instantly your nostrils would be taken by shock. The unlimited urinals ( some structured, others created by whim) fill the air with a unique essence that you're not really searching for. Once you regain consciousness, you need to find a way to get to "Fatehpuri".

Now Chandi Chowk , is not 1 chowk as you might think of it to be. It's really a collection of these small sectional market areas (each famous for it's own product) . The markets are clustered together within narrow streets and lanes which gives an overall illusion of it being one really big huge market. Some names that I've heard of "Khari Bawri" , famous for dry fruits I think (might be wrong), "FatehPuri" , my usual adda etc etc.

To get to FatehPuri , you'll probable take a rickshaw ride (if they're still there, they come and go as they please even after a ban!!!). The other option is to take the shuttle bus service which is quite comfortable. Regardless of your mode of transport, you would be dropped a little away from your destination. "Giani Di Hatti". Ask around, walk a few steps and you'd be there before you know it.

The huge red sign board adorned with a goldenish yellow font is not really what you'd call "Creativity" , but considering that the place has been around since before partition, I guess you'd let it pass.

The next visual you'll probably see is of people holding a HUGE glass and attacking its contents with a stainless steel spoon. Welcome to the land of the most amazing Rabri Falooda in delhi.
For a small price Rs. 35 / glass, your taste buds have an orgasmic experience like never before. The ordering procedure is as follows.

The counter is on the right side of the shop. On the left a man sits cross legged behind a huge steel container of Rabri (Basically Full Cream Milk, cooked with sugar till it becomes really thick). He takes a big glass, adds faluda to it (white noodles) and then puts one big helping of the creamy rabri on top. In front of him (on the outside of the shop) stands another employee whose work is to add sugar syrup (i think that's what it is) and mix the contents of the glass before handing it over to you. The first spoonful that goes into your mouth says it all....

Giani ki hatti is divided into 2 parts. One is the part that sells Rabri and Milk Shakes (also pretty good) and the other part sells Gajar Ka Amazing halwa. For people who love Gajrella (Gajar ka halwa in punjabi) , you cannot MISS this. I think it's around 25 Rs per plate, but its absolutely worth it. It's got the right amount of sweetness, its cooked in desi ghee and you don't have to search to find the dry fruits. This part of the Gianni di Hatti also sells other stuff which I haven't really tasted.

Now we move onto the dhabha which is adjacent to Giani. On one of my visits , I got the chance to meet the owner. This person (educated) , speaks fluent english, stays opposite the dhabha on the first floor. Now if you've never been to Chandni Chowk or old delhi , you wouldn't be able to visualize the construction of these houses, so you need to pay the dhaba a visit to understand why it's so shocking. Anyway, the owner says his great grandfather started the dhabha and it's been around for over 100 odd years. This place sells the BEST parantha's ive had. They're priced between Rs 22 - Rs 35 and they're HUGE. The parantha's are so big a person with an average diet (not me) cannot finish one alone. [I can, Wooot!] . I wonder why these are called parantha's (they're actually stuffed naan's) , but I really don't care.

The entrance of the dhabha is decorated with a tandoor , two to three humongous cooking pots and a few workers constantly stirring the curries being cooked. One would also notice, the mounds of parantha mixtures, standing (uncovered, yes uncovered) on top of a rack. This is what goes into ur parantha's and for the people who got disgusted with the "uncovered" part of it, well that's what makes em delicious!!!! . Once you move into the dhabha, you see rows of tables lines up together and these small green stools. The tables almost always have a plate full of cut salad (uncovered - I don't eat this ever) , a squeezy bottle of green chutney ( I eat this always!!) , a pile of green chillies and pickle!!.

Once you rest your rear comfortably on one of the stools, a scrawnny looking waiter comes up to you holding a dirty rag in his hand rattles off a long list of paranthas. Gobi, Mattar, Alu, Pyaaz, Methi , Pudina, Paneer, Butter, Palak , Dhaniya ...... Once you choose your parantha, the plates are laid (cleaned with the same cloth the waiter's holding). If you're feeling super enthusiastic you can try ordering one of the new paranthas (like methi - not to good), but I strongly recommend ordering Aloo Pyaaz or Paneer for the first visit. You can also order the usual daal fry or makhni daal or shahi paneer (not too good). The paranthas come stacked on small plate and the first time you see the plate, you feel , Wow!! big paranthas, only to realize that there's one plate each for the paranthas you ordered. Yes! one parantha is so huge, it needs to be cut into pieces (1 piece equivalent to 1 normal naan) and stacked on top of each other. The parantha experience is incomplete without butter (Rs 6 per cube) , and meethi lassi (available at a shop to the left of giani) . The lassi is served in a Kullahr (an earthen glass) and is topped with actual Malai. It's the most amazing lassi ever. The dhabha doesn't mind you getting the lassi from another shop (it's not like those snooty restaurants). Once you have your lassi, ur paranthas, green chatni , pyaaz if u want (ask for fresh cut) , hari mirchi , butter cube, you're all set to dig in. It's one hell of an experience you won't forget.

Some Fun Facts about The Parantha place
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1. The first time I visited the place , I ordered 2 paranthas (because I had already had parantha's at the famous Paranthey wali gaali in Chandni Chowk (more abt that in the next post) and I had assumed that the parantha would be of an average size. The owner came up and said "I don't think you've ever had our paranthas, please order one!!!".

2. Once I packed the paranthas and brought them home. It was winters. From Chandni Chowk to Gurgaon the parantha's remained warm (and i kid you not). When I ate them for dinner they were still soft.

3. They also serve Laukki ka raita (BottleGourd raita). It's nice although not too uncommon as I thought it would be.

4. From Gurgaon - you can reach parantha place in under Rs 50. [if u take a metro from dwarka].

5. Meal for one (approx Rs 40)


Some Notes about Gianni Di Hatti
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1. He has an employee whose work is JUST TO MIX THE CONTENTS OF THE GLASS.

2. Rabri is best had as dessert after the parantha place. (so make sure you don't stuff yourself)

3. Make sure rabri is had without the ICE that they mix in the glass (You can tell them not to put ice). Ice dilutes the rabri and the real fun is to eat it thick and creamy.



Phewww!! I'm hungry now.......

Do visit Chandni Chowk and then post your comments. More about it in the next post.

Cheers!!

Sameer

Searching the unknown

I've often found myself feeling miserable, bored, irritated. Never really figured out the exact cause for these feelings to surface. Sometimes it's anger, sometimes hunger. What I do understand of these mixed emotions is that there is something I crave to get. What? I don't know. But if I were satisfied with my life and how things were moving, maybe I'd be clearer in the head. Is it only me or is this a common occurrence ? Is a person ever completely satisfied ? Maybe!, when they know what they're running after. Whether they get it or not then seems secondary. With a goal in place, it's just the path that needs to be figured out.

It's strange, but my search for the unknown continues day in and day out. There's no reason for me to feel this way , but still I do. Maybe I search myself, maybe I search love, maybe a song, maybe an opportunity, maybe a goal , I have no freaking clue.

What I do know is that I'm searching the unknown.....