|
Food
For Thought
I have
always admired the variety that is available as far as food is concerned
in Delhi: It beats any other city and even the famous cuisine of
Lucknow pales in comparison. But the truth of the matter is that
most of these so-called food columnists will only tell you about
places that are easily accessible but never about where you might
get the best food. Hence this food rail. I hope you like it. I can
only say this that this is food tried and tested and paid for. No
free meals at five-star eateries have had any influence on this
columnist, I can assure you. Each meal, as I said, has been paid
for and each meal will guarantee you enormous gourmand satisfaction,
if I may add. This is not a recommendation for vegetarians, I may
add. It is for those who are strictly meat-eaters so I may be forgiven
for this non-vegetarian stance. The best food joints for the real
food-lover are:
The
Dhaba at Malkaganj:
If you are looking for the best mutton burrahs then the only place
you will get them at is in Malkaganj, which incidentally also happens
to be amongst Asia's largest scrap iron mandi. Don't be looking
for anything fancy. Yes, there will be a plate-load of flies but
then try and get anything closer to these kind of burrahs and I
assure you, flies will be purely incidental! I may also mention
that this is not the place for the weak-hearted or for the air-conditioning
freaks, just a very simple, very standard place but one which serves
the most amazing mutton burrahs.
Karim's at Jama Masjid:
The best place for Mutton Shtew (Stew): I went there thanks
to perhaps one of Delhi's most admirable foodies, Vinod Dua, and
all I can say is that the mutton stew is purely divine. But then,
Karim's is also known for many other delicacies. Try the seekh kabab
(but as I was warned) only as a starter and then see the magic work.
Now, you will be tempted to try the seekh kababs with rumali rotis
but I would suggest that you avoid that and keep it for later since
how will you ever do justice to the Mutton Korma without the rotis.
Mughal Mahal at Rajendra Place:
I have always maintained that the best Butter Chicken in the
world is available at Mughal Mahal. A simple restaurant in the same
lane as that five-star wannabe hotel called Sidharth at Rajendra
Place. If you drive too fast, you are bound to miss it. It has the
best butter chicken but you will be much the wiser if you were to
order it with bones. There is nothing better than finger-licking
Butter Chicken. You can see dollops of homemade butter blend with
effortless ease with the tomato-laden gravy. The day you are planning
to go to Mughal Mahal, try and skip all meals. It is heavenly.
Moti
Mahal at G K-1, M-Block Market:
The world's best all-round restaurant for a Mughlai meal made more
famous by star editors and good-looking ministers but still disliked
by five-star lawyers who would much rather prefer business clubs
to this kind of janata environment! This food must certainly be
blessed by God. I would just order the following and in this order:
Start with a plate of mutton seekh kababs had in conjunction with
their chicken pakoras and then move on to the burrahs (which come
a close second to those of Malkaganj) and then rapidly move onto
the Dal Makhni with a side helping of some keema matar and you will
never miss Cindy Crawford. The food is just divine. It beats any
other place hollow. After your meal, hop over to Prince's and gorge
on the paan and you have had a meal fit for royalty!
Triveni's
Open Air Restaurant:
They serve the best shammi kababs but you have to get there early
and it's open only for lunch. There is no place which serves better
homemade food than this. If you are lucky and the Gods are kind,
you may even get to taste their homemade mutton curry which in a
way is something not even the best housewives can match. The food
is simply too good to miss.
Jagdish
Chand at Gole Market:
If there is any roadside place which deserves a million kudos it
is this. They serve the best seekh kababs with the best mint chutney
and some fabulously soft rumali rotis: A pleasure to dine there
in winter and now with CNG in the air, you don't even need to worry
about pollution. I could go on and on but some remarkable nihari
awaits my indulgence. So go ahead and try these places. This is
jannat on earth!
|
