McLeod Ganj Escapades - 5 Meals Worth Going Back For

Now, I may not be the only one who travels for food. I am sure there will be many like me but believe me when I say that when I am traveling solo, once I start my day, a major part of planning is where to eat. I feel like packing in lot of places and meals in already crammed time schedule.

On my very recent trip to McLeod Ganj, my agenda was very clear - ‘Hog till you drop’. Friends, colleagues, strangers and anyone who cared to share, had given me an impressive checklist of things to do which obviously included arduous treks. And that was conflicting with my secret agenda. And guess what won? My agenda, of course. Chuck the treks, catch the cafés, was going to be my modus operandi. Period.

So, if McLeod Ganj happens to be on your list anytime soon, then do try these and you can thank me later. As for me, I am definitely going back to McLeod just for the food and have a rewind of these fab 5. And more.

1. Spiciest Egg Fried Rice, 8 Auspicious Him View Hotel (with their trademark red chilli chutney)

My stay at this beautiful, cozy place requires another post. For now, I can just say that my craving for a normal-ish egg fried rice was answered by this plateful of hot, spicy fried rice with generous portion of scrambled egg thrown in the middle. This, delivered in my room, with pitter-patter of rain out in the balcony, has to be one of my best meals there.

2. Cheesy Gnocchi Fungi, Jimmy’s Italian Kitchen

Slightly expensive compared to other cafés and if you are on a budget, but like a third of a cost from a nice Italian restaurant in Delhi. And food? This Gnocchi was right cheese, right warm and just very right melt in the mouth kind.

3. Hot hot hot Momos and Fruit Beer, Tibet Kitchen

It was a big recommendation from a good friend. And I was so not disappointed. The best momos I have had (not kidding, I know my momos well!) and tangy lemon beer was such a killer combo. All this in about 130 bucks. And since I couldn’t finish the whole plate, 4 pieces made for my dinner too. Value for money, I say!

4. Chocolatey Peanut Butter Cake, The Clay Oven

I love sweets but I don’t usually go ordering a cake slice on a lazy evening in the hills. But that’s just what I did. With a honey ginger lemon tea. A definite must-have. While sitting outside in the balcony, looking at the rush of the main square, biting in to the cake and listening to music. Stuff trips are made of!

5. Authentic Belgian Waffles, Illiterati Books and Coffee

The coolest café I have ever been to in my life. The coolest owner, a Belgian, and a wonderful staff. Waffles that will make you forget all other waffles that you may have had. And did I mention that the place has the most amazing views in the whole area? I discovered it just a day before I was to head back home. Next time, I know where to plot my ass all day. 

Suffice to say, the trip was wonderful and delicious. McLeod Ganj is full of big, small and hole in the wall kind of places to eat at and I have a feeling that none of them disappoint. 

And if you travel to eat, do keep McLeod on your list. Move it up on the list, if I may say so. You will be surprised and charmed! 

Promise to be back with more travel tales soon! 

Mumbai Mélange - 4

Food, food and food.

Ladies and gentlemen, with this post I complete a century. Yay! 100th post. Took me a while to reach here. Long breaks, blogger's block, erractic work schedules, lack of ideas and mostly lethargy are majorly to be credited for bringing me here today. And when it is 100th it should be about something I love and live by. As part of this week-long festival, I am writing about my take-away from recent Mumbai trip. Seven things, seven days. Today, I choose one thing that is my biggest motivation in life. Food!

Though many say that food in Mumbai doesn't have that depth especially when you have been brought up on a generous diet of puri-chhole in breakfast! But, believe me, Mumbai is a food-lover's haven. And my experience comes only from street food, small eateries, cafes and casual dining restaurants. Five-stars simply do not fit my budget and Mumbai flavor is actually in its street food.

To start with, I fell in love with Dahi-puri. Given a chance, I could have it everyday! The combination of curd, bhel, papri, chutney is irresistible. Best had at a kiosk in Juhu Chowpatty and then at Swati Snacks, Tardeo.

Pao Bhaji at Shiv Sagar, Juhu

Dahi puri at Shiv Sagar, Juhu

Dahi puri & sugarcane juice at Swati Snacks

This time discovered a cute little cafe in Bandra named Candies. The place has been made by converting a bungalow and no nook and corner has been left unused. Be it lighting, artefacts at display, friendly staff and most importantly, food, this place is a rockstar. The grilled chicken roll, paneer tikka croissant, red velvet cupcake, sugar donuts, frappe and chocolate milkshake that we had were all A-class. If you live in Mumbai and have not been to Candies, I suggest you pay a visit. You won't regret. The most pretty to look at in their shelves were the angry birds cupcakes.

Yummy food at Candies

I am not a huge icecream fan but had been recommended Natural's by everyone. So, a visit was a must. The offernings list is not extensive considering the fruit-based are all available as per the season. So, I got to have watermelon but I gathered the most loved flavors are sitaphal (custard apple) and tender coconut. Watermelon was yummy too. And then, after watching so many travel shows, a visit to Bachelorr's at Charni Road was required. The burnt coffee, orange and sitaphal flavors were all unique and a must try. The location of this place is really awesome.

Watermelon!

Natural's. I love the colors on this board.

Bachelorr's at Charni Road

Burnt coffee and Sitaphal, anyone?

There is a little cafe in South Mumbai called Cafe Mocambo that serves Parsi cuisine. It was my first bite of Dhansak and chicken salli and it did not disappoint. The best part was the owner of the cafe coming over to out table and helping us through the menu.

Parsi food in lunch

Mocambo!

Then there was this small kiosk at Linking Road near National College that sells sandwiches. The picture shall tell you how amazing that grilled cheese and vegetable sandwich must have tasted.

Sandwich kiosk at National College

Wish I could take it out right now and gobble it up!

Also, you will find kiosks selling dosa, idli and vada on streets and its really good. There is a good south Indian joint called Cafe Madras but the day we went there, it was Monday and hence closed. So we settled for Mysore Cafe which was close by. Neer dosa and 2 filter coffees down, I didn't complain of Cafe Madras being shut. :)

Missed it this time. Next time, will check before I plan!

Filter kaapi

Do try the breakfast of typical Indore poha and jalebi. I had it at a small shop near Vashi station. Good stuff.

Poha and jalebi breaky is a must!

The paani-puri is also not what we get in Delhi but it has its own flavor and I quite liked it.                       

I have been to Bade Miyan post partying but missed out on Mahesh Lunch Home and Gajalee. Kayani bakery serves some good kheema pav and though I have been there before, missed out on it this time. Somethings for next time!

I already have so many places to eat out on my list next time I go to Mumbai. But till then, I can always look at these pictures and go back to the tasteful memories.

And, now thank you for reading this, staying with my writing and taking time out to give me feedback. Not in this one. In all the previous 99 ones. Matters a lot to me.
I hope I can churn out good, engaging work and I hope you continue loving me like this.

I am taking part in The Write Tribe Festival of Words 1st - 7th September 2013. - See more at: http://whilethecoffeebrews.blogspot.in/#sthash.WHrw401t.dpuf

I am taking part in The Write Tribe Festival of Words 1st - 7th September 2013.

Jalebi – A twisted rounded sweetness!!

Guess what? It was J today. I could have written on the joys and the jealousies. But I choose sweet. I choose J for Jalebi!

Picture a scene in a big fat Indian wedding. You can see long tables in the dining area with lip-smacking traditional Indian and international cuisine on every counter. There is the dessert section with a blueberry cheese cake, a chocolate souffle, gajar ka halwa and the exotic flavors of icecreams on display. And somewhere in the end is the counter that is serving hot hot jalebis. That counter, the counter that serves orange-colored, syrupy, slurpy hot sweet, is where I spend the most time in a wedding! I skip every random snack, I hog less on the main-course, all to keep space in my tummy to gorge on Jalebi (click on the link if you do not know about it) in the end.

Image courtesy - Google images

Jalebi is without doubt one of the most popular Indian sweets ever. It is a sweet for all seasons and occasions. It is also perhaps the only sweet that is served at different time across India. In Delhi, we get it in evenings. I used to have them in breakfast when I visited my uncle and aunt’s place in Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh. When I went to Udaipur last year to visit a friend, as soon as she picked me from the station at 7:30 in the morning, we stopped at a shop and gorged on the yummy jalebis and poha for breakfast!

For us, jalebi is a favorite evening snack on weekends coupled with a savory delight, samosa. They taste even better and heavenly on a cold winter evening or a cloudy monsoon evening. Like ice creams, Jalebi is also versatile and is had with many different accompaniments. People like to top it with Rabri, have it with hot milk, or a scoop of ice cream too! Though it tastes best when served hot, many, like my mom, enjoy it cold. The thickness of a jalebi, the color and the number of roundels also vary across places. The way it is prepared is no less fascinating! The way the person makes the twisted rounds of flour in a pan full of oil and then soaks it in sugar syrup, it just so makes me salivate looking at the little sweet circles!

Image courtesy - Google images

Even though I can have jalebi from any shop selling it, some are obvious favorites. In Delhi, some of the best ones are Old and Famous Jalebi Wala in Chandni Chowk, Nathu’s in Bengali Market, and a Haldiram’s or a Bikanerwala too. Personally, I like to have it from the little unknown, un-named local shops that are there in the busy markets. They also do it the best. 

In Hindi, there is a saying to taunt a person that he is not that naive as he pretends. So its like 'jalebi ki tarah seedha hona'. So you are just as innocent and naive as a jalebi, because it happens to be twisted and curved!

So, tell me. Are you a jalebi-lover too? And what is the best place in your city offering it. So that we have a list of places to eat Jalebi whenever we visit that city!