Tryst with Food-o-logy -3

Delhi- The microcosm of India. It is a land of open minds and huge hearts. Shared gracefully by all. This multi-ethnic city is a pot-pourri of mutually developed culture. If you find out who the real Dilli-Walla is, no body and everybody who has ever been there can define that. Dilli-wala is 'Dil wala' . Anybody with a big magnificent heart to accept changes rapidly is the Aborigine of Delhi.

Well let me not just blabber around, yet the fact remains that Delhi has given me some most beautiful years/memories of my life.

I have learnt to live life! "Queen size" indeed! ;D

Being a melting point of various customs, cuisines and culture, Delhi is indeed the Capital of India. It deserves to be called so. I prefer not to delve more on historical details because my knowledge doesn't dates back much in this specific area. What I am talking about is what Youth in Delhi eats. Things which I have seen with my not-so-experienced eyes!

The affluent food in parties ,traditionally includes Pulao which could be of various kinds like chicken, fish,muzaafar and muthanjan.Kebabs of different flavours , cooked in ample amount of ghee and enriched with raisins,nuts and dried melon/pumpkin seeds. Seekh kebabs, large chapattis and nans are cooked in Tandoor gives it a different panache altogether. Well, I can in no way talk about mughlai and Peshawari food which has a great impact that ways, because being a vegetarian I have not tasted any except once in Lucknow when a single ' mughlai paratha' had costed me burning stomach and awesome taste in mouth for days...

Turning towards ordinary, what I have witnessed is the supremacy of Rajma-chawal. Everybody can afford it and is quite filling when taken as a whole meal. Also Chole-Bhature adorned with grated onions and chillies is a delectable option. Sometimes 'Kulcha" replaces 'bhature' which could be either filled with Paneer or other stuffings or left like that.

Favorite breakfast in Delhi includes 'Aloo ke parathe' with curd and pickle. Parathe wali gali in Chandni chowk has as many as 40-50 different types of parathas. This can only be witnessed there itself. May be ambiance counts a lot.

What my friends would die for is "momos" - this steamed piece of trouble is super tasty and simple , but the moment it is combined with red hot chilly-tomato-chutney, it becomes a lethal combination! Every market, viz Sarojini, Lajpat, karol bagh, gaffar, hauz khas or the one in front of our college -all had some difference in taste-however similar be the process of making. Whatsoever, youth in Delhi goes gaga over this 'Momo". :D

Snacks counts a major portion of cuisines in Delhi. Dahi ki gujiya, kalmi bare, dahi bhalle, papri chaat, alu-kachaalu, fruit chat and alu k kulle. Sultan ke kulle is quite famous for being cooked with Potatoes in charcoal embers.

Dahi-malai-milk-kulfi served in earthen glasses is something that cannot be missed, while at Paharganj and old Delhi.

Delhi has a huge list of food which cannot be listed in such short span. On the other hand I have realized recently [5 minutes back] is that how-so-ever be my claim to be a food-o-maniac, this isn't a reality. I cannot write much on the issue on which great minds have calculated great facts. So, I must stop, people are far more experienced. :D