Ramzan’s scrumptious treat
Chances are that Eid might be celebrated on Monday, depending upon the sighting of the moon. Till then the Mohammed Ali Road-Pydhonie-Do Taanki neighbourhoods, famed for their street cuisine during the month of rozas, are a bustle. The crowds descend there for iftar, namaaz and then a full-hearted dinner, which is literally a once-in-a-new-moon experience.
I arrived there, expecting the same bustle, the same tongue-smacking malpuas being ladled out from a tawa (chefs are called in from Lucknow for this delicacy), and the same kababs and faloodas. I wasn’t disappointed. Alas, since I am more conscious about my cholesterol intake, I went easy on the gourmanding. Nope, the Ramzan repast hasn’t been commercialised to the extent of offering “health” food to the squeamish like me. When I asked for brown bread, I was stared at as if I were an extra-terrestrial. My friends had no such inhibitions though, and particularly sought out a stall, which specialises in serving bone marrow nulli, tongue soup and phirni in earthen bowls, which are to die for.
Sign of the times, or just age, I just nibbled my way through the evening, but could see that an appetising time was being had by all. Stores and shops, which retail textiles and auto spare parts and the like during the rest of the year, become eateries where brain fry and tandoori murgh fly out of the kitchen to be devoured instantly.
Next day, I heard that Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif had dropp-ed by at one of the restaurants after midnight. The shutters had to be dropped and security beefed up. The Ek Tha Tiger pair emerged an hour and some more later, sparking off a near-riot. Am glad I was under my quilt at home by then.
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