Just Walking Around

Ramazaan ---- Fasting , Food and Festivities

The more I think about the different religions in India , the more I come to the conclusion that each faith is more similar to the other than being different. Take for example of the case of fasting in the Hindu Culture especially during the auspicious month of Shravan which will begin around end July this year. During this month devotees shun non veg food especially fish and fast or do Upvas on Mondays and Fridays / Saturdays by eating frugal food or go with out food for one time in day and break this fast in the evening after Sunset. Similar is the case with Jainism , where many of them observe fasting during Paryushan again an auspicious period where the devotees shun food and sometimes even water during the day and only after sunset break their fast with food. Which is much like in Christianity during the month of Lent many observe fast and give up life of luxury to do penance for sins and as a mark of respect to Jesus who suffered for the cause of humanity.

Why am I referring to all this , because we are in the holy month of Ramadaan or Ramzan . the holiest and auspicious month for all Muslims and the devotees of Allah and followers of the prophet Mohammad . I was exposed to the sensitivity of Ramzaan during my Engineering college days , when my closest buddy Gulam Abbas Jaffer who we used call as Abbas or Gullu or just GMJ his Nintendo avatar / play name. This guy , then a teenager who loved food and could not go without munching  on snacks for long would ritually observe Roja during Ramazan and that to very strictly. He would get up around 4 am in the morning to eat before Sunrise as per tradition and then attend Engineering classes in college going without even a drop of water. He would not even swallow his saliva as part of this tedious fast. This would carry on till evening when he would open a box of the best ever and sweetest of Khajur – Dates if he was in college to break his fast. On other time he would rush back home to break his fast with his close relatives. On one such occasion he introduced us – me, Hiren my Gujarati Friend who loved his Chicken and Paras my Maharashtrian friend who was a vegetarian to the succulent Chicken Biryani at Lucky Restuarant in Bandra. Till date I find Lucky’s Chicken biryani with the right mix of spices and oiliness , the best ever biryani . That restaurant becam a sort of Adda for us four friends , where we would meet up on a weekend to catch up , gossip and generally have a Boy talk. It could be about Football matches or the Cricket tournament’s going on or about the exam preparations for the papers and Viva coming around or about the girls in college. Unfortunately for us the ratio of girls in our own class was 30 boys to 5 gilrs because of our Industrial Electronics stream and we used to envy the boys from Computer Engineering classes where this ratio was if not in reverse but a fair strength of girls.

Anyways to cut the long story short , if you are a foodie like me and crave non-veg food , then Mumbai is the place to be and Ramazaan is the month to go food hunting for the best of meat eating. Mumbai, is the city of dreams a cosmopolitan melting pot of various cultures. Famously known for celebrating every festival, Mumbai doesn’t fail to impress anybody. And this month is that time of the year when Mumbai will host a display of different culinary skills since the holy month of Ramzaan, a festival celebrated by Muslims has begun. Mumbai, being as diverse as it is, is leaving no stone un-turned to delight food lovers. Irrespective of whether you are observing a fast or not, you cannot miss out on such a good opportunity to feast on Mumbai’s streets and join in the celebrations that happen post sunset. A whole month of delicious food to satiate your cravings is what the holy month of Ramzaan offers.

Just after sundown head straight to Mohammad Ali Street , just after JJ College -Hospital , close to the Minara Masjid to be mesmerized with the food & festivities. Ramzaan delicacies are synonymous to Mohammad Ali Road, the long street that stretches below the JJ Flyover in south Mumbai. Also known as Mecca for Ramzaan food, this is where you will find Mumbai’s best food in wide variety of options.  After an entire day of fasting, this place bustles with energy after sunset. People throng here in huge numbers to relish the delicious food that is served here. You will be spoilt with choices.

You could start off at Al-Madina fast food which lies in the same lane as Minara Masjid. They are best known for their seekh kebabs. The meat is succulent and the kebabs lightly spicy , served with a dash of lime and that tasty mint chutney . The combination is mouth watering and the kebabs just melt in your mouth.

Next stop is Surti Barah Handi .Though I have not personally tasted their Paya , people who have and who are familiar with this dish vouch for Surti Bara Handi at Gujar Street, Behind Dargah, Crawford Market. This is one place that you must visit during the holy month of Ramzaan. The special Barah Handi’s paya is a dish that will delight to taste your buds. The name was coined from their concept of making different food items in 12 different Handis (pots).

Then there is Cheese -n- Grill at Barkat Manzil, Near Minara Mazjid, Mohammed Ali Road. Don’t let the name of this restaurant fool you. It s not a typical Chinese joint like the name suggests. You will be in for a sweet surprise if you look through the menu. This place has been a favorite to many foodies. You could probably try the Nalli Nihari with Sheermal which is the most demanded food in this joint.

Then there the safe option of Bade Miyan from Colaba . This place needs no introduction any Mumbaikar. This joint is to Mumbai what Kareem’s is to Delhi and Paradise is to Hyderabad and it is crowded throughout the year. However during Ramzaan, the crowd just swells. So much so that they have to open another stall near Minara Masjid. Visit Bade Miyan this Ramzaan and enjoy their delicious kebabs , Shawarma , Chicken Bhuna and Mutton Keema with the soft Rumali Roti.

Some of the lesser known foodie joints but great at what they serve are the Marhaba Fast Food and Delhi Zaika. Marhaba fast food corner is another famous joint near Minara Masjid.  Marhaba rolls or chicken rolls are Marhaba’s specialty and must not be missed at any cost. If you want to feast on mouth-watering food and still remain light on your pockets, the Delhi-Zaika is an ideal place for the same. This place specializes in Mughlai food. Good Ramzaan food at pocket-friendly rates is what you get here.

Another offbeat food joint is the Hindustan Restaurant. The road less traveled always makes for great experiences. And Hindustan is on one such road. Though located opposite Minara Masjid, it might be tad tricky to find. Instead of relying on Google Maps, do reach out to locals for directions. Known for its delicious kebabs, Hindustan is not a place you can visit just once. Another meat eaters delight is the Noor Mohamadi Hotel in Bhendi Bazaar.The most popular dish here is Sanju Baba chicken, named after the Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, who has been their regular customer.

If you are not the kind who scavenges for delicacies and cannot stand the heat and sweat of the streets you have options of landing at the best non -veg restaurant’s in Town right here on the Mohamad Ali Street. You can go to Jaffer Bhai’s Delhi Darbar. Haleem is one of their special dishes and they also serve delicious biryanis which makes it a must visit place during Ramzaan. Another famous restaurant is the Shalimar Restaurant at Bhendi Bazaar. If you happen to be a shawarma lover, Shalimar is sure to excite you. While Shalimar’s shawarmas are indeed as good as their reputation, its Malpua with Rabdi, made only during this holy month is just as good if not better.

And if you are a Malpua fan how can you miss the great sweet maker Suleiman Usman Mithaiwala. Here You will find one of the best Malpuas in Mohammed Ali Road. Malpuas at Suleman Usman Mithaiwala are lip-smacking. If you are going to visit Mohammed Ali Road, please have at least one Malpua. The Aroma of blistering Malpuas won't let you walk further. Also don’t forget to sweep in the mouth-watering phirni , the thick sweet rice kheer or the high calorie  Sahi Tukda with Rabdi at the Suleman Usman Mithaiwala.

After all the delicacies  you have had, there should be some room in your tummy for delicious desserts. And no better place than Taj Ice-Cream Center where you get homemade ice creams.  This is one place for all your favorite ice cream flavors. A small ice cream corner with a very friendly uncle dishing out sancha ice creams. They make their ice creams in the traditional Sancha which are wooden ice cream making machines and the ice cream is hand churned to perfection Their taste speaks volumes. Their ice creams come in all fruity flavors like Litchi , Strawberry , Chickoo and Mango .The mango ice cream is very creamy with a hint of mango goodness from the first bite to the last. With strands of mango and the ice cream made in a sancha, it retains a lot of the texture of the mango as well. Totally a must visit place though the location is a bit difficult to trace.

Another favorite spot for people with a sweet tooth, JJ Jalebi is one of the most famous joints for delicious variety of sweets. And you know what to try, jalebis of course. Their brown wheat based jalebis soaked in sweet sugar chasni is to die for.

So this Ramzaan be sure to head to Mohammad Ali street and devour the non-veg delicacies and on the day of EID be sure not to miss the latest Salman Khan starer “Tubelight” ---Sajan Radio Bajaio Bajaio Zara…..

EID Mumbarak and Happy Feasting….