Just Walking Around

Chatpata Chaat…..

I'm a big-time foodie and love anything chatpata.Name one person who doesn't enjoy chaats! I don't think such a person exists. So here goes my blog a dedication to the “Chatpata Chaat”

Have you observed during any of your daily shopping trips to the local market or even for the weekend shopping at say Linking Road or Hill Road Bandra , the first thing that your better half would want to try during one of the breaks during the shopping spree is the mouth watering and guiltily tasty food item .. it is the Paani Puri or the Dahi Puri at the local Chaatwala . Be it a small thela or a a hole in the wall shop selling the Chaat item you will always observe a small crowd of women buzzing around the Chaatwala bhai , asking for thoda theekha , thoda medium or ek meethi wali puri. Most often each one will have a full plate of six and then still craving for more will for “Aur teen  dena bhaiya” . To top it up a final –“Ek masala puri dena bhaiya” goes the order before handing over the money for the a scrumptious and lip smacking treate.

These typically spicy , mouth watering  all time hit snacks are known all across India by a common name “Chaat” . Each region has their own variations and unique items that are classified as Chaat. There is the Mumbai or erstwhile Bombay Chowpatty Chat . You will find a Bombay Chat counter even in as far as Bangalore or up west in Bharuch or Surat . Not to spicy not to sweet just right for the palette of the residents living in Mumbai. Though each locality will have a Chaatwala serving his wares some have become famous as the go to places for The Chaat.

Bandra Elco's ragda to riches story can be told in plates of Paani Puri made with Bisleri mineral water that to ice cold giving it a special cool quotient . Touted to be the ‘best chaat house of city’, this outlet in the famous Elco Market, serving Mumbai street food for eons now stated some where in 1970’s. It is known for creating a perfect balance between taste and hygiene. 

It's evolved into a full-fledged twin-level eatery, a Mumbai institution of sorts for chatpati chaat like delicious Dahipuri, delectable Paani Puri, Papadi Chaat and Bhelpuri still served with that irresistible cart-on-the-curb flavour. Ragda Patties (sometimes in whimsical heart shapes; "maast"), Pao Bhaji (served with brown bread) and stuffed parathas (Paneer, Gobhi, Aloo, Cheese and Garlic) are great. Desserts here are delicious - Rasmalai, Rabadi, Gulab Jamun and Kulfi are popular. Kulfi Faluda is an Elco special. Want to throw a chaat party? Call for they do catering as well and order new items like Dahi Ragda Puri and Capsicum Baby Corn Masala. P.S. It's Bollywood's pick for chaat — Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Boney Kapoor, Govinda's wife and Preity Zinta are all regulars.

During my Engineering College days we used to frequent a Sindhi Pani Puri eatery in Chmbur going simply by the name of Sindhi Pani Puri located at Navjeevan CHS, Next to UCO Bank, Vasi Naka Road, Chembur. The USP of this joint is that the masala for Pani Puri is prepared daily. You can savour this tangy, spicy treat till your heart is content and not be afraid of contracting infection; the hygienic environment here assures that.

If its Paani puri you seek but with a little bit of a twist you should try the Phuchkas in Kolkatta. The phuchkas are arranged on a plate and filled with a mix of boiled potatoes, rock salt, tamarind water, green chili and roasted masala. Seasoned with sweet and salty curd, chopped onions, coriander, rock salt, chutney and red chili powder, these phuchkas are to die for.Another specialty is the Ghoogni chaat. This one is sure to catch your attention. Soaked, boiled and tempered yellow peas are cooked with tomatoes, onions and spices. These are then served in a small leaf bowl garnished with chutney, lime juice and onions.Piping, hot and spicy -just perfect to beat the winter blues. If you like something spicy you could try the Raj Kachori a spicy kachori bowl filled with delicious A condiments like curd, papdi, chickpeas, bhujia, boiled potato, soft pakodis, sprouts, pomegranate, sweet tamarind chutney and coriander chutney. It's crunchy on the outside and soft and spicy on the inside that makes it a delicious snack. If it’s a tangy that you like you can bite into the PAPDI CHAAT Crunchy, tangy, hot and sweet flavours make it a perfect treat. The papdis are laid out on a plate and garnished with boiled potatoes, chickpeas, boondi, sprouts, chopped onions, tomato, bhujia, curd and sweet chutney. A sprinkling of rock salt, red chilli powder, cumin powder, chaat 

masala, lemon juice and coriander leaves make the snack really delicious.

Another trademark of Kolkatta is the Jhal Muri a type of bhel made from puffed rice or muri (kurmura )as they are called in Bengal. Preparation involves mixing puffed rice and chanachur in a bowl, along with onion, chili, lemon and frequently shaking the bowl. Sometimes it is prepared as a soup with tomato, pudina or cucumber. Generally it is served with thonga. Sometimes it is served with bowl.The taste is a little pungent and spicy which stays on your tongue long after you have eaten it.

Going northwards there region specific chaats like the Indori Chaat from Indore in Madhya Pradesh. Head to the Sarafa Bazaar late in the evening and you can see a burstling street with chaat wallahs and their patrons. Food vendors converge on this location to set up eateries along the road every evening. The variety is superb: samosas, kachoris, pani puri, pav bhaji, chhole tikiyas, sabudana ki khichdi, maalpua and poha to name a few. There are quite a few permanent restaurants too. Joshi Restaurant is very popular for bhutte ka kees. The Bhutte Ka Kees, which made of grated corn garnished with coriander leaves and grated coconut, just melts in your mouth. These guys also sell dahi vada, bhajiyas etc. And, yes, Mr Joshi will throw in some jugglery along with the food (you

have to request for it though). The famous khopra pattis (patties) can be sampled at Vijay Chaat House. The pattis, which are made of khopra (dry coconut) with a covering of potatoes, are fried right in front of you and served with khatti-meeti chatni.You may have eaten aloo pattis elsewhere, but khobra pattis are a must when you are in Indore.Vijay Chaat House also makes aloo mattar pattis. Pattis cost Rs 5 per piece only. You can also enjoy their samosas and kachoris.

Vijay Chaat House is a standing-only place, but I guess that is the best way to enjoy chaat.

And if you are on the topic of Chaat how can you miss the all time famous and the well known Dehli Chaat. If you are in Delhi head to Chandni Chowk to the Balaji  Chaat Bhandar also  known as Radha Swamy Chaat Bhandar, the place is so famous that when local shop owners want to eat some Chaat they only go to Shree Balaji Chaat Bhandar as their dishes have that traditional flavour that is not found anywhere else. Their Papdi Chaat which is garnished with Kaccha Aloo Chutney & Saunth (has a very unique sweet & sour flavour) makes all the difference. Another famous eatery here in Chandani Chow is the Natraj Dahi Bhalle Corner This popular joint in the bylanes of Chandni Chowk is particularly famous for its Dahi Bhalle,but its Aloo Tikki scores equally with its consistent visitors. A plate gets you 2 aloo tikkis that are prepared using potatoes, peas and gram flour and shallow fried in oil, till the tikkis are crunchy. Served with imli-gud, coriander chutney, yogurt, ginger juliennes and boiled chickpeas; the Aloo Tikki plate is absolutely divine.

One more Chaat specialist is the Ashok Chaat Corner . This legendary place is located outside the Chawri Bazar metro station exit and is known for its snaking queues and hordes of people visiting it on a daily basis for the delicious street treats. So what’s so different about them? Well their menu is quite unique in comparison to the other vendors found in the area and we highly recommend them for trying out things like Dahi Bhalle, Papdi Chaat and Kalmi Vada.

So next time you are in the mood for a little bit of indulgence on a light but lip smacking snack go for the Chaat .Not only will you mouth explode with the unique tastes and fill your belly with magical recipes it wiil also be very light on your wallet . And if you are the one who suggests your better half to cheat on her diet with a little bit of a Chaat expect that mischievious smile and a sparkle in her eyes and I guarantee you your evening would definaltely turn into a Romantic one.