Monday, June 18, 2007

It Happens Only In India...

Here are some things so uniquely Indian that I feel at home the moment I see any of them, especially after a long trip abroad!

LonavalaSee that guy with the array of colored liquids? He sells a variety of slush and drinks. Warning: those of you from the 'developed world' don't want to sample this, unless you have a strong stomach that can survive Indian street food. Honestly, even mine can't any longer!

LonavalaThe next one is our own version of 'corn on the cob'; grilled over charcoal, they usually use a wedge of fresh lime to liberally apply a mixture of salt-red pepper before serving it. A treat for just Rs: 10. This vendor is also selling packets of blackberries. The warning from the first para applies here too. These two photos were taken in front of the Walwan Dam in Lonavala.

Thali, Mystic Masala, Blue Diamond, PuneThe third one is called a thali. It is a traditional Indian meal that is served in multiple bowls placed on a large plate, from which you directly eat. Usually, 'thali' restaurants will serve a particular form of Indian cuisine (such as South Indian, Gujrati, Rajasthani, Marathi, or Punjabi), and one can order multiple helpings for a fixed price. The picture here is of a South Indian thali served at the Mystic Masala in Pune.

LonavalaAnd last of all, the A1 Chikki outlet at Lonavala. This is a traditional Indian candy made with jaggery and nuts (see wiki for more details). Many old cities in India are famous for a particular kind of sweet or a particular variety of street-food; Lonavala is famous for its Chikki, and A1 is one of the premier brands. Vendors selling this sweet in Mumbai and Pune always claim to have sourced their wares in Lonavala.

9 comments:

Unknown said...

The 'bhutta' really makes me miss home!

Unknown said...

They don't look either very hygenic or appetizing. But I think street food tastes the best! Nice snaps

Shantanu said...

@shraddha: It does, doesn't it?

@smita: Definitely not hygenic by my standards now. However, there was a time in my childhood, when I would sample this (and yet lived to see another day!).

The Last Sign said...

aint that first guy like the golguppa guy?
also another thing that you would like to cover is the lovely roadside bhel and the awesome vada pav that you tend to run across. seldom do hotels dish out any better. it the water i say :)

Bee Lee said...

The "thali" looks attractive, hmm.. feeling hungry now ;o)

Bhavesh said...

Of Topic - I Completed the Interview Meme . Thanks for the Interesting questions. I had fun doing it.

Shantanu said...

@bee: Different from the fare you must be enjoying at the Grand Canyon!

@Justme: Cool!

Bong Mom said...

Jamun is not really blueberry, right ? Blueberry doesn't taste as good as Jamun.
I have never seen a thali served that neat, liked it how they only have pickle in the center

Shantanu said...

@last sign: Yeah, expect to cover some more Pune street food.

@sandeepa: Jamun is also called Indian blackberry. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jambul)

Re: thali, yes this one is from the local five star hotel and therefore has better presentation than the usual one. :)