With Eid being around the corner and the ongoing month of Ramzaan in the backdrop, Anubhav Sapra from Delhi Food Walks organised a perfectly timed Iftar Food Walk. A group of 15 foodies explored and relished Iftar delicacies in the heart of the capital, Old Delhi. The walk began at 6 PM, owing to the dichotomy of the holy month during which those observing a fast are permitted intake of food only before sunrise and after sunset. The former being designated as ‘Sehri’ and the latter, ‘Iftar’.
The scrumptious food that we came across paid testimony to the never ending obsession of people around the country, with Old Delhi Cuisines. We tasted handmade coconut bread, which tasted nothing less than heavenly! Next, we had Biryani and Korma at Mota Pehlwaan. Built in a really small cubicle-like space, the shop caters to hundreds of customers every day. They only sell buff biryani, with chunks of appetizing meat. Another outlet that one can visit to relish the perfect Biryani, is Dil Pasand Biryani Point. The achaari flavors and the tender meat add up to render the perfect taste.
The area is undoubtedly a ‘food paradise’ for the non vegetarians. Aslam Chicken Corner is situated amidst the hustle bustle of the Old Delhi area and don’t offer much variety except for fish and chicken, because that is what ‘Aslam knows best’. The butter chicken at Aslam’s is a delightful combination of butter chicken and tandoori chicken, with a lip smacking flavor. The kebabs at Qureshi’s are mouth watering and economic too. Though there is no seating, but the buff kebabs with raita and chutney are worth the wait and toil.
Another culinary speciality of the food hub of the capital is sweets and baked items. It was at an ancient bakery, more than 7 decades old that we discovered a perfect treat for dessert enthusiasts and all those who have a sweet tooth. The Champa bread is as luscious as they make it, with fine quality ingredients. There were large stocks of packed bread that one could take home and enjoy. Sheermal was another delicacy that you cannot afford to miss. It is saffron flavored, traditional Islamic flat bread that is sweet in taste and the bakery served many varities of it. We had jam and butter sheermal and absolutely loved it! But the list doesn’t end here. Shahi Tukda, another sweet dish prepared by dipping fried bread in condensed milk with dry fruits and saffron, is savoury! An outlet called ‘Cool Point’ serves ambrosial Shahi Tukda that melts in the mouth.
Not just food items, but Chandni Chowk is home to shops that serve unparalleled drinks. Gur ka Sharbet at Mohalla Pahadi was equally refreshing as it was tasteful, and provided great relief from the humid June summer. The Pyaar Mohabbat Sharbat is a red concoction to which chopped watermelon is added with milk, giving it a dainty, light pink color. In a nutshell, the walk was long and tiring, but it was worth all the exertion and effort!
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