Delhi Food Yearning - Old Famous Jalebi Wala

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Continuing or should I say taking forward the Foodie series of posts on my Blog about Delhi today I am here again to serve you something. It is mouth watering, hot, Crispy Jalebi's at Old Famous Jalebi Wala in Chandni Chowk.

They say it serves one of the best Jalebi's in the City, so one fine evening in December I along with my parents discovered this shop which is not so difficult to reach out. When you reach there what you see is a person preparing the Jalebi's other serving them and the owner busy in collecting Cash. 

What I like most about the open shops that serve anything to eat is to watch the dish being prepared in front of your eyes. Instead of being at the  place where they are served I rather stand at place where they are prepared, seeing the effort put in and how a dish transforms from the very stage of its raw materials to the final product that we got, I really like that journey.

The Jalebi's are prepared in Desi Ghee and instead of being moderate in size are little bulky. After deep frying them until they become reddish orange they are directly placed in Chashni[hot sugur syrup] and then served. When I went there last time they were sold at 300 Rs per Kg. My Father paid the price and now it was time to dig into them. They are amazingly very delicious Crunchy outside and gooee inside but then this is how Jalebi's are everywhere. What makes them apart from others is their taste which you can only understand once you have eaten them. 

 


What I advice you is eat little of them and you will have fond memories of it, its not the quantity that matters its their everlasting taste that will attract you. My family loved them but said it was highly priced but that can be expected regarding the place, material put in and its name.

They also serve Samosas which are big let down to me, at 12Rs per piece they do not stand apart to the normal Samosa's that are served at your nearest Mithaeewala[Sweet Shop]. I don't find anything different or special in them. So that is a big no no from my side.

How to Reach - Nearest #delhimetro station is Chandni Chowk

                     Old And Famous Jalebiwala

                                          Shop No.1795, Dariba Corner, Chandni Chowk,

                                          New Delhi, Delhi 110006, India +91 11 2325 6973

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Papa and his Bike

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Well this is not about me what I am gonna write today because I have still not mastered this but I wish I could soon. I remember in 1988 when we owned our First Bajaj Chetak Scooter I was waiting for it whole day to see my Father drove it in our home in Meerut but then as my Father was not acquainted with driving them I saw him riding pillion on his Scooter as one of our Uncle drove it in. Past few days after that I saw my Father struggling to got control over it and then finally he made it.

As in 1997 we got transferred to Betul in Madhya Pradesh a place which was hilly in terrain with up and down winding roads and my Father was posted in a Bank in one of the Village there which was 30km away from the Betul District with little Public transport we knew he need a Bike to travel daily there.

Soon we started searching for a reliable Bike which have less maintenance and economic on fuel consumption. After checking available variants from  different companies[very few available at that time] we zeroed in on Hero Honda CD100 SS. But then which color to go for ? Papa was tense that if we would go for Red color it might get fade in the heat but we liked it a lot so after some consultations we finally booked Red colored Bike.

Hero Honda CD100SS

Now we waited for it to arrive as the Bike used to come from Bhopal[180kms away from Betul] and we didn't had any idea for the particular day we will be getting it.One fine evening Papa returned home and called  us from outside, I saw him on his Bike, It was joyful. He said lets go for a ride also he wanted to purchase a Helmet for it too. As he kick started it the sound of the refined engine of the Bike was music to my ears, the ride was so smooth even the bumpy roads of city felt highway tarmac.

A family of four we struggled to ride on it on the same time but passion of my father was that many a times all four of us had taken ride on it.

As Papa was in love with his Bike we used to take its care a lot.First we bought a tirpal cover of the Bike as it rained a lot in Betul as Bike used to stand in open parking of our colony.Then we feared what if somebody stole it from us my Father had solution of it too he bought a thick iron Chain which we used to daily tie it with both our Scooter and Bike and lock them with it. What more he bought a fur cover to cover the fuel tank[people in Betul used to cover their Bike fully with that kinda fur cover making them look pathetic]

Quarter yearly we used to take it for servicing at a local Hero Honda Service Center and me and my Papa used to sit there and watch mechanic go on with his job for hours until he finished his job. Many a times Papa used to give the mechanic advice if he is doing his job the wrong way.

I tried my luck on it many a times but was never confident of riding it.I remember once I was riding it with my father on my back on national highway that connected Bhopal to Nagpur and suddenly I saw a truck coming in front of me in opposite direction and a Bicycle rider in front of me going in my direction, my body became numb and my mind stopped I didn't knew what to do, instead of applying brakes I took Bike in neutral which didn't slowed it down and I thought its over now either I will collide with truck or with the Bicycle sensing the situation my father from back got control over the handle of the Bike and made it pass between the narrow way between the truck and Bicycle and we stopped. I was gasping for air and thought what I have done. Since that day I had never got confident with riding Bikes although I can drive Cars with an ease.

Then Papa also got a Rajdoot from his Bank which was a heavy Bike for some very difficult terrain. He on his first encounter with it tamed it and I could only admire that. Although it was a nice Bike but we in our family never liked to ride on it with Papa as it looked very antique piece of some history to us.

Since 1997 almost 15 years have passed and our Hero Honda CD100SS had accompanied my Father to Meerut, Gorakhpur, Dehradun and now to Delhi where he got posted after Betul and believe me this Bike still is with us and the sound of the Engine has still not changed and the ride too. My father still rides it and take it to servicing regularly only once its rear Tyre has changed front one still fine and yes the color to is still intact.

Papa is so passionate about it that if given a second chance to own a Bike he would certainly go for the CD100SS although I guess its now available now. 




This Post was written for the " The Castrol Power1 Blogging Contest " on Indiblogger courtesy Castrol you can get more information by following this link www.facebook.com/CastrolBiking

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Delhi Food Yearning - Parathe Wali Gali

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Its almost one year that I have been living in this beautiful city Delhi[we call it Dilli though] and every moment I have spent here has been delightful.

Hence now I would like to make a series of post here on my Blog about some specialty of Delhi. On most of the Fridays or on any other Holiday I with my Friend Amit goes to explore this city. Though during my five year stint in Delhi during mid 90s I have visited most of the places but this time I am trying to visit them again and try to extract more information about unearthed places.

Also being a Foodie I am on the go on net and read Books to get to know about hidden jewels about eatery places here. Today about the place which I am gonna  write is no hidden jewel everyone knows about it " Parathe Wali Gali ".

Recently twice in a span of a week I got opportunity to visit this place both time Amit accompanied me and once Manish.

To reach there just take the Yellow Line #delhimetro to Chandni Chowk which many people Call Heart of this very city. As you come out of Metro station you'll see people in hurry leaving the station and narrow street from station which is filled with small eating shacks selling burgars and Patties [don't go there] , you just continue traversing on it which will lead you to a Mandir[If I am not wrong Lord Kali Temple] take a right turn which will leave you into an Open arm sized dark street[you have to make your way] as you finish it voila you are in Chandni Chowk . It would be one of the most crowded and bustling street you would ever see everyone seems to be in a hurry here.

Parathe Wali Gali

Now pass this street and go to the Opposite side of it and just ask which is the Parathe wali Gali there[Our very own Akshay Kumar is native to this place] Once you get into this street after going some 20 odd meter it takes a right turn and as you move ahead you will see two shops in front[side by side] filled with people and some even waiting for their turns. One shop boast itself to have been  established in 1872 and other 1875, these two shops are the authentic shops of getting Parathas there.

The Actual Shop

Some dignitaries Pics seen there

Once you have got your seat if you will look around you'll see famous dignitaries who have eaten there[Indira Gandhi,Ranbir Kapoor,Imtiaz Ali and the list will go on]. The not so courteous waiter will bring a Plate for you consisting of Spicy Sabjis , soury Chutneys and Pickles. To the menu you can look towards wall which will have complete Menu written on them. My personal favourite there is mix veg Paratha although you get around 20 varieties of Parathas there right from Aloo and Gobhi Parathas to not so heard Lemon and Khurchan paratha[made from  Milk product].

The Menu

Parathas you get here are deep fried, more so they look like Puri filled with different delicacies and one more thing I must add here is that you have to take atleast two Paratha in one plate. Hence what we do is order only one plate and me and my friend share it and yes you get complimentary Sabji as much you want.

The Paratha and Sabji

Parathas are crisp and filling is soft which makes you eat more and more. You have Spiced Potato Sabji, Seetaphal Sabji[Kaddu], Aloo Cholle, Kela Saunt and some ordinary Pickles. For people who do not  like spicy food I must warn you the food served here can burn your tongue on the contrary I can handle such hotness :) Also you can order Sweet or Namkeen Lassi which goes along with the food well.The Parathas are priced between 30 to 50 Rs.

During the high peak hours you have to wait for your turn so it is advisable to plan accordingly. Last time when I went both of these shops were packed to full so we decided to give chance to other shops there[everyone sells Parathas there] but we were very disappointed with the food and the service, hence it is better to avoid them.

Do write in your reviews if you have been there before.

 

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Lambretta

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Lambretta Scooter

Clicked this Pic last Saturday with Amit when we went to Khan Market. You don't see Lambretta's these days and in this good condition no way !! This is such a beauty.

This Picture was originally Published in my Tumblr Photoblog PhotoFinish

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