My Favorite Eating Experiences...

I love food... and the whole experience that goes with enjoying it. This got me thinking of what my favorite experiences have been and what I would recommend others to definitely try. So here is a list of them. Of course, these are limited by my experience and personal taste. Delhi figures predominantly because, well, it is the best place to eat in India! (a pity Delhi people are stuck on Butter Chicken, Dal Makhani, and Kadhai Paneer). Anyways... here goes...

1. "Walk and eat" experience: Roast corn or peanuts on a cold Delhi night. The feeling of that hot corn/peanut in your cold hands, the crispness of the air, makes for a beautiful experience!

2. "Idli Vada Sambhar": Dwaraka in Kochi... the aroma of that soft idli and crispy dipped in that big bowl of not-too-spicy sambhar is a true god's meal in God's Own Country!! Although I last ate there 7 years ago.

3. "Idli Chutney": A small idli shop outside Kadur railway station. It has the freshest of the hot idlis soaked in an impossibly yummy chutney!! There is a huge difference between idli sambhar and idli chutney. Hence separate categories.

4. "Paranthas": Paranthewali galli in Delhi. Paranthas stuffed with every possible yummy filling in those narrow lanes filled with a thousand beautiful aromas... and served with much love!!

5. "Kababs": Way ahead of kababs served hot and fresh in Mohammad Ali road during Ramzaan... its a non-veg food lover's delight overall!! But the kababs, are awesome, the juiciness, the spices, the tenderness, the aromas, the environment, and of course, the love with which it is served!!! Part of a much larger experience...

6. "Kababs": Lucknow's "Tunde waale Kababs" make it compulsory to have two entries for kababs!! Their taste is undefinable... just that in your mouth, they orchestrate the most beautiful music!!!

7. "Chaat": The chaatwaala next to the UPSC building in Delhi. Reach early, be careful how spicy you want the chaat, try everything, and if you are early in the winters, try out the best gulab jaamun you can sink your teeth into!!

8. "Matre waali Chaat": Meerut, possibly the best overall city for chaats!! This chaat is served hot and very spicy with a kulcha to cut out the spiciness. Not for the faint of the tongue!! You won't be able to stop eating, the taste will linger four hours, and the memory, mouth-wateringly forever!!

9. "Chowmein": Roadside Matador Vans in Delhi. This very Indian noodles, full of all sorts of things you don't want to know about cooked over a fast flame and served very hot is best served by those converted Matador Vans serving all around Delhi. Not sure if there are any left.

10. "Raan": ITC Maurya Sheraton, Delhi. A succulent delightful whole leg of lamb... eating it is an experience and a mission rolled into one!! Lots of very hungry foodie friends needed!!

11. Mango Shake: Haji Ali, Mumbai. The place is famous for it, and rightly so (unlike most Mumbai places which are more hype than reality). Tick mango shake topped with large chunks of mango in the hot and humid Mumbai summers!!

12. "Lemon Ana": Munchees, Anjuna, Goa. Lemon and coriander and ice and (I think) sugar... best drink ever to beat tiredness, sadness, thirst, or anything else that needs fixing! Happiest drink ever!! (Yes, happier than Tequila too)

13. Strawberry and cream: Panchgani, Maharashtra. Fresh season strawberries in fresh creamy creamy cream!! Indulgence at its best!!

14. Chicken "Cafreal": Florentine, Goa. This very Goan of dishes, spicy, large pieces of chicken eaten with the local 'pao'. A delight for all senses!! Don't miss it if you are in Goa!!

15. Shark "Ambotik": Martin's Corner, Goa. Better know for its crab, I prefer this joint for the shark 'ambotik', a spicy shark curry best eaten with rice!!

16. "Biriyani": Hyderabad. You take your pick either its from Hyderabad House, Bawarchi, Paradise, or wherever... (personally, I prefer Bawarchi). Mix in salan to add spice or rayata to cut it. For me, Hyderabadi biriyani is about the flavor of the rice, not the meat!!

17. "Falooda": Lucknow, Agra. For those who think falooda is just an accompaniment for kulfi, you never had falooda in Lucknow or Agra. The sweet silkiness and wonderful flavors!! While there, you might also want to try out 'rabdi' and 'imerti'.

18. "Peda": Mirapur, UP. Move aside Mathura, Rajastha, Dharwad, or any other place that claims to have the 'world's best peda'!! In the small town of Mirapur, north or Merrut in in UP, there is a small shop with no name in a small lane that you know about only if you have ever gone there. Its the most divine piece of sweet that I have ever consumed!! No comparison. No match. If I had to pick one thing to eat anytime of the day, this would be it! BEAUTY!!

19. Maggi: Uttaranchal. Our simple household maggi has a unique taste... maybe its the water, maybe the vessel, don't know what it is. But on a cold (and better, rainy) day in the mountains amongst the abode of the gods and one of the most beautiful places in the world, that simple maggi is elevated to greatness.

20. "Bante-waala soda/ nimbu-paani": Anywhere where you get them. Remember that soda bottle with the marble as a cap? I love it when that marble is popped and that soda is mixed with the masala and lime juice!! On a dry hot day, its a total god-send!!

21. "Gol-gappas": Chikamagalur, Karnataka. As this whole blog is about eating experiences, none match up to this one. They were not the best gol-gappas in the world. Just onions and peas stupped into the puris with mildly spicy water (and for some weird reason a touch of camphor). But I had awesome, hungry friends all ready to prove a point who can eat the most. 50 - 60 - 100... at Rs. 0.25 for 1, it was very affordable for engineering students, us poorest of the poor!!