Published in Delhi Food Magazine- June Issue.

Bittoo Tikki Wala: The King of Tikkis

By Nayan Sakhuja on May 28, 2013

Bittoo Tikki Wala or popular called as BTW, is a legendary name in the street food scene in Delhi.  It is often said that he started from a small tikki stall and today has multiple outlets across the city and the NCR serving the best tikki’s in town.

BTW serves the tastiest and the most amazing tikki’s in the city. The aloo tikki or the Bittoo Tikki is crispy and huge in size. The crunchiness of the tikki’s is unmatched and exquisite. These wonders of joy are made in Olive Oil which is a much healthier option. It is a smart choice considering how health conscious people have become these days.  The aloo stuffed tikkis are served with green and red savoury chutney giving it a tangy taste. The dahi adds a bit of sweetness to the whole dish. The Bittoo Tikki is then garnished with different masalas, finely sliced ginger and red pearls of pomegranate.  With each bite there is a burst of flavours in the mouth which is just divine

The Dahi Bhalla’s are also a popular chaat item here. The bhalla’s are really soft and juicy. They are mixed with a mixture of curd, different spices and chutney. The dahi bhalla’s have the perfect balance of flavours and spices.

BTW started with serving just Tikki and Chaat’s, however now, they have expanded their menu to serve to a larger audience base and different taste buds. They have started serving North Indian, South Indian and even Chinese dishes.  There is something for everyone to choose from.

The popularity of BTW has affirmed the thought that a simple idea of starting a street food stall can grow into a full fledged food business. The food served at BTW especially the Aloo Tikkis and the Chaat can easily give the high end eateries a run for their money.

Link: http://delhifood.co.in/bittoo-tikki-wala-king-tikkis/

Enjoy spices of Andhra Pradesh in Delhi

By Nayan Sakhuja on May 27, 2013

Delhi is home to many state houses and Andhra Bhawan is one of them. Andhra Bhawan is located on Ashoka Road and one would often find long lines outside its canteen. The lines are a proof that it is not just the Andhraites who are thronging this place, but people from other parts of Delhi also waiting patiently to get inside and have a bite of the delicious food that this place offer. The main USP of this place is that you get to eat an unlimited thali for as cheap as Rs.100. The thali includes the papad, rasam, sambhar, assorted vegetables, rice and dessert.

They take pride in serving you extra which is what I liked about this place. The staff will be ready to serve you more food before you can even finish eating what is present in your plate. You can also order Chicken, Mutton and Fish side dishes separately which are spicy and cooked well. The canteen also serves Chicken Biryani on Sundays and that too is a popular item here.  Andhra Cuisine is supposed to be spicy and high on flavour. The food served at Andhra Bhawan canteen is home cooked and fiery. One can savour the spices of this amazing cuisine at such minimal costs.

The service is swift and the servers are good with their job. They are good managers and you will seated within a few minutes even during peak hours.  When you visit this place, do not expect ambiance and sophisticated servers, it is a canteen. The place is clean and takes all measures to offer a hygienic environment to dine in. The authentic spices of Andhra Pradesh can be enjoyed here and if you are looking for more than the usual South Indian fare like Idli-Dosa, do visit this place.

Link: http://delhifood.co.in/enjoy-spices-andhra-pradesh-delhi/

Indian Coffee House: An institution

By Nayan Sakhuja on May 23, 2013

Indian Coffee House, located in the heart of the Capital in Connaught Place, is an institution by itself.  It is run by the Indian Coffee Workers Cooperative Society which was started even before Independence. Over the years, Indian Coffee house has stood the test of time and remained much the same. You have a choice either to sit in the open air on the terrace and couch yourself indoor seating depending on the time of the year. But, open air seating is perfect for summer evenings and winter mornings.

The Indian Coffee House has an old world charm to it. They have waiters wearing white crisp uniform with red turbans taking their own good to serve people.  There is huge variety in terms of the clientele at the ICH. Elderly people, who fondly visit out of sheer nostalgia , students who prefer a bit of retro, and government officials  spend hours savouring coffee, chatting or discussing anything under the sun or just passing time.

There are a variety of dishes at the Coffee House that can tickle your taste buds

Coffee: Of course there is the coffee from which the establishment draws its name from. It tastes good and is generally served with cream or ice cream. The coffee is quite tasty and similar to the coffee served at any other coffee outlet like Starbucks, Barista or Cafe Coffee Day. Instead of paying a hefty sum at these outlets, I would recommend you to try out it at the Indian Coffee House.

Mutton Dosa: It is an unusual and a unique preparation and it is not found everywhere. The mutton stuffing is nice and spicy. The first time I had Mutton Dosa, I decided to return back.

If you love different flavours and believe in experimentation with your food, do give Mutton Dosa a try.

Mutton Cutlet: Dark brown in colour and crispy, every bite is divine. It is often said that the more oil you use to cook something, it automatically becomes delicious and Indian Coffee House follows that philosophy whole heartedly.

Cheese omelette:  It is delicious and tastes really nice. The stuffing is good and the melted cheese tastes divine.  The cheese omelette is served with two slices of breads making it a hearty snack.

Price: The Indian Coffee House makes you feel rich. You eat a good sumptuous snack yet you feel that little has been spent. Coffee is as low as Rs.13 and the menu card is pocket friendly and no food item is above Rs 80.

Link: http://delhifood.co.in/indian-coffee-house-institution/

Momos with a Twist

By Nayan Sakhuja on May 18, 2013

Delhi is known for its love for food. It is often said that if you offer a Delhiite something delicious, it will be well received and will become a part of its food culture. When it comes to the famous delicacy Momos, they surely love to innovate with their food.

Momos or Dumplings which are native to the north east have been able to excite the taste buds of the Delhiites.  The momos are popular among Delhiites and have made it into the list of Delhi’s favourite street food items. Momos are generally filled with a variety of stuffings which include chicken, lamb or vegetables. Streets and by lanes in Delhi are dotted with makeshift vendors selling momos.

These delicacies literally sell like hot cakes. They are the perfect snacks and can be had on the move. The momos are served with a hot and fiery sauce which goes perfectly well with the momos and accentuates the great flavour to dumplings.

Delhi surely knows how to try different flavours and delicacies as also innovate with their food. An interesting attempt is to fusion momos with mayonnaise. This non spicy sauce offers a subtle twist to momos and it actually tastes well.

Momos with Mayo

The mayonnaise is perfect for those who don’t like spicy sauce. In fact the zestiness and creaminess of the mayonnaise and the saltiness of the momos is a great combination and will tantalise any taste bud.  It woud be fair to suggest that Momos and Mayonnaise are perfect examples of experimentation of food and flavour.  It is a representation of amalgamation of culture, cuisines, tastes and flavour. Whether you love your food spicy or not, people in Delhi will come out with something special for you which will blow your mind away and suit your palette.  Next time you visit your local momo kiosk, do not forget to try this new invention.

Link: http://delhifood.co.in/momos-with-a-twist/

Majnu Ka Tilla: Delhi’s very own little Tibet

By Nayan Sakhuja on May 15, 2013

Majnu Ka Tilla or popularly known as MKT is Delhi’s very own little Tibet. Located in North Delhi, this place is famous for its monastery and Tibetan food. Also, there are shops selling Tibetan curious and silver jewellery. Majnu Ka Tilla reminds of a smaller version of Dharamshala with all the prayer flags, photos of Dalai Lama and a beautiful monastery. There are a variety of restaurants that serve some lip smacking and amazing Tibetan food.

Some delicacies are so popular that missing them would be like missing out on an experience

These are some of the delicacies which should not be missed when you visit this place:

Shabalay

Shabalay
© Gary Soup

Shabalay reminds me of fried momos. You could also compare it to a stuffed samosa. I found Shabalay of to be more moist and juicier than the fried momos. I had ordered Chicken Shabalay, which has a good stuffing of chicken and finely cut vegetables. The jacket of the Shabalay is thick and crispy. The frying of these little pieces had enclosed all the flavours of the stuffing and with every bite the delicious meat tantalised the taste buds.

It is served with a spicy sauce which completely uplifts the flavours of the dish. Mutton and vegetarian Shabalay are also available.

Shapta 

Shapta was another amazing dish and there is option to choose from Chicken, Lamb and Pork stuffing.  The Chicken Shapta is a special dish and has some interesting flavours. The chicken pieces are diced and are cooked with ginger, garlic and lots of chillies. If you love spicy food, this dish is a must try for you.

Tingmo

Tingmo
© yowangdu.com

Tingmo, a Tibetan speciality, is basically steamed bread. The bread is light and has a soft texture. It has a bit of sweetness in it which gives it a great taste. It is a little moist and absorbs the gravy that it is being had with. It went really well with the Chicken Shapta.

Thukpa 

Thukpa is a combination of soup and noodles. It is usually served in big bowls which has of soup in it with noodles and pieces of chicken or vegetables in it. It is pretty heavy and a wholesome meal. There are a number of options to choose from like Vegetarian Thukpa, Chicken Thukpa and even Pork Thukpa.

Momos 

Momos or dimsums are divine here. The chefs at the different restaurants at the MKT  surely know the art of making delicious momos. They are soft and freshly flavoured. The stuffing be it chicken, lamb, pork or even vegetables, has amazing flavours and distinctive tastes which immediately transport you to the north east.

Price: Majnu Ka Tilla is perfect for the budget friendly visitors. You will get to enjoy loads of food without a dent on your wallet.

Where to eat:  Tee Dee Restaurant, Wongdhen House, and Ama Restaurant selling some yummy Tibetan food.

How to reach: The nearest metro station is Vidhan Sabha (on the yellow line) and then take a rickshaw which are available outside the station.

Link: http://delhifood.co.in/majnu-ka-tilla-delhis-very-own-little-tibet/