Sunday, January 9, 2011

EATING OUT IN PUNE - Mouthwatering Memories of a Foodwalk

Mouthwatering Memories of a Foodwalk

I wrote this in November 2006, more than four years ago, when I lived near Aundh across the Mula river. Later I relocated into the hills of Girinagar. Now I am in Wakad, nearer to Aundh, and, soon I will take another foodwalk to see how much things have changed.

Now, for nostalgia sake, let's go down memory lane...


Aundh Food Walk - 2006
By
VIKRAM KARVE  
 
Come with me on a food walk in Aundh. Let’s start from the Body Gate or Bremen Chowk end of DP Road.
 
As you enter DP Road, to your right is a typical fruit juice bar cum pav bhaji open air place called Bala’s. I’m real hungry, so let’s move on.
 
There’s Baker’s Basket Cake shop to your left – it’s not my birthday, and cakes are not what I have in mind to satiate my pangs of hunger!
 
Just ahead there’s Bananas – a pizza, pasta fast food joint and Baskin Robbins. Looks good – maybe some other time.
 
Now we come to Deepak Sweets. Let’s stop and watch the cute young things relish  Bhel, Pani Puri, Chaat, Kachori, Samosas, Dhoklas and gorge on rasagullas and sweets.
 
Mann Dairy – Arguably the second best lassi in Pune (nearly as good as Shiv Kailas opposite Pune Railway Station). A must on every food walk in Aundh. And next door is Radhika – an Idli / Dosa place. A little ahead on the opposite side of the road are Vishi’s and Mongini’s Snack and Bake shops. And just before Parihar Chowk is Arya’s pure veg and then there is a dark looking udipi managed permit room bar and restaurant of the ubiquitous type one sees outside every suburban railway station in Mumbai.
 
Cross the ITI Road and reach Parihar Sweets for a quick snack of Khasta Kachori, Samosa, Batata Vada and Jilebis. A little ahead is the unassuming Diwadkar [ of Karjat Batata Wada fame] an unpretentious down-to-earth eatery for Value For Money snacks.
 
Then comes my favorite multicuisine café named Polka Dots. Tasty food, but does not satiate!
 
And then we have the popular Shivsagar – A spruced up version of the ubiquitous Udipi eatery on finds in every nook and corner of Mumbai and Pune. And on the other side is the road is Jerry’s and Tasty Bite Takeaway. Doesn’t look appetizing. And the counter at Spencer’s.
 
DP Road turns left and we come to Rasoi – a Tandoori Place which appears run of the mill and doesn’t look inviting. A furlong ahead is the classy Seasons and at the end DP Road, where it meets ITI road is Sarjaa – a Mughlai, Punjabi family place.
 
Turn left on ITI Road and you will cross Kobe- the Sizzlers place, Pizza Hut, Pulse Ozone with its cafes and basement sweet stall called Kadai, a van selling Burgers and a lady making dosas.
 
And of course we have the newly opened McDonalds opposite Convergys and on the Aundh Road towards Khadki there’s the Spartan Irani-clone Maharashtra Restaurant, the Spicer’s Bakery stall and Babumoshai Bengali Sweets for roshogullas and lavang lata.
 
That’s all there is in Aundh. If you are a Foodie think twice before you decide to settle down in Aundh. You’ll have to go all the way to Pune Camp or Pune City to relish authentic stuff.

Remember, this was written in 2006 and I am going to update you soon...!!! 
 
VIKRAM KARVE
Copyright © Vikram Karve 2010
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
VIKRAM KARVE educated at IIT Delhi, ITBHU, The Lawrence School Lovedale, and Bishop's School Pune, is an Electronics and Communications Engineer by profession, a Human Resource Manager and Trainer by occupation, a Teacher by vocation, a Creative Writer by inclination and a Foodie by passion. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles in magazines and journals for many years before the advent of blogging. His delicious foodie blogs have been compiled in a book "Appetite for a Stroll". Vikram lives in Pune with his family and pet Doberman girl Sherry, with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts. 
 
 
Foodie Book:    Appetite for a Stroll

 
Academic and Creative Journal Vikram Karve – http://karvediat.blogspot.com
Professional Profile of Vikram Karve - http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve 
Email:   vikramkarve@sify.com

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

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