Food-Walking : Healthy Exercise For All Ages

I love food.

I love walking.

So – I love food-walking.

Let me tell you some memoirs of foodwalking from my wonderful Mumbai days.

Here is the first story...

“FOODWALKING” – A HEALTHY EXERCISE FOR ALL AGES 
Ramblings of a “Retired” Navy Veteran 
By
VIKRAM KARVE 

In my younger days – in school, college and my early days in the Navy – I played active sports for exercise.

Later – my exercise comprised less physically strenuous activities like swimming, jogging, brisk walking/hill climbing etc.

When I crossed my mid-40’s – and landed up in Mumbai more than 18 years ago – in the early part of the year 2000 – when I was around 45 years of age – I started my “foodwalks”.

I had two “foodwalks” every day: 

1. The first foodwalk in the morning from 6 AM to 7:30 AM 

2. The second foodwalk in the evening from 5 PM to 7 PM 

(On Sunday mornings I had a super-long “foodwalk” which started at 6 AM and sometimes extended upto 9 AM or even 10 AM) 

These “foodwalks” had various stages:

1. First – after a warm up brisk walk – I jogged on Marine Drive for around 3 kms till the end of Chowpatty.

2. This was followed by a brisk walk.

On weekday mornings – I would walk back to Stadium Restaurant at Churchgate for a Bun Maska, Bun Omlette or Kheema Pav and Refreshing Irani Chai 

And – on Sundays – it was a super-long foodwalk to Noor Mohammadi Hotel near Bhendi Bazar for Nalli Nihari – or to Vinay Lunch Home near Thakurdwar in Girgaum for Misal. 

In the evenings – when I had more time at my disposal – my foodwalks would be more exploratory.

I would take new routes every day – and – I would explore new eating places – starting from Colaba and Cuffe Parade in the South – to various places in Central Mumbai like Grant Road, Byculla, Mohd Ali Road, Crawford Market, Girgaum, Kalbadevi, Chowpatty etc – wherever my legs would take me.

3. So – it was first a brisk walk – then a “replenishment halt” for food – and – after the “replenishment halt” – it was a leisurely walk back home – fully satiated – and – stomach full and morale high.

Retirement is a big comedown – and – my glorious “foodwalks” came to an end.

However – I have decided to revive my “foodwalks” again – and this morning I went on a long “foodwalk” – culminating in a “frugal” vegetarian breakfast.

During this rather lacklustre foodwalk – I remembered my most memorable foodwalk in Mumbai.

So – let me delve into my Foodie Archives – and pull out this “memoir” for you to read...

MOUTHWATERING MUMBAI MEMORIES

I enjoyed the 6 Best Years of My Life in Mumbai – six glorious years from the years 2000 to 2006.

During these six best years of my life, I lived in EMPRESS COURT – my all time favourite home – the best house I have ever lived in during my entire life.

I wish I could have had my retirement home in that lovely neighbourhood, or nearby, but then, can an honest naval officer afford a house in South Mumbai?

Maybe a Merchant Navy Officer can afford a house in “So Bo” (South Bombay) – but if you have spent your life honestly serving the nation in the “Fauji” Indian Navy – forget about Mumbai – you will not be able to afford a home in the heart of Pune – and you would probably have to settle down in some faraway suburb like Wakad or Baner or Kharadi – or in one of those military veteran “fauji ghettos” like Mundhwa, Kondhwa or Mohammadwadi where most retired service officers have settled down.

But in your mind’s eye – you can always hark back – and relive your “good old days” with nostalgia. 

That is what I did on this lovely morning – during my foodwalk – I reminisced about my glorious Sunday Morning “Food Walks” in Mumbai.

Let me tell you about my memorable Sunday mornings in Mumbai.

UNFORGETTABLE MUMBAI FOOD WALK

NALLI NIHARI at BHENDI BAZAAR

Mouthwatering Memories of an Early Morning Food Walk followed by a Sumptuous Nourishing Breakfast

By 
VIKRAM KARVE 

I love good food.

I am a foodie – I am certainly not a snobbish “high-falutin fine-dining foodie” – but I would rather describe myself as a simple Trencherman.

As I said, I love good food.

And I love walking around searching for good food. 

So, whenever I get an opportunity, I set off on my frequent “food walks” searching for good food.

It was in “maximum city” Mumbai that I enjoyed my best food walks.

Let me tell about one of my favourite food walks – a fulfilling early morning food walks culminating in a nourishing breakfast.

 

This is probably my first piece of Foodie Writing. 

I wrote this in the year 2000 – more than 18 years ago – after returning from one of my food walks.

So – Dear Reader – here are some mouthwatering memories of a glorious early morning food-walk in Mumbai culminating in a wholesome breakfast.

EARLY MORNING FOOD WALK IN MUMBAI : Mouthwatering Memoir by Vikram Karve

I start early – at dawn – from my house near Churchgate.

I admire, in the early morning pre-sunrise light, the impressive silhouettes of the magnificent Gothic structures of the High Court and Mumbai University across the Oval.

I hear the clock on Rajabai Tower strike 6 AM (0600 Hrs).

I walk briskly past Oxford Bookstore, KC College and CCI towards Marine Plaza Hotel.

Then I cross the Marine Drive, turn right and start off towards Chowpatty.

I greet with a smile the morning joggers and walkers and rinse my lungs with the fresh invigorating sea breeze.

I walk briskly on Marine Drive. 

Soon I am past Marine Lines, Taraporewala Aquarium, Charni Road, Chowpatty, Wilson College – and after the brisk vigorous walk of about 30 minutes I break out into a slight sweat as I reach the northern end of Marine Drive.

 

Here I ponder for a moment. 

 

Should I turn left up the Walkeshwar Road to Teen Batti and Banganga? 

 

Or should I turn right towards Babulnath?

 

Or should I turn back towards Nariman Point? 

 

I experience a sense of true freedom. 

 

I can make whatever choice I want and go wherever I desire. 

 

That’s freedom!

 

I choose to cross the road, and walk fast, straight up the steep path towards Hanging Gardens on Malabar Hill – trying to exercise my heart and lungs. 

 

I take a round of garden atop the water tank near Kamala Nehru Park (is it now called Phirozeshah Mehta Udyan?). 

 

Then I canter down to Kemp’s Corner where I turn right – a U-turn really – past Crossword Bookstore – and I walk down Hughes Road.

I turn left past Gamdevi towards Nana Chowk and I cross the railway over-bridge and keep going onto Grant Road past Novelty Cinema.

Then I turn right at Delhi Durbar on Falkland Road – reach VP Road – walk past Gol Deval, Alankar cinema – and soon I am at Bhendi Bazar.

My destination Noor Mohammadi Hotel is right in front of me across Mohamedali Road.

 

Almost two hours of brisk walking has built up in me a voracious appetite and I am ready to devour a sumptuous breakfast. 

 

I am hungry. 

And I eat only when I am hungry.

 

I enter Noor Mohammadi Hotel, a Spartan no-nonsense eatery, and order a Nalli Nihari and Roti.

Nalli Nihari is a pure ghee version of Mutton Nihari cooked with bones filled with marrow. 

 

Within a minute a bowl of piping hot gravy, with a generous chunk of succulent meat floating in it, and a fluffy khaboosh roti is placed in front of me. 

 

I dip a piece of the soft roti in the spicy rich gravy, let it soak for a while, put it in my mouth and close my eyes to luxuriate in and relish the gastronomic experience in its entirety.

 

I can feel the juicy gravy soaked roti melting on my tongue, releasing its delicious flavours and spicy aroma which permeate into my soul. 

 

I am in seventh heaven and keep on attaining higher states of sheer heavenly bliss with every succulent bite of the mouth watering concoction.

They say that Nalli Nihari is a mutton bone marrow and wheat gravy – but I don’t delve too much on the contents of a dish.

It’s the taste, delicacy, eating experience and ultimate divine feeling of satiation that matters.

 

It is a delectable beginning to a delightful day as the luscious taste of the delicious Nalli Nihari lingers on my tongue indefinitely. 

 

Yes, it is epicurean satiation of the highest order – a blissful experience I can never forget.

Here is a picture of Nalli Nihari 

(Today – I click and post foodie pictures using my smartphone – but since this happened more than 18 years ago when there were no smartphones – I will take the liberty of posting a picture of Nalli Nihari – freely available on the internet – from Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository, file url: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nalli_Nihari.JPG  )

Nalli Nihari

Dear Reader – if you happen to be in Mumbai – and – you are ready for a sumptuous non-vegetarian breakfast – take a brisk stimulating food walk early in the morning – and – begin your day with Nalli Nihari at Noor Mohammadi in Bhendi Bazar. 

 

I assure you that it will be a fortifying and stimulating experience.

 

Don’t forget to tell us how you enjoyed the food-walking experience.
 

But – remember one thing. 

If you want to truly appreciate this splendid Heritage Gourmet Trencherman’s Breakfast Dish to its fullest – you must build up an appetite for it. 

Yes – if you really want to enjoy good food – you must build up an appetite for it.

And – what better way to build up an appetite than a brisk long walk in fresh air – aka – “Food Walk”

Happy Walking. 

Happy Eating. 

Happy Food-Walking.

Remember – in order to enjoy your food – first build up an appetite – and then satiate it.

Yes – remember the “FOOD-WALK DICTUM”:

First build up an appetite – then satiate it 

First – “WALK WALK WALK”

Then – “EAT EAT EAT”

Once more – let me wish you Happy “Food-Walking”.

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Disclaimer:

All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the story are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Copyright Notice:

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

Copyright © Vikram Karve (All Rights Reserved)

     

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

 

Revised and Updated Version of the Article Written by me Vikram Karve 18 years ago in the year 2000 and First Posted on my Foodie Blog by me Vikram Karve at url: http://creative.sulekha.com/heritage-cuisine-by-vikram-karve-a-sumptuous-breakfast_146309_blog  and  http://food.sulekha.com/a-hearty-breakfast-in-the-heart-of-mumbai-id21759-39642-recipe.htm   and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2012/12/mouthwatering-mumbai-memories-food-walk.html and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2015/05/foodwalking-healthy-exercise-for-all.html

First Plan your “Eat” – then Eat your “Plan” : An Affair to Remember

EATING OUT IN MUMBAI

Mouthwatering Mumbai Memories

Nihari 

An Affair to Remember 

By

VIKRAM KARVE

From my Foodie Archives: 


Mouthwatering Memories of a delicious meal I had long back in Mumbai.


I think I wrote this more than 11 years ago, sometime in the year 2005. 


Now, let me relish the memorable meal in my mind's eye – so I post this once again for you to read and savour.

I wonder whether the place still exists – and whether the Nihari is as delicious and wholesome as it was then. 

AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER – Mouthwatering Mumbai Memories by Vikram Karve

I look in front of me. 

 

I like what I see. 

 

I keep seeing, my eyes locked on to the target, as if by some mysterious, yet astonishing, force of attraction. 

 

Something is happening within me.

 

Senses heighten. 

I am stimulated – aroused in a way I have never felt before. 

 

Waves of desire rise within me. 

 

I feel tremors of anticipation. 

 

My mouth salivates and I lick my lips lasciviously in eager expectation. 

 

I feast my eyes hungrily. 

 

My heart beats. 

 

I feel possessed. 

 

Intense passion and lusty craving overwhelms me. 

 

I can’t control myself any longer.   

 

Wild with desire, I move towards my target, ready for the kill.

 

No...! No...! Dear Reader. Just wait a moment. Hold your horses.

 

Don’t let your imagination run wild. 

 

The object of my desire – it is not what you are thinking. 

 

What I am looking at, the object of my attention, the focus of my temptation, is a bowl Nihari – two succulent generous pieces of mutton floating in rich nourishing gravy looking so luxuriant and tempting, that I just can’t wait to devour the dish. 

 

But I control myself.

Good food must be savored delicately; slowly, attentively and respectfully; in a befitting manner, with finesse and technique, with relish and appreciation and you will experience true gustatory delight. That’s the Art of Eating.

It is sacrilege to eat in a ravenous and rapacious manner.

 

The bowl of Nihari, so luxuriously appetizing; a Khameeri Roti, so soft and fluffy. 

 

It looks sumptuous and scrumptious. 

 

I move closer. 

 

The tempting aroma - so enticing, so blissful - permeates within me, energizes my brain cells, and activates my taste buds. 

 

My mouth waters. I am ready to eat.

 

Eating is not a gustatory experience alone... it is visual and olfactory as well. 

 

Food must look good, smell good, taste good and, most importantly, make you feel good. 

 

The Art of Eating... it is Holistic... Multidimensional... Encompassing all domains of your inner being.

 

If you want to do full justice to good food, you must build up an appetite for it – merely being hungry is not enough. 

 

And the first step towards building up an appetite for good food is to think about it – simulated imaginative gustatory visualization to stimulate and prepare yourself for the sumptuous indulgence. 

 

An important thing we were taught at boarding school was to read the menu and prepare for the meal by beginning to imagine eating each and every course, from soup to pudding, in our mind’s eye. 

 

Remember: 

First plan your “eat” – then eat your “plan”.

 

It’s true. 

 

I eat my food twice. 

 

First I eat in my mind’s eye – imagining, visualizing, “vicariously tasting”, fantasizing, strategizing on how I am going to savor and relish the dish to my utmost pleasure and satisfaction till my mouth waters and I desperately yearn to eat it. 

 

And then I do the honours – I actually go ahead and physically eat the food and enjoy the delightful experience. 

 

Using my right thumb and forefinger, I lovingly pick small piece of meat from the gravy and delicately place it on my tongue. 

 

I close my eyes – I look inside – to focus my conscious energy – to accentuate my awareness – to concentrate. 

 

That’s the cardinal principle of the Art of Eating. 

 

You must always close your eyes during the process of eating. 

 

When you eat – you must eat – nothing else – no seeing, no hearing, no talking. 

 

No multitasking – multitasking ruins the eating experience.

 

Focus, eat mindfully, meditatively, honour your taste buds and you will attain a state of delightful bliss and happiness.

 

The meat is so tender that even a toothless person can eat it. 

 

It’s truly “Melt in the mouth” cuisine – like the famous Galouti Kebabs of Lucknow. 

 

Soft, succulent, juicy.

 

You don’t chew. 

 

You just gently squeeze the meat, softly rolling your tongue against the palate until the meat dissolves releasing its fascinating flavours. 

 

It is sheer bliss... Enlightenment... Gustatory Orgasm... Sensory Resonance... 

 

I do not have words to describe the exhilarating sensation.

 

That’s the hallmark of a genuine nourishing and invigorating Nihari – the best part of the thigh muscle – specially selected prime marrow bones – with generous portions of succulent meat – tenderized and marinated with curds – seasoned lovingly in the choicest of spices – and dum-cooked to seal in the juices and flavours – cooked slowly and gently – in a gravy carefully thickened with an assortment of flours of wheat, maize and dals as per the season and taste – and garnished with thin strips of ginger and fine slices of fresh green chillies and a sprinkling of coriander.

 

I turn my attention to the Khameeri Roti. 

 

Holding the roti with my left hand – I pull out a piece with my right. 

The texture is perfect – soft and fluffy. 

 

I sample a piece – yummy – it tastes good by itself.

And – and why shouldn’t it taste good...? 

 

Whole-wheat atta kneaded with plenty of curds – seasoned with a bit of sugar and salt – fermented overnight in a moist cloth, flattened and cooked in a tandoor. 

 

Nourishing, luxuriant Khameeri Roti– ideal accompaniment with the Nihari.

 

I dip a piece of roti in the thick gravy – allowing it to soak in – and place it on my tongue. 

 

Exquisite. 

 

A gentle bite. 

 

Tangy ginger strips and sharp chilli.

 

A confluence of contrasting tastes. 

 

I absorb the riot of zesty flavours. 

 

It’s exciting, invigorating, perks me up – and I am ready for what I am going to do next.

 

And – what am I going to do next...? 

 

You knew it – didn’t you...? 

 

I call for a marrow spoon – I dig it into the marrow bone – scoop out some marrow – and lick it on my tongue. 

I close my eyes – and – I can feel the nourishment permeating in me – all the way through. 

 

It’s a wonderful feeling. 

Yes – it's a truly divine feeling.

 

I eat in silence. 

 

Mindfully. 

 

I savour the aroma – delicately place the food on my tongue – chew slowly – and I experience the variety of flavours – as the flavours permeate my taste buds – I close my eyes to be fully aware – and I sense the nourishment – as the food dissolves – and sinks deep within me.

 

The succulent meat. 

 

The sumptuous gravy. 

 

The luxuriant fluffy Khameeri Roti. 

 

It is a feast worthy of the Gods. 

 

Indeed – an ambrosial repast...!

 

I am in a supreme state of bliss. 

 

Is this enlightenment...? 

 

Or – is it gustatory delight...?  

 

Maybe – it’s meditative eating. 

 

Or – let’s narrow it down to the “art of eating” – to be specific – the “Art of Eating a Nihari”.

 

It’s simple. 

 

Create a positive eating atmosphere – honour your taste buds – respect your food – and eat it in a proper state of mind – with love, zest, awareness and genuine appreciation – and you will be transported to a state of bliss and happiness. 

 

That – in a nutshell – is The Art of Eating – especially – the Art of Eating a Nihari.

 

 

Epilogue

 

I used to visit two eateries on 1st Marine Street Dhobi Talao near Metro Cinema in Mumbai – Sassanian – when in the mood for Parsi food or maybe a Roast Chicken – or to pick up delicious cakes, biscuits and freshly baked delights from their Boulangerie next-door – and – Punjabi Fish Mart – for earthy deep fried fish best enjoyed piping hot by well fortified cast-iron stomachs on cold damp monsoon evenings.

 

Many years ago – more than 11 years ago – maybe in mid 2005 – when I used to live near Churchgate in Mumbai – while returning one evening from one of my food-walks – I noticed that – there was a newly opened restaurant in between these two of my favourite eateries (Sassanian and Punjabi Fish Mart)

The newly opened restaurant was called Jaffer Bhai’s Delhi Darbar – with a takeaway section – from where I picked up a menu card – and I walked home.

 

Later that night I read the menu card – and I was delighted to find on it my favourite non-vegetarian delicacy – Nihari. 

I knew it wouldn’t be long before I partook of the dish.

 

And soon – I had my tryst with Nihari – and – I experienced this delightful gustatory affair to remember.

It’s been a long time since I visited Jaffer Bhai’s for a Nihari 

So – Dear Reader – if you happen to live nearby in Mumbai – why don’t you visit the place ’ and let us know whether the place still exists – and if the Nihari is still as good as it used to be way back then.

 

And – my dear Fellow Foodie Friends – Do let me know of a good place where I can enjoy my favourite Nihari in Pune – and – also tell me about your favourite Nihari – if you've relished one.

Happy Eating. 

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Disclaimer:

All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the story are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Copyright Notice:

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

Copyright © Vikram Karve (All Rights Reserved)

     

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

 

Revised and Updated Version of the Article Written by me Vikram Karve 11 years ago in the year 2005 and Posted Online a number of times on my Foodie Blogs by me Vikram Karve including at urls: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2012/09/eating-out-in-mumbai-mouthwatering.html  and  http://creative.sulekha.com/the-art-of-eating-an-affair-to-remember-by-vikram-karve_133903_blog  and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2011/04/eating-out-in-mumbai-nihari.html  etc