Wednesday, December 15, 2010

EATING OUT in MUMBAI - Mouthwatering Memories - Breakfast in Girgaum

BREAKFAST IN GIRGAUM
Mouthwatering Mumbai Memories
By
VIKRAM KARVE



Mumbai is in Maharashtra. You will get all genres and varieties of cuisine in Mumbai. But tell me - where would you go for an authentic Maharashtrian breakfast?

My favorite place is Vinay Lunch Home near Thakurdwar in Girgaum. 
  
When I used to stay at Churchgate, I used to walk down Marine Drive towards Chowpatty, cross the road near Taraporewala Aquarium, take the lane between Kaivalyadhama Yoga Centre and Savitribai Phule Ladies Hostel, (the lane is called Income Tax Lane), cross the railway overbridge at the southern end of Charni Road Station on the Western Railway, walk straight on Thakurdwar Road, cross Girgaum (JSS) Road, and continue walking till I reached Vinay on my right. 

Have you ever tasted a dish called Misal?

If you want to know what an authentic Misal tastes like, try the Misal at Vinay. It is the signature dish of the place and my favourite Misal. I don’t think anyone else serves a better Misal than Vinay of Girgaum, and, in my opinion, not even the many famous Misals of Pune can surpass this misal. 

The place is always crowded and you may have to wait for a seat, but the sight of foodies voraciously eating and the gastronomic ambiance will help build up your appetite.

The moment you sit down in the shiny bright eatery, with mirrors all around, order a Misal. The misal will arrive quickly as service is prompt and efficient.

Don’t delve too much on the contents, or the ingredients, which basically comprise an Usal, rassa (the spicy curry) and the garnish of sev, chiwda, farsan, onions, fresh corriander and green chillies, arranged in three tiers and served with a wedge of lemon.

There are two bowls and two spoons.

Using both spoons, mix the contents thoroughly, squeeze the lemon, and eat.

It’s hot and lip-smackingly delicious. Soon your tongue will be on fire, your nose will run and your eyes will water – that's the true test of a genuine Misal.

Bash on regardless.

Never try to douse the appetizing zesty fire in your insides by sipping water or ruin the gastronomic experience by succumbing to a bite of pav or bread they may have the temerity to place alongside. That's right - never have pav or bread with a misal.

Pav with Bhaji or Vada may be fine, but if you want to savor the genuine taste of misal, and experience the "proof" of the real stuff, it would be tantamount to sacrilege to have pav with misal. 

Vada-Pav, okay; Pav-Bhaji, okay; Misal-Pav, it's a No, No!

If you like things less spicy try Dahi Misal.  

The sweet cool curds (dahi or yoghurt), fiery chillis, zesty onions and spicy crisp chiwda-shev provide an excellent contrasting symbiosis of tastes and flavors. 

And if you do want to have something with pav, try the Patal Bhaji or Usal. Fresh soft bread (pav) drenched in those delicious gravies – it’s heavenly.

You’ll find all the Maharashtrian specialties on the menu, including the Upas (Fast) food like sabudanyachi khichadi and wade, but you must go there and discover for yourself.

There are quite a few exquisite preparations of pohe too.

But do remember to end your breakfast with chilled piyush or mango lassi to savor a sweet end to a delightful repast. 

If you are looking for authentic value-for-money pure vegetarian Maharashtrian cuisine in Mumbai, head for Vinay – and you will carry mouthwatering memories of the place forever.

Do visit Vinay and let us know whether the place is still going strong and does it still serve the same high quality Misal and other dishes. And if you know of a place that serves a good Misal, please be so good as to inform us.

Happy Eating!

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.

An excerpt from my Foodie Adventures Book  Appetite for a Stroll
If you enjoyed reading this, and want to relish more such delicious foodie adventures, do get a copy of APPETITE FOR A STROLL:




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.
Vikram Karve Creative Writing Blog - http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com
Academic Journal Vikram Karvehttp://karvediat.blogspot.com
Professional Profile of Vikram Karve - http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
Email: vikramkarve@sify.com
Foodie Book: Appetite for a Stroll 

http://books.sulekha.com/book/appetite-for-a-stroll/default.htm


© vikram karve., all rights reserved.






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