One of my Online Foodie Friends did not upload her customary lunch picture on Social Media today.
When we asked her about what delicious food she was eating for lunch – she said that she was not well so she was eating “Khichdi”.
This reminded me of simple eatery in Mumbai where I used to eat Khichdi.
So – I decided to delve deep into my foodie writing archives and pull out an foodie story I wrote after my first visit to “Khichdi Samrat” more than 17 years ago in the year 2000.
This story also features in my Foodie Book APPETITE FOR A STROLL (pp 38 - 40).
I wonder whether this delightful eatery in the heart of Mumbai still exists – and if so – is “Khichdi Samrat” still the same unpretentious eatery – or has it changed and become a highfalutin restaurant.
So – Dear Reader and Fellow Foodie – here is the “memoir” – suitably abridged and revised – for you to savour.
Happy “Eating”...!!!
MOUTHWATERING MUMBAI MEMORIES
I Spent Six Best Years of My Life in Mumbai – 6 glorious years from the years 2000 to 2006.
During these 6 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 Spent Six Best Years of My Life in Mumbai – 6 glorious years from the years 2000 to 2006.
During these 6 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 in South Mumbai.
But then – can any 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 this afternoon after relishing the delicious “Dal Khichdi” – I reminisced about my glorious evening “Food Walk” in Mumbai to “Khichdi Samrat”.
Eating Out in Mumbai
KHICHDI SAMRAT
Mouthwatering Memories of a Food Walk
By
VIKRAM KARVE
(This an abridged/revised version of a foodie “memoir” written by me 17 years ago in the year 2000)
I have just had some “Khichdi” – no, not the yummy lip smacking “sabudanya chi khichadi” my wife gorges and devours by the plateful whenever she is “fasting” – but the bland Khichdi made of rice and dal that you are given to eat when you are convalescing.
It’s supposed to be light on the stomach – it gives you strength – and it helps you recuperate.
My daughter is ill – hence the Khichdi.
The Khichdi I ate was awful – it was fatless – there was no pure ghee in it – as desired by my darling daughter.
In fact – it was so tasteless and insipid that it brought back nostalgic mouthwatering memories of wholesome Khichdi I had savoured at Khichdi Samrat near Cawasji Patel Tank (CP Tank) in Mumbai.
To reach “Khichdi Samrat” – walk up Kalbadevi Road from Metro – turn left at the Cotton Exchange – walk past Panjrapole towards Bhuleshwar – turn right on VP Road towards CP Tank – and soon – on your right – you will see Khichdi Samrat – an unpretentious down-to-earth eatery.
In fact the restaurant is so humble and modest that make sure you don’t miss it and walk on to CP Tank!
It is a small place – but I always found a seat.
Maybe they send out more parcels than have patrons eating in situ.
You can also walk up from Crawford Market – through Zaveri Bazar – past the Gold Exchange and Mumbadevi Temple – to Cotton Exchange.
Or – you can come down from Bhendi Bazar via Pydhonie down Kalbadevi Road – and turn right at the Cotton Exchange.
In case you live in the western suburbs – take a train – and get down at Charni Road station – climb the overbridge at southern [Churchgate] end – turn left – walk straight down Thakurdwar Road – cross Girgaum (JSS) Road – continue past Vinay Lunch Home (you’ll be tempted to hop in for a Misal) – turn left at Bhuleshwar on VP Road towards CP tank.
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 – and walk briskly on to my destination.
Don’t try to drive down – you will go crazy negotiating your way – and besides a brisk walk on a hot and humid Mumbai evening will build up in you a voracious appetite – quite conducive – in fact – sine qua non – for total enjoyment of – and – to do full justice to – the delicious nourishing food you are going to partake of in Khichdi Samrat.
Besides – your march through the crowded gritty bustling streets of Mumbai will prepare you for the gastronomic adventure.
You will be surprised – but the first time I went to “Khichdi Samrat” – one Sunday evening – I did not eat “Khichdi”.
Maybe this was because of my “mental map” associating “Khichdi” as convalescence-food.
Or – maybe because “Dal Bati” was listed on the menu board as a “Sunday Special” – and I was curious to sample this dish which I had never tasted till that day – tasty wheat flour balls in scrumptious dal with plenty of pure ghee – it was indeed delicious and satiating.
But – on my subsequent visits – I tried all the varieties of Khichdi.
There are 10 varieties of Khichdi on the menu – ranging from the bland Plain Khichdi to the Special “Dry Fruit Khichdi”
I have tried all the varieties of Khichdi on the menu – one on each visit – and I especially liked the Masala and Vrindavan Khichdi.
Do embellish your Khichdi with a Papad of your choice – there is an impressive array of 10 types of Papads to choose from – and I particularly liked the Masala Papad.
To my delight – I found the other dishes on the menu like the Methi Malai Mutter, Koftas, Kurmas and Paneer gravies very delicious too – and so is the excellent satisfying Thali with a medley of dishes.
So – if you go there in a group – don’t restrict yourself to Khichdi.
And don’t forget to try different rotis and parathas including those made of maka (corn), bajra and the delicious stuffed versions.
Start off with a jal jeera – have chaas to accompany your meal – and end with a Gulab Jamun or Rabdi.
Or – better still – walk down to “Bhaishankar Gaurishankar” nearby to end your repast with some chilled soothingly-sweet Rasgullas.
The next time you are in the heart of Mumbai – do have some Khichdi at “Khichdi Samrat” – or – if you prefer – have a full-fledged meal – and do tell us all about it.
And – will some fellow Foodie from Mumbai please tell us whether this delightful eatery still exists and is going strong.
Happy Eating.
VIKRAM KARVE
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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.
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All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the stories 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.
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