DePauls- Legendary Cold Coffees

 Long time ago, when there were No Cafe Coffe Days, No Baristas, No Mocha Bars, No Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Delhites were still a bunch of enthusiastic foodies, who made most of the Limited Options they had ... People had to go to Coffee Shops of Five Star Hotels for a Hot Cuppa, but not many could afford a Coffee in 5 Star Hotels those  wodays . I am not sure how many can still afford their daily Cuppa in such hotels .. When Coffee Shops were mainly the abode of Intellectuals, Business Leaders, Acamedicians, Hot seat for Student Union Politics, DePauls was the Hot Spot for young delhites to spend a good evening and drink one of the most fascinating drinks - Cold Coffee

 

DePauls Cold Coffee is almost legendary & enjoys a Cult status amongst the Old Timer Delhities , Probably One more name that comes to mind is that of Cavendars, located originally at Cavendars ... These 2 Places have almost been a part of the perfect shopping experience of many a Delhites ... Janpath, Connaught Place, Palika Bazaar - have been the shopping hubs for the affluent Delhites ... While Karol Bagh, Patel Nagar, Lajpat Nagar were the shopping adobe for middle class Indians, South Extension, Connaught PLace were more of a Status symbol shopping Market ,,Shopping in CP, Janpath- would always fill Delhites with a sense of Pride, achievment & one which had to be celebrated well enough .... Lot of shopping excursions at Janpath would be incomplete without a Cold Coffee at DePauls....Started by the Paul Brothers, whose rotund personality made them a great fun treat to watch....

DePauls introduced Delhites to the Concept of Jumbo Sandwiches,,,,,, these were the Normal Big Slices of Fresh Sandwich bread, loaded with tons of Mayonaise, Coleslaw & served some of the Best Chicken Sandwiches of Delhi.....They offered a Range of Bakery Products, namely Chicken , Cheese & Mushroom Pattice, Cold & Grilled Sandwiches, Rolls, etc.......After a marathon Road side & street shopping excusrion, one would gorge on the Sandwiches & Cold Coffees of DePauls....

Do Visit when you are in Janpath Next - If not for the Love of Cold Coffee, but to imbibe the experience of Vow !!! which millions & millions of Delhites have felt at this small & amazing Joint which serves some of the Best remembered & Most Nostalgic Cold Coffees, if not the best

Parathaas at Murthal

Ask any Body in Sonepat, about the Famous Sukhdev Dhaba at Murthal, Chances are that apart from Dircetions to reaching the Place, People may give you some tips on what to order from the Famous Dhaba

Started in 1956, by Sardar Prakash Singh, to serve refreshing & nourishing, quality food for Truck drivers, Travellers..Sukhdev Dhaba at Murthal is almost a Household name in Murthal, Sonepat....Variety of Parathas they serve- Aloo Parathaa, Pyaaz Parathaa, Aloo Pyaz Mix, Gobhi Parathaa,Paneer Parathaa, Dal Parathaa, Mooli Parathaa, Aloo-Pyaaz Mix Parathaa .... These Parathaas are served with a Huge Dollop of Fresh Home made white Butter... This Butter is quite different from the Pasteurised butter we generally eat ... The white butter is hugley popular in North India especially Haryana & Punjab and these 2 being huge consumers of dairy products, white Butter or Desi Makhkhan, tastes best with a Piping Hot Parathaa

 

Ashok Machchiwalaa at Kalkaji

Serving Fried Fish for the last 25 years in South Delhi, is Ashok Machchiwala...Been present & feeding Kalkaji for 15 years now.. Ashok Machciwala, is quite famous with foodies from across Delhi.... I met one fellow foodie, who had come from Karol Bagh to pick his half a Kg of fried Fish..........Its shifted now Just Opposite HDFC bank at KalkaJi



Ashok Machchiwalla

 The Big Pieces of Surmai Fish have been marinated since the day for almost 7-8 hours...One can buy the fish as per weight- with Min weight being 150gm...... The Marinate is simple & basic - Turmeric, Salt, Red Chillies, Garlic & Ginger Paste, Garam Masala , quite well marinated ... The Pieces are cut as per the weight requirement & put in the big Kadhai to be deep fried ..........

Small shop serving wonderful Fried fish

Priced at Rs 600/Per for 1 KG of the Fried Fish seems a Little high especially for a Road Side shop....But in winters its worth the Experience ...... Generous dose of Masala is sprinkled over the Fried Fish along with a Dash of Fresh Lemon Juice ..served along with Raddish,Oinons, Green Chutney & Fresh Lime




Fried Fish...This is how it looks......

 

Flavors

Flavors - One of Delhis favorite places for having Italian Cusine...although Delhites may swear  over The Big Chill for the Hip & Happening place for Italian Cusine - there is a marked difference between the 2 restaurants though both serving same cusines ... Flavors to me is more classy & the atmosphere is little somber compared to a Big Chill ...Located Just after Andrews Ganj Flyover, South Delhi

 I went there Last week to celebrate my very close buddys birthday ...Obviously as one grows old, Birthday bashes are not anymore about being brash, getting drunk & behaving rash..Its more of a sombre affair. with People going out with Families, spouse etc..So we also went with our respective spouses



Minerstone Soup & Garlic Bread was yummy

I have almost reached a conclusion that Soups in Italian Cusine may not be too tantalising for our Taste Buds .. The Minerstone soup just failed to Impress, with absoultely lack of spices, richness or any great taste or character in the soup...Quite ordinary... The Garlic bread was very nice ..The Garlic was light & subtle & not atall over done in the flavor..nice crispness

Grilled & Herbed Chicken ..Entree

The Grills are one of the Highlights for the Italian Menu here at Flavors...I ordered the Grilled Chicken with herbs - 1 Piece Chicken Leg, 1 Piece Chicken Breast & 1 Piece Chicken Lollypop - along with Stir Fried Vegetables .. the Chicken was very mildly spiced, with light aroma --- The smell quite good enough to raise the appetite but not too strong enough to overpower the other aroma ... Chicken pieces were nice, juicy & chewy ..Not the melt in your mouth sorts, but something which you can bite into ... Top it up with Oregano spices, Chilli Flakes, Tobasco Chilli Sauce, Dash of Lime Sauces ........and quite a decent bite

All Chicken Pizza....Thin, Crisp

Next on the Menu was the Flavors Special, All Chicken Pizza ..again Lightly spiced, with lot of veggies, good dash of Cheese .... The Pizza base was maidaa, but carrying a Thin Crust -- Veggies were fresh & not too heavy on the Palate

Veg Pizza with Goat Cheese

Being a Strict Non Vegetarian, Its against my principles to touch Vegetarian Food during meals outside...But being a Foodie, its bad to discriminate against Vegetarians, so I end up having bites of Veg stuff as well just to have some idea of the taste..... The Goat Cheese had quite a rich texture, Little salty, quite rich & creamy in taste..

All in all, a great Experience & a great Dinner .... But being a Birthday, How can we leave withouot Giving a Birthday gift befitting for this occassion ..... Here is a Sneak Preview of the Gift that the Birthday Boy Got....

Land Rover........

Soya - The Vegetarians Delight

Its a Vegetarians Delight... or Poor Mans Chicken....... Non Vegetarians Poor Cousin...But whatever you may call it, SoyaBean is cool & back in fashion in Great style ..The Hugely growing popularity of successful Vegetarian Chains Like Wah Ji Wah & Soya Express - confirms that Soyabean is almost chic .... Come to think of it, Paneer has been used, used & used for generations ..... You may have tried calling Paneer by Diff names, but it still doesnt change too much...Call it Cottage Cheese, Garden Cheese & the words, the fact is that Lot of Vegetarian Cusines have to move out of the Shadow of Paneer & add more variety ....Soya is very close to bringing that revolution in the Vegetarian Food....

Juicy Afghani Champs --- Soya in a New Avatar

Just Last month we cooked Soya Champs & have been hooked since then ...... Pieces of Soya wrapped around a Stick ..... Deep fried & dropped in a simmerring curry made out of Lots of Fried Garlic, Finely Chopped Onions, Lots of Tomatoes, Coriander, Red Chillis, Garam Masala .. The Champs are given 3-4 small slits so that the Curry Masala can simmer & get into the Soya Champs ...... The Curry is Fiery & spicy - with lots of Garlic

Soya Champ sticks in Hot Garlic & Red Chilli Curry

Lot of restaurants serve this Soya Champ as a Tandoori Snack also ... Wah ji Wah serves some amazing Lip Smacking Afghani Champs .... Juicy, chewy, fresh - all spices nicely mixed - its quite a good bite to have .....

being served as Starter as well

One can also have the Soya Champs as a Nice Snack also...Can saute some Champs Over Little Olive oil .... season with some salt, red chilli, Onions, Coriander, tomatoes, dash of lemon & you get a nice, crsip, light golden crisp Soya Satay ..quite a healthy snack ....

Theres lot of Interesting options that can be explored with Soya in the Vegetarian Food ..... do send some interesting recipes you can ...... Nutrela Pulao or Biryani, is another popular Soya Dish .....I feel the vegetarians should really look upto the soya as their savior & tell the world that its about Time thati People know that Indian Vegetarian Cusine is not just about Paneer as the only glamorous food item..Enough of Paneer Tikkas, Enough of Paneer Manchurian, Paneer Fry, Paneer Makhanwala ...... Its time you woke up to the power of Soya ..Highly nutritious, full of proteins, and also helps one avoid the Milk food fat, thats associated with Paneer ....... You stir fry some Soya Champs, with Onions, Garlic, Ginger, Coriander, & you get a nice Soya Satay ......The good thing is that Soya is quite absorbent, so it can soak the Masalas very nicely

Keep eating & Hope Vegetarian Foodies dont complain thanks to the Soya Revoluytion

Visit to the fish Market

Have you Ever Visited a Fish market & bought that fish for the Evening Dinner of Maach Bhaat  mentioning especially for the Bengalis ... My Bengali Friends pride themselves on the Knowledge they have acquired over the years in buying that Perfect Fish for their Maach Bhaat or Fish Curry With Rice ... Men, Women alike take active interest in the buying of this Staple food ...... Maach Bhaat is no ordinary staple for Bengalis ....My Friends tell me that while feeding a Bengali Kid, mothers dont have to take the trouble of taking out the small thorns  are their in the Fish


Fresh Fish ... Rohu being the most Popular


I have recently acquired this habit of buying Fresh fish from the Fish Market at CR Park, which is like a Very famous Fish Market -- being in the hub of a Bengali Society ... Have been used to that strange smell, many people may feel its a stench, but once you get used to it ....... It just becomes part of the Fish Buying Process .... Rohu, which is the river Fish is the most Popular Curry Fish ......

Rohu Fish typically weighs from 2Kg-4Kgs & has lot of small thorns in it...Its best made as a Spicy Curry & to be had with Steamed Rice

Fresh King Prawns...... Fresh to Fry & savour

Star Prawns .. smaller

Crabs ....

A Spicy & Fiery Rohu Fish Curry.......

Have with Steamed Rice ........

BON BON PASTRY

One of the Oldest Pastry Shops in New Friends Colony, Market- BON BON - is quite a Landma rk itself in this Happening Market, Community Center of New Friends Colony . Its a Small Modest Looking Pastry Shop - But seem to have a reasonable variety of cookies, Pastries Sandwich, Pizza, Pattys



Thats a friend....Not me ..look @ the Paunch

 You can see my foodie buddys in the Pics above --- They are one of the reason why i give in to my gastronomical or rather astronomical Tummy desires ... But a foodie needs another foodie & you have a romantic food affair..... Look at the Nice & colorful range of Cookies, biscuits, Pastries on Display

Range of Cookies & Goodies

The Caramel Custard is something one can avoid ...... Looks can be really deceptive & thats what we found out in  the poorly made Custard... Too sweet, sugary...didnt have the taste of the burnt caramel which adds taste to the Pastry

Caramel Custard... Looks Can be Deceptive

The Chicken Patty was pretty average ... The Prices are quite a draw here ..The Stuff is quite reasonable priced & for the Non Veg food Lovers, who often throng this place... A nice & light pastry after a heavy Carnivorous meal, is quite welcome

 

The Entrance ..... BON BON

BON BON has one more Outlet at Noida ..... Do try for some nice pastries & take cookies for home

Golden Fiesta

One of the Oldest Pastry Shops of Delhi - The Golden Fiesta .... Established Since 1981, says their Introducton ...They have also successfully been running the Franchise model for quite some time. Some of the Notable locations where they are present - Lajpat Nagar, Sant Nagar, Karol Bagh, Punjabi Bagh .. Typically Heavy traffic dominated Punjabi Areas .. & they make some delicious snacks just right for the Punjabi taste buds, Mine Included

The Famous Glow Sign....



Range of Delicacies

They also seem to be one of the most trendiest & always believe in keeping up with the trends ...Be it Introduction of the Chinese Chat Snacks, - They were probably the first ones to introduce the Chinese Chat Snacks in Pastry Shops .......Sant Nagar, East of Kailash, Opposite the Legendary ISCKON Temple, stands tall, Golden Fiesta -They have a Family Fine Dining Restaurant, One Cake Shop, One Restaurant specialising in Bakery Products - Sandwich, Pastries, Cakes, Rolls, Pattys



And Some more.......

The Seating was something thats sure to blow you away... Lounge Type seating in a Bakery Shop ... Vow .... Too good - Bright Yellow Lights, a Nice Cushion Sofa .. Beautiful lay out, excellent vibrancy.. The Place looked like a Fusion of a Great Pastry Shop & a Relaxed Lounge.... Great Decor for a Pastry Shop

Chicken Puff ... Look at that

Look at the Chicken Puff  in the Photo above ....Hmmmmm Golden Brown, Crisp, Lighly Puffed, soaked with Oil & Ghee ... Fresh Chicken Patty ... Not too much spice .. Perfect Crsipiness ..... Quite Good... My all time favorite at Golden Fiesta is the Cold - Soft Chicken Sandwich..... This according to me is the Best Cold & Soft Chicken Sandwich ..... No extra Spices or additives ... Soft Bread which is softened probably by the moisture abosrbed by keepin the sandwich in the Fridge.....Just the Home style ... Lots of Butter, Cheese, Plain Chicken Stuff with a Light dressing.... Cold, Soft & Fresh Chicken

The Entrance....

Taste -8.5
Hygiene -9
Value for Money-7
Quality - 8

Channa Bhaturaas - Delhis Favourite Breakfast

All of us know that Delhities Love their Food..They Love the Good Life, they love their Evening drinks with Tandoori Chicken & Chicken Tikkas - They also love their Evening Gol Gappas, Aloo Tikkas & their Chaats ..But Nothing to Kikstart your day better than the Mornings ....& Morning Time is Cholle Bhatura time ...Delhites just love their Cholle Bhature ... This is Delhis Favorite Breakfast -- You can see hordes of Delhites standing & digging into their breakfast meal of several years with such great yearning & love...that you just cant help yourself but have a bite ..... South Delhi, East Delhi, West Delhi, North Delhi, almost all of them have one or two iconic Cholle Bhatura vendors who have been making their mornings for so many years

Sharms Ji - Near Vikram Hotel
My Earlier Blog on why the small lane just Opposite MoolChand Metro Station & Vikram Hotel, has become a small haven for foodies, mentioned about the famous Cholle Bhatura wala -- http://gourmetaffairs.blogspot.com/2011/10/khaau-gali-mool-chand-metro-station.html -- Sharma Ji ke Cholle Bhature

There is one more Place which serves, Delhis Favorite Breakfast Channa Bhaturaa... I happend to try the Channa Bhatura this Morning & was pleasently surprised  to see the huge gathering of people waiting to grab a quick bite of this Popular Breakfast....

Look at the Breakfast Rush at 10.00 am

The Bhaturas, were quite nice & did not have any strong oil odor, which one normally finds... The Cholles were also pretty nice, seemd to have a different color, pretty red thoough, but not at all spicy ... If you are the one who deosnt like too eat too spicy stuff in the morning, Then this is a good breakfast treat for your palette

Baba Nagpal ke Cholle Bhature
Another Iconic Place for Cholle Bhatures,Nagpals is almost a household name in Sant Nagar & Lajpat Nagar 4 .. I had heard a lot about it & finallty decide to try the place .... From MoolChand Station, I had just the passerbys directions to reach the place.. I wouls have asked atleast 4-5 different passerbys for the different stretch in the bylanes & all of them knew this place ..Once we reached there, the huge crowd was enough to tell why ??



Menu is Impressive

While they seem to have amazing range for menu - Including the Lunch Menu - Rajma Chawal, Kadi Chawal, Cholle Chawal, Puri Subzi, Samosa, Kacchori , Its their Bhaturas that are most famous & Popular....Rs 50/ for a plate of 2 fluffy Golden yellowish brown crsip Bhaturas - Some Ghee & Oil laden, spiced Channa, with some potatoes, Onions, Carrot & Green Chillis Pickle ... Spicy Bites ...... The Bhaturas here are heavy & typical of the Delhi Flavor, unlike the Sharmas Bhatura

Chacha Bhatura - Kamla Nagar Market
North Campus Students swear by it .. Generations of Students have fed themselves on the daily dose of breakfast of Crisp, Hot & Spicy Channa Bhaturas at Chachas ..... Make Fresh & sell fresh is their motto.... If you come in the day time, probably after 2 pm, You may find the shop closed, as they would have sold off their daily quota of Channa & Bhaturaas - "Selective Focus" is the key ... Located Just behing the Back Gate of Kirori Mal College

Chacha ke Bhature @ Kamla Nagar Market

You should go for the Aloo Bhatura.. The Chutney is quite a tangy, spicy treat & quite a chilli bomb on your tongue.. But that deosnt stop the brave foodie from venturing & finding his way

look at the rush...

Sitaram Dewan Chand - PaharGanj Wale
One of the Oldest Shops in Paharganj, serving One of the Best Channa Bhaturas of Delhi, Sitaram Dewan Chand, is the epitome of Old world Delhi Food - Channa Bhaturas ... Place is always jam packed & people happily elbow their way to the Billing Counter to get a grab of their Plate

SitaRam Dewan Chand

Well we will keep adding more Channa Bhaturas on our food exploration journey .... Delhites love their food & their cant be one or 2 places which can feed all the great foodies .. just tried to list few of them .. lot of Local Sweet Shops also dish out this Popular food --- Haldirams, Or EverGreen Sweets in Green Park Market, South Delhi - Om Sweets, Sector 14, Market - Gurgaon

Keep trying & Keep eating the Cholla Bhaturas, but dont forget to wash them down, either with a Tall Glass of Lassi or Hot Chai ...... Enjoy !!!!!!!

ChankyaPuri Momos

ChanakyaPuri Market - The Place which has aquired almost a Legendary Status among the Student Community....Known for its various small eateries, which dish out quick fix Chinesee Menu which is so much a part of Delhis food as is Delhis Cholle Bhature...and that too at really affordable prices which just dont pinch the wallet of the Students...Another very reasonable & filling food item, which is really popular is the Momos.....A slew of 10-12 Restaurants serving Indianised Chinese, Thai food....



The New Look - ChanakyaPuri

I went to ChanakyaPuri after a long time and was pleasently surprised to see the new look of ChanakyaPuri - with very brightly & nicely colored lights & all restaurants lined up neatly in the same line & calling out customers to their restaurants...A Hot Favorite among students for their low prices

Restaurants lined up...with bright lights & colors

We Ordered the All time Favorite Steamed Chicken Momos & Chicken Noodles... The Momos being a Huge hit here, took just 5-7 minutes to reach our table .... One Bite into the Momos & I could realise why they are so popular among students.....The Chicken Mince inside is quite liberal & generous....spiced with Garlic, Ginger, Lot sof Coriander ...Also the Chicken Stock, while boiling / steaming the Chicken with spices seems to have been mixed along with the mince & kept as a filling in the chicken momos .. Thats why the Momos were so Juicy .... There was some Chicken stock left inside the Momos.....

Chicken Momos - Juicy & Soft

Then we Ordered another Favorite, the Fried Momos .. The Same Momos are deep fried till they turn Golden Brown...Here Again, the Chiken Stock seemed to be oozing out of the Fried Momos, once you ake a bite from them......juices oozing out of the Momos ......

Fried Chicken Momos

The Chicken Noodles seem to be everybodys favorite food item, especially for the Students ...For Rs120/=, you get a Huge Bowl of Noodles with reasonable portion of Chicken....Some Cabbage, Onions, Capsicum , Spices &  you have a Simple fillin bowl of Chicken Noodles

Bowl of Chicken Noodles

The Place is not the best if you are looking for great Hygiene ... But for a Hungry Palate looking for sme variety, taste & not willing to spend much, this place is a good try

Word of Caution - dont try the Sauces - They are kept in Open Jars/ Containers, so avoid them

Hygiene - 5
Taste - 7
Value for Money - 8

Saket- Lebanese Point

Saket Community Center - Long Before when the Hugely Popular Malls of South Delhi , Saketm namely Select CityWalk, DLF , MetroPolitan took over the Scene , PVR Saket Community Center Market, used to be the haven for the Perfect Evenings with Friends ... Come Winters, & this place would be bustling with activity - Youngsters flocking the Place with their dates, Shopping, Pubbing, Birdwatching - this place used to be the hub of all activity .. It also happened to be a Foodies Paradise - with numerous small & big eateries placed in this Community Center Market - Huge number of Pubs also continue to adorn the place, with a Lot of Office Goers dropping in for a drink with colleagues in the Evenings

Eateries still doing good business in Saket Market

One of the Oldest & Most Popular Eating Joint here happen to be the Lebanese Point & the Kathi Roll Joint - I have seen these outlets for more than 13 years in this market . The Lebanese Point, is also one of the places that serves one of the best Shawarmas in Delhi - (This Outlet deserves a special mention in my blog on the Best Shawarmas -  ) It also offers some other variety in Lebanese food & offers some great Khaboos (Bread), Hummus & Falafel ,..

Outlet is still packed ...

We Order Our fare of Full Grilled Chicken .. Very Mildly Spiced, grilled to perfection in the Grilling Chamber, its actually a mouth watering experience watching the Chicken Being Grilled ... The Chicken rotates slowly over the heavy flames, one can see the Juices flowing in the Chamber .... light salt, lightly spiced with herbs ,,, its quite the health Snack - Unless you spoil it with its side condiments .... A heavy Garlic Dip, Raddish, Hummus paste ........ Garlic Maynonaise along with the Nice, Grilled Chicken, is a great combo

Grilled Chicken with Dips, Raddish, Hummus...hmmmm

The All Time Favorite @ Lebanese Point - the Delicious, Juicy, succulent Shawarma .... The Bread is not too crsip nor too soft - just right texture , & right thickness ... Splashed with huge amount of Garlic Dip, Each Bite of the Shawarma, is a Juicy bite, thansk to the generous dose of tomatoes & leaves the mouth a Liquidy & a little tasty greasy taste



Shawarmas being made....Tomatoes add the Juice

 See the Grilling Chamber, where the Chicken is being Grilled




Chamber for Griling the Chicken....see the Flames

 Ambience - 9 (esp in winters)
Taste - 8
Hygiene - 7
Value for Money - 6