Street Food

It all began as a source of cheap food for poor people, but the rich taste of street food has taken the world by storm. Every country, every city is known for its special street food. This food has evolved over the years due to various influences, be it changing ingredients, immigrants etc.
In India one has always grown up with ‘Chaat’. You may call it ‘Golguppa’ in Delhi, ‘Paanipuri’ in Mumbai or ‘Puchka’ in Kolkatta; but the sweet, tangy, spicy and crunchy treat is a classic. Delhi remains most famous for its ‘Chaat’, Mumbai will always be the ‘Pao bhaji’ capital of the world. What is most fascinating is that the same ingredients come together to create such unique experiences all through the country. So while Mumbai might serve up an amazing ‘Bhelpuri’, Bengal’s seemingly similar ‘Jhaal muri’ is a treat for the senses. Of course, with growing global influences you can now find ‘Chinese chaat’, ‘Lebanese shwarmas’ and American ‘hot dogs’ available on Indian city streets today.
The street food culture in the USA is perhaps the only one that can be compared to the street food in India. It all began in New York, where the hustle and bustle of the city lent itself well to quick tasty food. The result was hot dogs on the go. From there its grown to a multimillion dollar industry that includes immigrant food traditions like the Middle Eastern ‘Falaffel rolls’, Italian pizzas, Mexican burritos and Greek gyros! Of course, in the US a new street food phenomena is brewing, that of gourmet street food. So it won’t be odd to see trucks parked on the street selling fancy french crepes and frog’s legs and Peruvian stir fry’s!
Street food in the UK is a more recent phenomena. There wasn’t much else besides fish and chips and bar food that Britain could claim by way to pedestrian fare; but all that is about to change. A big influence comes from our very own India. All sorts of curries and tikkas find favor amongst the British population. Its the same immigrant culture that has influenced America, which is taking the UK streets by storm. So today you will find everything from Southern Pulled pork sandwiches to Korean comfort food on a Londoner’s platter!
So wherever in the world you may be, street foods seems to offer up the world on a plate!

Comfort Food

 

Food is such an important and integral part of our identities, but we tend to take it for granted. I was recently at a fundraiser from my office in London and to my utter and rather pleasant surprise the food theme for the evening was ‘Chaat’. Yes, good old Indian Chaat! Dipping my fingers into that ‘pattal’ of dahi-puri, standing in this posh London hotel, I was transported to the chaat stands of Lajpat Nagar, where I spent so many delightful afternoons and evenings through my childhood in Delhi. Inexpensive, yummy, comfort food; typically Delhi, typically Indian, and very nostalgic!

 

That evening I realized that living abroad we hanker after everything Western. NRIs, like always, have this hidden desire to fit in. Often this desperate need to fit in makes us divorce what is so much a part of our beings. And good old Indian comfort food is one such thing that goes out the window making way for, although yummy, Western food but food that doesn’t really have an emotional, sentimental and cultural connect with us.

After that fundraiser I came home and told my wife that we would make each Sunday a day dedicated to all our Indian childhood favorite foods. We have put that tradition into practice ever since. Not only has it brought us great food, it has also brought back the best memories of our childhoods which has bonded us once again with our home country, our families and our young children with whom we can now enjoy a genuine slice of Indian culture. All this thanks to the mouthwatering Indian comfort food treats that we prepare religiously each weekend. There is nothing quite like the comforting warm feeling of familiar childhood hits!