I missed the food!!

Hi All,

Returning to blogging about the delicacies of Belgaum after a good 3 years. One thing about leaving a city is, you realize the worth of those little things that were an integral part of your life but did not get the due attention required.

I was at Bangalore for the last 3 years, (Disclaimer: I love Bangalore and do not mean to put down the food at Bangalore, but I'm here to only do some healthy criticism).. I've always been a huge fan of Pani Puri (Gol Gappa), and there is something so heavenly about the Pani Puri at Belgaum (no exaggeration).

For those of you who have devoured over ambika's pani puri, you know it that this post won't say enough.

Some find street food too unhygienic, low quality and "food to get you hospitalized", but as Indians you have a huge advantage of digesting almost anything (yes! Anything!). Your digestive system goes through the most gruesome training over the years. However, the food at ambika is nowhere close to unhygienic (pani puri lovers will know).

A small mobile kitchen (gaadiwala), with chefs( bhaiyya) in uniforms and plastic gloves is what is enough to convince me that this is good hygienic food.

A perfectly made puri, ready to carry a decadent serving of the perfectly spiced and seasoned puri and to play cupid in this love story is finely chopped onion. What's more? You get to decide what pleases your taste buddies, khatta, meetha, kaanda zyaada..anything.

.Cheezy Affair.

Happy raksha bandhan! All the chocolates and laddoo's during this festive season makes u care less about your calorie intake. So go food crazy and be a part of this cheezy affair!
    Cheese and chiili... Just like they say opposites attract, this combination takes you on a journey of sweet and hot. The first time I tried it, i don't know what sense told me that it's gonna be cottage cheese(paneer) on the plate. I was in for a huge calorie surprise, WHOLE cheese diipped in a batter of cornflour and maida and then deep fried to get that cheese melt like lava inside. Not that all the oil and cheese was enough, they saute it with chillies and basic manchurian ingridients. One piece in my mouth and I was up yelling "cheese cheese, it's not paneer!!"

   But who doesn't like cheese!! If only I didn't have those adipose growing in me so fast!! Taste- brilliant, The feel of that cheese melting away in your mouth- awesome. My friend says it's a perfect value for money, every penny worth it!! I can't agree more. This is good stuff.
   p.s you wanna get your jogging shoes out after trying this one.
Location: panchamruth beside arun talkies.

Shauji food... love

"Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what's for lunch"

                                                     -Orson welles
What's for my lunch? shauji mutton chops and kheema. If I haven't proved it enough through my previous blogposts that the tiniest of places serve the best food at belgaum then here it is, The shauji mess food.
   This eatery needs directions to the location since it's not that easy to find. I'm gonna try my best to give you directions since my pals say I suck at giving directions. Will post the directions soon.
    The first time I took few of my friends to this place they did not seem to like the old haggered bottle green coloured building almost impossibly balancing itself between two other tiny houses. As simple and zero-pride the place looks, so also are the people serving food(I feel it's almost sinful to describe all those irresistible delicacies just by the word 'food'... it deserves much more).
    Well then here I go. This place is sure to take your taste buds on their best roller coaster ride. Climb all the way up through the tiny little stairway, which you may not fit into if you keep having this food daily. If you manage to get one of those four tables that fit into the small attic, you've gotta be lucky.
    I have a lot to write about the food here, before I get down to serious munching, there is this peculiar, bizzare way that the waiter takes your order and passes it to the kitchen below. Mutton chops, kheema, ball curry, with roti or chapati is what we order. The waiter is a member of the family which makes those mouth watering delicacies, there's a small little opening on the floor of the attic through which the waiter yells out the order and it is acknowledged by the chef (another family member) below.

    In five minutes our thali's are all set on our table with the best mutton you can eat at belgaum. The chops are mutton rack. Pardon me for that, THE BEST COOKED AND SPICED mutton rack with green coloured gravy. I love to have it with the roti or rather bhakri. My favourite at this place is the kheema, spicy spicy kheema that makes your nose run instantly!! The ball curry is not on my favourite's list, but you definitely wanna try it. This is one place that you don't need a salt and pepper holder at the table. Thumbs up to this place. And value for money? this place should hike their prices. 11/10 value for money. oops! I almost missed out on the mutton broth they serve, they call it the soup. You can have as many servings as you want.
    Try and reach this place before 3pm to try all that oh-this-is-the-best-food-ever. well, you'll never get lucky on mondays since it's closed. slurrrrp!!!