Railway Platform - Food Journey

Ever thought of eating food cooked on Railway platforms?

If you are regular traveler of through trains / local trains - then you must have thought of it at least once in your life.
CAT is trying to share few such spots here; few places that CAT has visited and experienced while traveling on different routs.


CAT is really thankful to friends: Rohit, Ashish, Rajudada, Girish and Vaibhav for being part of the interesting discussion. It was actually a TPT - which let CAT think about all the railway stations that have been part of CAT's food journey.


Quick message: Next time, if you are traveling by train, mark a slot for a food-break on platforms that you like. After all, railway platforms are interesting places for food lovers.


Here is what CAT has noticed so far...
At Elphinstone Road station in mumbai, many commuters do prefer the tea-stall at the Churchgate-end. Few things not to miss there are - Vadapav, Ragada-Pav, Ragda-Samosa (with / without Pav), Masala Tea.



The Juice Vendor near the Churchgate-End of the Middle-bridge on the platform should be visited to quench the thirst of watermelon juice.

So ragda-vada/samosa with tea or juice are good options that can be tried at Elphinstone Road station.


At Bhopal Railway station - one should grab Hot Paratha with Vegetable.


If your train is reaching there at the right time - meal hours or heavy breakfast hours, you should not be missing this opportunity.


Kalyan Junction, serves variety of Dosas since relatively early morning to fulfill the demand of the commuters.

While travelling from Mumbai to Bangalore, the train halts at Dharmavaram it is famous for Dal Wada with Chilli. On the same route, people rush to taste Biryani at Raichur and Pav-Bhaji at Solapur.
After all these stations, anyone from any compartment - 2nd, A/C or First would definitely enjoy the aroma! It could actually be possible to find which station has gone by noticing the aroma that it leaves behind in our compartments.

There are a lot of commuters who enjoy Vada-Pav at Karjat and Pune station. Bhadang-Bhel-Poori, Omlette are also some of the favorites of those who visit Pune railway station frequently. Lonavala-Khandala - the hill stations near Pune are famous for "Chikkis, Fudge and Jelly". The Chikki vendors do not leave a single train untouched!!!

On Miraj - Belgaum route one may notice the rush of co-passengers to buy Idali-Vada at Ghataprabha station. The same way we can't miss the tempting aroma of Omlette-Pav and Tea at Miraj.


While travelling from Poona to Satara the train halts at Nira station. CAT recollects that during childhood, we used to enjoy the Puri-Bhaji available on Nira station.
These varieties available on various stations, take away the boredom of long journeys. There is always an element of excitement tied-up with each station because of the food that if offers.

Diva-Panvel route had a diesel multi unit shuttle service and a diesel engine shuttle / passenger service before that. Although not on the platform of Diva Junction, but I can not imagine these trains without someone selling Sukha Bhel.
Same would be the story of many vendors selling - Shursbery biscuit(Pune), Chips-Tea-ColdDrink(Nearly every train), soup and other snacks.

There are few trains that serve tasty food - trains with pantry car .... but something about this little later in a separate post.


CAT is not the only lover of this mouthwatering food-world of railway platforms.... Each one of us - equally is!

For readers, it would be wise to look at different links mentioned below:
10-stations
best-food-on-railway-station
regional-food-on-railway-stations

With the improving taste and variety we all would love to see the increasing hygiene factors on these platform food joints - hope to see this one day!

Enjoy food -

Miyaaon.

2016

All friends and food lovers!

It has been such a pleasure to be in touch with you so far.

Recently CAT realized that there haven't been enough posts on this blog! Bang! Thanks to a close friend of mine - Girish.

CAT never stopped having food or eating out - it just happened while juggling with priorities.

So few things to look into:
- continue posting regularly: it is difficult to decide the frequency though.
- be consistent while spelling "Miyaaon"
- visit at least five not so common food joints that serve unique and tasty food.

let us see - whether CAT can achieve it!

Wish everyone a happy, healthy, wealthy, yummy and prosperous new year!!!

Enjoy food -

Miyaaon.

Feel King or Raja at Rajwadi Hotel

Recently CAT had the opportunity to travel from Gujarat to Mumbai by road. On this route just after the Bagwada toll plaza, a stunning and spacious hotel grabbed the attention.

It is "Rajwadi Hotel". A perfect place for family halt. What a spot it is!

The most convenient thing on your road trip is to get a good place to relax and eat, the place which is just on highway, that does not force you to leave the main route or skip the flyover. This is exactly what is achieved at Hotel Rajawadi.

CAT recommends to have any Kathiyawadi dish here. Especially hot rotlas with the sabji to once delight is a healthy, energetic and yummy option.

CAT generally avoid eating rice when driving - although that takes away some personal fun.

The best part of all - is the ambiance provided to kids. Even washrooms are safely away in the same campus. This could be a roll-model spot for other similar joints to ensure that families or groups that opt to take a halt are actually refreshed before continuing their drive.

After all, those who do not drive are more tired and dizzy when you are on road trip.

With such a wonderful experience, CAT is happy to shout Miyaaon here.

Enjoy food -

Miyaaon.

Navnath snacks center- Fresh food destination at Bhugaon Pune

Navnath Snacks Center

Ever been to Pirangut - a wonderful place near Pune ...? Most of you might have heard of hotel Kombada on your way to Pirangut from Pune. CAT had been on the same way.




A Misal lover punekar informed CAT about an amazing place just opposite Hotel Kombada, Bhugaon - Matalvadi fata, Taluka Mulshi, Pune.

Here the generous and kind family of Mr. Tukaram Khanekar will server you with everything that is freshly cooked.

Small setup - 1

 Do not mind waiting for the fresh food being cooked and served to you ... meanwhile order a sukha Bhel! The movement your Bhel is served, you realize that you are up for a very special delight.

Small setup - 2

Apart from Misal and Bhel, you can order variety of snacks like Pohe, Bhaji and of course the Puneri Shample.








When CAT curiously enquired about why don't you keep fw things ready say - chopped onion, curry, etc...?

Tukaram Khanekar

The couple smiled and said that "we do not serve stale food - everything here is prepared and served only after the order is placed; this place is not just a hotel that mints money - we believe in providing healthy and tasty meal to our guests". Wow- what else do we need to believe that this couple is a follower of Nath sampraday.

Khanekar Family

Green chilly chutney is something which one should order and get packed from here if possible. But if there is no power - you might miss this glory!

CAT with friends and stomachful of dinner and memorable taste.

Yummmmy!!!!!

Hats off to Khanekar family for running your super joint that is based on "principles".

CAT would like to recommend this place for all food lovers and would like to Miyaaon here.

Just on suggestions - do not mind the time of delivery - order sukha bhel, as you food is being cooked fresh!

 

Enjoy food -

Miyaaon.

Shegaon

Cat been to Shegaon recently. It is located around 300 km west from Nagpur - Maharashtra. Shegaon has traditionally been a big market for cotton; cotton from ginning / pressing mills was transported to textile mills. It has colleges offering degree in the area of Commerce and Arts; there is Industrial Training Institute and also an engineering college - Shri Sant Gajanan Maharaj College of Engineering. Well, it also has a touris attraction "Anand Sagar".

In Cat's opinion Shegaon is more popular as a pilgrimage destination as it is believed that Shri Sant Gajanan Maharaj lived here.
Cat has visited the Gajanan Maharaj Sansthan (Institution) Temple and Anand Sagar. During course of these visits Cat managed to taste food from various stalls on the roadside...

For foodies - Shegaon is well known for "Shegaon Kachori". You will find a large number of outlets that boast to be the 'Shegaon Kachori Pioneers' or 'Original / Famous Shegaon Kachori' ..... Cat is not sure about who the real pioneer is - however, from old days there is a shop below Shegaon railway Station Bridge ... in Cat's opinion that Kachori is far better than other vendors.

But .... apart from Kachori Cat found many wonderful and tasty varieties at Shegaon, like - Sabudana Khichadi (also termed as Sabudana Usal here), Bhel and other fast food and tea joints.

Khichadi @ Vaibhav

When you are near the main entrance of the femous Gajanan Maharaj Temple at Shegaon, just look at your left hand side. Along with many hotels, kachori shops you will see a board - "Vaibhav Lodging Bhojanalay and Udipi Restaurant."

The appearances, cleanliness may not appeal some of you who expect a clean treatment at food stall. But the first spoon of Sabudana Khichadi will take you in the different world - and be certain about it.

The awesome Sabudana (Tapioca) Khadi where every dish is freshly cooked, with abundant shengdana koot (crushed peanut).

The Khichadi is served with fresh Dahi and Kothimbir (Coriander).

For Pav Bhaji lovers, do not miss the Sai Darshan Pav Bhaji just outside Hotel Vaibhav.

You will have a good treat for your taste buds...

 

You should not leave Shegaon without having Bhel on your last day. This is a unique bhel with 'Vidharbha flavor". This bhel has bhadang (masala kurmura - (otherwise bhel has white Kurmura) ), two to three variety of chivada, boiled peanuts, different salad veggies like - capsicum, beetroot, carrot... finely chopped, ... and the wonder comes towards the end when they serve it by asking 'tez banaau?' ... if you say yes - it is topped with a special 'red' chutney and finally "sping onion dressing".

Oh Man! ... its just amazing.... I never thought that a bhel without usual nylon sev and with salad dressing would taste such great!

 

A holy place with such a great variety of food ... In cat's opinion it is a foodie paradise. There are more such options to try out - variety of pakoda, special misal (with poha and boiled sprouts with masala), pure milk tea.

CAT observed that tea vendors here do keep a 'package' - manjan-tea-biscuit or manjan-tea-small breakfast.... it is a great discovery out of the needs of pilgrims who reach early morning for darshan and want to catch a train back home after that.

Cat strolled at midnight, late-night and early morning and found that there was at least one shop open to ensure that the person reaching this place should be well served to get fresh, to have tea and to have at least a quick breakfast. Cat admires the hardwork and commitment of local vendors and suporters who make all this happen.

Cat feels that Shegaon is a Foodie paradise as well .... more cleanliness will bring the "wow" factor.

Jai Gajanan!

Enjoy food -

Miyaaon.

Jai Jai Maharastra Maza .... Foodie way to express this in Malad

Part of the long menu

Jai Maharashtra Trupti Kendra ... it is a street food paradise especially for Dosa, Sandwitch lovers. If you are low on budget, low on hygiene cautious food and need variety of chutney, sauce, sambar like side menu - then just say "Jay Maharashtra!".

On Malad S.V. Road Junction - just diagonally opposite to Ramanjaneya, you will find "Jai Maharashtra Trupti Kendra". At the first site you might wonder that why this not-so-exciting road side joint is crowded.... This not-so-exciting mood will blur immediately after the wonderful and sizable dosa is served to you.

Dosa / Idli with variety of tasty chutney and sambar without any constraint on use of Butter bring the unique look, taste and the true road side feel to your plate.

The Set-up

The long long list of dosa-idali menu (CAT counted more than 40!), separate Sandwitch Menu will amaze you if you could locate the boards in the overall setup.


CAT ordered Shezwan Masala and was in love of this joint in just one bite! The service is prompt and proactive.

Moreover, for all you foodies the good news is- just behind this joint there is Soda Pub that can offer you kashmiri masala soda! and just few steps away comes the famous Survanshi Pan Bhandar! What else one needs for a perfect Roadside Dinner.

CAT quickly analysed that it is difficult to find this joint not crowded by foodies ... until it closes! Students, Bikers, office goers, groups, people waiting for bus all seem to be attracted by the fragrance and the quality offered here. Many foodies were happy with take away (oops - parcel) too!

CAT is extremely happy to shout Miyon here.

- Enjoy Food
Miyon Miyon to "Jai Maharashtra Trupti Kendra" @ Malad West.