Shravan - food without Garlic & Onion

Hindu month of "Shravan" is arriving & it is not too far...
To meet the nature's demand, we are adviced to avoid Garlic, Onions, Meat & Eggs during peak monsoon season.

CAT would try to write on few tasty dishes that meet this criteria.

Enjoy Food -

Miyaaon.

Kairi

Kairi, Kachcha Aam.--- yeah lot of you may feel that it is not the season to talk about this.
Certainly - it is not the right time to find kairi in market.

The other day I was enjoying rains with Kanda-Bhaji (not bhaaji) and kairi chutney!
Amazing combination - absolute mouthwatering.

The Indian tradition is more towards preserving the taste and purity(to the extent possible) of kachcha aam.
In India, women are  never taught to eat or love Green Mangoes(rather unripe mango) - they learn it by nature.

For Intestinal problems, unripe mango (where seed is not fully formed to be technical) acts as a medicine.
CAT learnt that "Unripe green mangoes (small ones) are effective for diarrhea, dysentery, piles, morning sickness, indigestion and constipation.... (the list might be exhaustive)".
Foodie-CAT would like to term unripe mangos as "antiseptic" for intestines.

Readers are requested to verify this from various sources.

Another set of interesting information:
Green mango in excess may cause throat issues and Ripen Mango is believed to be acting as medicine to some sort of throat issues.

Well, this is just a tribute to the end of the Mango season this year...belated one.

Enjoy Food -

Miyaaon.

Gurupoornima

Someone may say, what does the blog relates to this? It does not - honestly.

However, on this auspicious day, it just clicked me that it won't be a bad idea to talk about my Guru maintaining rules (set by foodie-CAT) of this blog.
I can do this because I am going to discuss few stories(of my Guru) related to food, that I recollect.

According to me My Guru - Parampujya Kalavati Aai must be excellent at cooking.
Everyone likes dishes prepared by their Mom, "Aai" means Mother - so do I.

Some basics stated by Aai:
1. Do not cross-over the dish or eating area. Note that most of us in India, prefer dining on floor and not on the table.
2. High stress is given on cleanliness and hygiene to be maintained while cooking.
3. Eat only when necessary and just as much as required.
4. Eat healthy of course - strongly denied unhealthy food for prasadam.
And so on.

Few wonderful dishes I should mention here:

Only once I had an opportunity to have Mahaprasadam at Harimandiram, Belgaum.
Aai's favourite dish was "Gavachi Kheer". Trust me no other place offers such a nice kheer.

It has unique taste - many told me that Satyanarayan prasad tastes different. Even if you cook the same way but do not offer it - then the taste does not match with prasadam.

Her Charitra mentions about an incidence when suddenly there were multiple guests visiting someone's residence & the house had only and only "Poha" - not good to be offered as whole meal.
Aai suggested eight different varieties of Poha (ofcourse with different ingredients that are easily available). Each had different color and taste and none of the guests complained about not having a perfect afternoon meal. Even today, "God Poha" is assumed as one of the great prasadam there.
CAT regrets missing this meal with Eight Poha...

The simplest offering that Aai suggests is "milk". In problems, offer just a bowl of milk with sugar to God and pray with concentration. Idea is do not waste concentration and strength in searching good offering, rather focus on praying - wonderful isn't it?


Overall, saints across world & across religion, have recommended cleanliness while cooking. 
In interest of our family, let us try to move towards more healthier meals, everyday - by following their recommendations.

This is just a way of offering my prayers on Gurupoornima.

Anything wrong, hurting is unintended...

Enjoy Food -

Miyaaon.

Doodh Doodh Doodh

The conversation with my wife on why my princes is not willing to have Milk in morning led me to think about different milk products & milk varieties(milk with...).

Forget about their nutrition value for some time, just imagine how exhaustive the list would be!
Here are few of my favorites:

Milk varieties:
1. Milk with haldi
2. Kesar-elaychi milk / masala doodh
3. Doodh Colddrink - you will get this in Satara, Kolhapur side probably - it is a flavored milk.
4. Plain milk
5. Oreo milk shake - hmmmmmm
6. Coffee with milk - many options here
7. Tea with milk - again multiple options
8. So called chocolate flavored health drinks - bournvita, boost, complan, horlicks of this world.
9. anda - doodh
10. Doodh with coco powder
11. doodh with sabja or tulshiche bi (tulsi seeds) - very healthy in summer
12. Falooda

Milk products:
1. Dahi
2. Buttermilk
3. Masala chaas
4. Butter / Loni
5. Ghee / tup
6. Bery - one remaining in processing Ghee
7. Malai - I love Parle G malai sandwich
8.Paneer
9. Cheese
10. Mava / Khava - and all sort of mithaai that it generates.
11. All different varieties of Kheer
12. Rabadi, Basundi
13. Kharvas
14. Cream
15. Ice cream

You are free to expand these lists!!!!

Next time when you demand Pavbhaji - you have the milk in butter form, with Pizzaz / burgers / Subs through cheese, in daily Indian meal through ghee.
No other product or raw material can produce or support so many dishes, delicacies, varieties, etc. that Milk is doing currently.

Hindu philosophy says - Cow is an alive temple of 33 crore Gods!

Is the number 33 crore referring to the exhaustive list I talked above? No it does not.
However, I am tempted to say that one may really get 33 crore dishes from Milk - applying the above logic.

Enjoy Food -

Miyaaon.

Sing Chana

It is hard to find an Indian who has never ever tasted "sing chana" and associated varieties.

When I was nearly Five years, elders from my family offered "baby peanuts" (The best known english version of Marathi 'kowale dane'), these are sweet and most of kids start liking peanuts because of them.
Then slowly I started loving the boiled version available at home and even at roadside (those yellow ones....).
This graduated in khara sing (khare dane in Marathi). Then during college I got introduced to different "chakhna" versions (bitings - these are processed ones and hence do lost purity in taste.)

On scientific side, peanuts are known as "Arachis hypogaea". (don't ask how to pronounce). India seems to be in top five producers.



During my stay at Pune, I used to travel home on weekends & I remember the familier sound ("seng bolo bhai seng khara seng".... and those yellow boiled penuts at lonavala or nearby stations).
Hey, anyone travelling beyond thane (in local train)? I recollect the similar seller/s who used to visit FC coach in between Thane-Kalva stations... Not sure if this is still continued.

Chana was never on my favourite list - though it has many benefits.
One should taste green harbhara, these are also sold in roasted version. Then comes variety of chana, normal, with chili flavour and then those "masala" for biting purpose.


Here is the biting from Chana (a FoodieCAT version)- 
Try fresh-hot (both essential) chana, with green chili and slice of lemon.
Eat chana, while this in your mouth - take small bite of chilli and just move your tounge on lemon - amaaaaaazing!!! Try it and let me know how do you feel.

The scientific name of chana is "Cicer arietinum". (again no pronunciation)...And english version is 'Chickpeas'. India-Pakistan are the largest producers.

No wonder Sing-Chana is still sold for 2/3/5 rupees. But soon it is going to be minimum Five rupees throughout. In Mumbai we already see this.

Few more varieties that fall in the Sing-Chana category are:
Corns, Dried and roasted vatana (yellowish, green and red), tikhi dal, chana chor, churmura, soybean, etc.

Few may find it surprising that the authentic sing-chana bhel had little or no sev. I remember one such that had churmura (of two type), chana, sada sing, khara sing, tikhi dal, kanda, nimbu, masala as primary ingredients. This tastes different than those with a lot of chutney and sev - it takes away the fragrance and flavor of those mentioned above and then you do not notice the fresh and stale ones.

In the diet conscious era one should not and can not ignore this oil free, light yet tasty snack. Avoid "sev" and oily versions like tikhi dal, etc for good results.

The Sing-chana shops now are part of our tradition. I will share two such shops that are good vendors according to foodieCAT:- at Tilak Chawk - kalyan (west) & Opposite Parleshwar Mandir (Vile Parle east)

One should not forget to taste "Bharuch" sing. There are many shops in Mumbai who sell these and they do get fresh stock from Bharuch every week.

Sing-Chana on net
This video may appeal readers - it is about preparation of khara sing. Do not hunt for how much hygiene value it has. But you will notice the difference in chana and khara sing making. Good work by parananda!

By the way - interesting that I have come across a website of sing chana shop in Ahmadabad - interesting, isn't it? These are the revolutions that are needed by the sing chana vendors. I really thank and appreciate S M sing chana shop for understanding and implementing the net enabled business. No wonder, this tradition from Ahmadabad is over Fifty years now.  I wish them great success for next Hundred years and more.

FoodieCAT is so happy to know that a sing chana shop has understood the need to be on web. I am not sure if there is any association of the Sing-chana vendors but S M should promote this idea among the co-vendors as well.

It is the time for me to enjoy fresh and hot "khara sing".... bye bye

Enjoy Food -

Miyaaon.

Worcester food

In the first quarter of 2010 I got a chance to visit Worcester (UK). During my stay there for Six weeks, I found it to a Picturesque place; and there were many options for food-lovers too.

I was really impressed with restaurants, BnB accommodation, coffee shops, local sellers (Khoptas). CAT feels that the place had good food variety to its population.

Dilmore House
We were staying at Dilmore House  (BnB accommodation). Remarkable specialty there is the Owner himself! True gentleman, very kind, helpful, and a gem of a person. During the everyday breakfast discussions with him, we got a lot of information about the nearby places to visit and of course about the food-joints!
I must mention about a micro cooler that was provided as an add-on to us @ Dilmore.

It's really cool, don't you think so?

CAT learnt through discussion and experience that Malvern Hills and Severn Valley Railway should not to be missed when you are at Worcester. It was the first time when I saw Snow in my life. I will remember these places forever.

Being the lover of variety in food, I must say that the breakfast served at Dilmore is another specialty. Everyone gets equal attention and your preferences are perfectly noted (few people have a fixed menu and few do not). Hash brown, eggs and other non-veg additions, veg sausages, toast, corn-flakes, milk-tea-coffee and fruits - Overall, you are sure to get a healthy breakfast.

At Dilmore house, you will certainly enjoy a good movie collection.

Lilly B Sandwiches were taking care of Lunch. A very good outlet used to serve a variety of vegetarian lunch combo every working day. I was very happy with the Corn-Olive-mayonnaise-brown bread sandwich.
On few websites, no wonder it is rated as the best sandwich shop in Worcester.

We enjoyed even the Farmers Market on every Saturday near the main street.

I had a desire to visit an old British pub and that came true through "The Postal Order" and "The Blackpoll Inn". Personally, I feel that The Postal Order was much cheerful and had the 'real' pub thing in it....however Blackpoll is also a good option. We had good time (drink, food, discussions, football, etc) at The Postal Order. I was really happy with the Mexican wrap served @ The Postal Order and Lemonade was just nice.

CAT got an opportunity to attend Fred Zeppelin -live at the Marr's BAR, Worcester. It was a late night show. I really thank my friends Kiran & Sandip for this experience. (CAT now loves 'Lemon Song' :) ....).

Comin back to the Indian food at Worcester...there are many outlets that you will find simply by browsing the net. However, my favorite are these two places - Bombay Palace and CurryHutOnline. (That does not mean other places are not good....).

Bombay Palace
Homely atmosphere away from home, good food variety, nice and simple interior and the most wonderful presentation and the serving. At Bombay palace we were fortunate even to get some customised menu -
a) tossed green peas-mushrooms-garlic-green chilly: it was hot and spicy biting...... Loved by drinkers.
b) plain dal khichadi - simple preparation with just turmeric and salt - no other spices. Can not resist Papad(Popadam in UK) with this.
c) Sukha aalu jira: homely dry aalu (potato) sabji (veg), it was fantastic with Chappati.
All other dishes were equally good.

Bombay Palace

CurryHutOnline

This website was sometimes our alternative to get dinner. Excellent and extra spicy Biryani with wide variety of menu was readily home delivered.

My Favorite from the menu:
1. Mushroom Biryani
2. Egg Biryani
3. Chole-Ka-Masala
4. Veg Garlic Masala

The beauty of the site again lies in the suggestion (which side dish is appropriate, popadums or popadums and chutney, take jeera rice instead of Biryani etc.) that made the dinner perfect.

Whittard Tea Coffee Shop 
This year it is the 125th anniversary of Whittard. They have 130 varieties of tea and more than 20 varieties of drinking hot chocolate. At Crown Gate Shopping Centre one can easily find Whittard outlet. Whittard also grinds freshly roasted coffee beans. Huge variety of coffee, instant coffee, tea and instant tea can easily attract anyone. Whittard also provides glassware and equipments required for tea-coffee making.
Back in India the preparation of coffee is different than that in UK. I appreciate the staff at Whittard to choose the perfect blend and flavor of Coffee for my family. FoodieCAT (a tea-lover) requested them to suggest the 'right' coffee based on the method of preparation in India. Their choice was absolutely correct!!! They are experts according to me.


The six weeks passed quickly with work, sites, food and now I have few memories that will go on. If anyone of you happen to be in Worcester, please visit these places.

Enjoy Food @ Worcester -

Miyaaon.

The Great Maharashtrian "Misal Pav"

If you have been living in Maharashtra at least for a week then there has to be one breakfast or snack time fulfilled with delicious Misal Pav!!! I must say - Zanzanit, rassedar Misal Pav (extra tari maarun).

Pune, Mumbai, Kalyan, Dombivali, Nasik, Nagpur, Satara, Kolhapur and in all other places (like Shegaon, Lonand, Ambejogai, especially towards the Ghat side) across Maharashtra you will get this spicy, heavy yet affordable dish. In Konkan this is not that popular, still you will get it at selective places (Alibag, Vadkhal, Pen etc).
Each locality here in Maharashtra, definitely has Four kinds of popular "Khoptas" - Chayvala, Vadapavvaala, Bhelwala(is it so after defame story from Thane?) and Misalvala. Lot of bachelors, Couples, Auto / Cab drivers, Katta groups, Society groups (including Girls), Family groups are periodic (I have not said frequent) visitors to the popular Misal shop.

Each shop has it's distinct features. FoodieCAT loves this breakfast the most. CAT has a record of having the same breakfast (Misal Pav) from the same shop consecutively for Eight calendar days.

I would like to list my favorite shops / Khoptas. These are arranged in the descending order of the preference:
1. Hari Vitthala Misal - Kalyan West. This is where FoodCAT holds the record.
2. Misal from any stand located at CBS - Nasik. (Nearly Six years ago it was served with Papad, not sure if this is continued till date).
3. Puneri Misal - Sadashiv Peth (I can not recollect the name of the stall).
4. Lokmanya Misal - Kalyan West.
5. Kshudha Shanti Misal - Kalyan West.
6. Misal Pav at Gabheri - Vile Parle East.
7. Kolhapuri Misal - Exact opposite to Mahalakshmi Temple.
8. Misal Pav (Breakfast) at Hotel Ayodhya Kolhapur.
9. Munmun Misal - Dombivali.
10. Mamledar Misal - Thane.
11. Mi Marathi Misal - Vile Parle East.
12. Sapre Misal - Goregaon West.
13. Datta Snacks - Panvel Highway.

Few unethical creatures do add chemicals to the famous "Tari" to make it red and spicy. Be-aware of these facts; FoodieCAT recommends not to eat Misal at just any other outlet, check, inquire, see if someone is having it for long time and does not have health issues.

Before leaving Rave technologies, I was suggested to taste Jai Hind Misal (Lower Parel).
Here are the recent snaps from the place.

From right Hitesh, Pradeep, Chetan, Sushil at Jai Hind

Outside Jai Hind

Hmmmmm, yummmy Misal at Jai Hind

All will have their own list, their own thoughts on Misal Pav.
FoodieCAT believes that all these opinions and thoughts are correct. Few may have even negative views on the dish itself, however that does not take away the taste and the "Charm".

Enjoy Food -

Miyaaon