Desi Carbonized Fiesta : Goti Soda

If you live in Mumbai you might have come across the vendors selling some coolant in a strange glass bottle. This pocket size refreshment known as Goti Soda in Mumbai, the name is given due to the distinctive design of the bottle.

The bottle’s neck has a constraint at one side that prevents the Goti (Marble). Bottle is sealed with a glass marble from inside; the bottle’s design prevents the marble from blocking the bottle when you are drinking it. The Vendor usually presses hard his index finger on the marble to push it down thus making sound similar to firing bullet.

Not only in Mumbai but you can try this spectacularly delicious beverage in multiple small towns and villages of course known by some different name, in North India this is known as ‘Banta’ this carbonated drink usually available in lemon and orange flavor. The drink contains a mixture of seasonings such as Jal Jeera, Chat Masala or Black salt.

Unfortunately, due to the absence of any corporate backing, it remained just as a street treat or Pepsi or Coke had a tough competition.         

Shawarma : A New Street Food in Mumbai

Out of nowhere, our roadsides were bombarded with this new street food couple of years ago. Called Shawarma after tasting it good more four to five times, we were addicts (we loved it the moment we tasted it but just needed reasons to eat). This famous Arabian preparation is mainly made out of Chicken in Mumbai. This slow grilled dish served by cutting block of meat and reminder kept roasted on a rotating spit. It is usually served as a wrap with toppings of Onion, tomato, cucumber, mayonnaise, spicy chutney and coriander.

On Mumbai roadside, this dish served in two varieties, one as Roti Shawarma and another is Bread Shawarma.  You can ask for medium spicy or red hot Shawarma, spicy sauce blends with the slow cooked glazing chicken which taste enhanced by the creamy mayonnaise. In recent days, it has become one of The Popular roadside dishes in Mumbai Suburban locations.

It tastes excellent when the spice glazed roasted chicken make an explosion of flavors in your mouth. The main reason behind its popularity among youngsters is its very cheap. In 40 bucks, you can get a delicious evening snack that can make you feel full, and if you still have some hunger, left in you can go for the other one.

Tip: If you want to try Shawarama try Roti one instead of bread and ask to make it spicy and let the fun begin.

Street Food Around The world

We have listed down some of the most popular street food dishes around the world; if you are happened to be travelling across these countries we insist you give these dishes a try. As trying new food and meeting new people is the core of the entire experience of travelling. Moreover, street food signifies great amount about the local history and people. Hence we narrowed down five iconic street food dishes to be clear, this not a countdown but a random list. Some of these may be familiar, but give them a shot, we are sure you won’t regret it.      

Jerk chicken, Jamaica

Jack Chicken is Jamaican native cooking style, chicken is dry rubbed or wet marinated with secretly guarded hot spice mixtures. Modern variants of this style also include Fish, Shellfish, Sausage and Vegetables. Jerk chicken seasoning relies on two chief ingredients which are ‘Pimento’ and Scotch bonnet Peppers. Its ingredients also comprise cinnamon, garlic, ginger, brown sugar.  

   

Chilli Crab

This famous seafood dish is extremely liked in Singapore. A Dish served in several hawker centers across the city. They commonly serve whole crab in sweet and savory chilli sauce. Contrary to its name, it’s actually not that spicy.     

Arepas in Columbia

These round maize dough flatbreads are a significant part of Colombian and venezuelan cuisine, Arepas are much thicker than the tortillas, and it can be grilled or baked and stuffed with cheese and Avocado. Also served as sandwiches in various sizes and shapes, Arepas is particularly famous as a breakfast dish.  

Arepas in Columbia

Street food at its full glory, thick fries smothered in cheese and light brown sauce. Poutine can be found all across Canada. To get the best Poutine you have to visit its birthplace French speaking Quebec province.

Ceviche, Peru

Considered as a national dish of Peru Ceviche is extremely popular seafood dish in the coastal regions of Latin America, made out of raw fish marinated in lime juice, chilli and of course salt. You can try multiple Ceviche according to the different fish types like sea bass ceviche with sweet corn and sweet potatoes.  

Tangy and Tasti Pani puri

Pani Puri usually have a soft corner in everyone’s heart this typical roadside dish can evoke feelings of craving, Nostalgia, Thrill and Happiness. Lots of us associate this dish with our childhood that is the reason why Pani Puri never fails to take us down the memory lane.

Popular as the evening snack, this is dish is the center stone of Mumbai’s Chaat Culture. Pani Puri is popular all over India, in Delhi it is known as Gol Gappa, In Kolkata it is called Phuchka , in many regions it is also called as Pani ke Battashe ,or Phulki. Names might be different but the soul remains intact in all these different forms.

Pani is made out of tangy and spicy chutney and chat masala, Puri is fried crispy balls made out of wheat or all-purpose flour. These balls are then stuffed with smashed chickpeas stuffing known as Ragada along with Pani and sauces.

All you need to do is taking the entire puri in your mouth at once then let your taste buds experience the explosion of flavors.  Pani puri is not subtle it will leave you exhausted after a one plate and I am sure you will ask for another one.

After finishing don’t forgot to ask for a complementaryMasala Puri  

Jalebi: Tasty Drippy sugary Goodness

Jalebi is one of the favorite celebrations sweet. This sugary and crunchy treat can make your diet plan a sweet nightmare.

In India, as in West Asia, it is well-known by a variety of names: jilbi, jilipi, jilapi, zelapi, jilapir pak, imrati, jahangiri and so forth. The ingredients too differ from region to region. In several parts of India, the batter made of urad dal and rice flour with a besan and wheat flour;

 In some others it also includes semolina and baking powder. as in Bengal, of chhena and khoa. But regardless of the ingredients used, the jalebi is doubtless the most popular sweetmeat in all of South Asia, including in Afghanistan where it is served together with fish during the winter months! Trust the jalebi then, like so many other dishes, we treasure, to offer us something more than delight to our palate. It is a valuable token that food and language, arts and ideas, values and lifestyles are all products of give-and-take amid the peoples of the world.

A friendly advice to all the sweet tooth out their if you haven’t, try this crunchy Jalebi with cold Milk, You can thank me later by the way!

Dosa: A South Indian Delicacy

Some dishes are made as street food and some developed as street food, Dosa is one of those dishes. Popular houses hold delicacy, now famous for being a street food in Mumbai. Dosa is thin crush bread made from rice batter and lentils. A staple diet food in the many south Indian states such a Karnataka, Telangana,  Kerala, Tamilnadu  dish is now popular all across the country.  

Like many popular food items, the exact origin of Dosa is also untraceable, though historians found mention of Dosa in 1st AD.  Dosa has come a long way since then south Indian Dosa is one of the popular road side dishes apart from that for no apparent reason it emerged as the morning snack for people in Mumbai. 

Dosa comes in multiple verities such as Masala Dosa, Paper Dosa, Neer Dosa, Rava Dosa, Mysore Dosa are some of the traditional types of Dosa (now brace yourself to appreciate the magnanimity of the creative genius of street food chefs) other types of Dosas are Pav Bhaji Dosa, Chinese Dosa, Noodle Dosa, egg Dosa, Cheese Dosa, Manchurian Dosa, Paneer Dosa. The list is actually quit lengthy, but I think you’ve got the a gist of it.

Crispy delicious thin crust Dosa tastes spectacular with the tangy coconut chutney and sweet and sour Sambar. You may get this on any dosa cart this combination comprises all the necessary nutritional elements of diets, so in a way its quiet healthy actually. 

So which Dosa you like the most?

Made in Mumbai: Pav Bhaji

Popular street food in Mumbai Pav Bhaji is one of the most delicious offerings you can enjoy while on an evening outing. Made with mix vegetable curry served with butter glazed bread Pav, this dish can make you drool even with its aroma. This delicacy was originated in Mumbai decades ago, though depicting the actual time period of its origin is quite difficult.

Pav Bhaji in Mumbai is one of the must try things. Vegetable curry Bhaji consist of potato, peas, bell pepper, flower ,tomatoes, etc. this dish is usually served with a big chunk of butter on that top ‘more the merrier ‘ saying is apt for the amount of butter on your Pav  Bhaji, with Bhaji you get Pav glazed with the butter with finely cut onion and little cut up of lemon.

Since its origin Pav bhaji in Mumbai has come a long way now you can get several varieties in Pav Bhaji such as  cheese Pav bhaji, Paneer Pav bhaji, khada Pav bhaji, Mushroom Pav bhaji to name a few. But there is no parallel to the Pav bhaji you get on the Chowpatty’s road side cart. If you want to taste an authentic Mumbai Pav bhaji, there are many places are renowned for Pav bhaji in Mumbai such as Canon opposite CST station or Badshah in Crowford market.

It may look like death by butter, but then what a delicious way to go.     

World’s Tastiest Veg Dish : Misal Pav

Today we are going to talk about the tastiest vegetarian dish in the world, we are not talking about any European gourmet dish we are going to discuss our very Misal Pav. Recently honored by foodie hub awards held in London this spicy Maharashtrian dish bagged the top spot. Commonly known as Misal Pav or just Misal it is one of the most popular street food in Maharashtra.

 There are many popular varieties of Misal are available such as Puneri Misal, Kolhpauri Misal though we are going to take look at Mamledar Misal. Known by this name for decades,  Mamledar Misal Thane grown popular over the years. This Misal can be a delightful snack, but it certainly not for the light hearted.  To warn you ,Mamaledar Misal Thane comes in two varieties spicy and spicier. This is the key to their tremendous success, though it can make you sweat while eating but taste is well balanced and you can certainly savor all the amazing flavors, which makes it one of the most popular Misal in the city. If you want to know how to prepare Misal Pav then visiting this place is a must.   

    

Located opposite Zilha Parishad office in Thane on the station road, you will not find any board or hording for the place nevertheless it’s not a task to find this place when you will see the crowd of people that is the place you are looking for. Misal Pav at Mamaledar cost roughly around 60 bucks; it’s a great place to enjoy one of the authentic and spiciest Misal Pav in the City.

Underrated Vada Pavs in Thane that tastes Awesome !

Let’s start going through some of the most delicious Vada Pav in Thane city. All these places are famous for various reasons such as taste, their price and quantity. We checked multiple stalls and landed on these top five locations. We do like to remind everyone that it’s not a countdown these are some of the best places around Thane to get authentic Vada Pav . We have deliberately avoided popular places; in the nutshell, we are not ranking these places because we are diplomatic so let’s start!  

Gadakari Rangayatan Canteen: This is one of the most popular places in Thane, centerpiece of the city’s Cultural and entertainment movement holds immense prominence. Nevertheless, a humble canteen of this place always is overlooked. Besides some regulars place is relatively unknown but people who ever watched a play in ‘Gadakari’ knows how delicious vada pav they serve. vada plate is cost 20/- Rs served with fantastic dry garlic chutney. If you get lucky, you might see a famous celebrity enjoying his share of snacks.

Timing: 10 am to 9 pm  

Narvekar Vada Pav : Located near Vartak Nagar , Narvekar Vada Pav is hot favorite among many street food lovers. Cost at 10/- vada pav is served with fried chilies and humble garlic chutney. Vada is famous for being one of the most spicy vada pav in Thane. Take just a one bite and scintillating flavors will explode in your mouth.  Just don’t go too late as these Vada Pavs tend to get sold out very quickly.

Timing: 6.30 pm to 10.30pm    

Aunty’s Cart Shivai Nagar: This place doesn’t have an official name but what they do have is spectacularly flavorful snacks. Be it Vada Pav or the soft bread Patties you will always witness crowd of people waiting to get their mouthful of flavors. Freshest bread and balanced flavors in the vadas makes this cart a must try place. Vada Pav is served with regular garlic chutney and coconut chutney though highly unusual this goes really well with the flavors in Vada Pav.      

Timing:  6:00 pm to 10:00 pm

 Gaon Devi Vada Pav : Opposite Gaon Devi ground near station this snack stall serve all types of popular snacks. Samosas , Pakodas, Bread Pattice are extremely popular among food dwellers. However, specialty of this place is their trademark Vada Pav. Served with delicious yellow sauce and spicy chili chutney, this vada pav comes with a complementary Potato Pakora.  Vada is crispy from the outside and flavorful from inside. Priced at only 12/- Rs this Vada Pav is enough to provide a on the go bite.   

Timing: 10 am to 9 pm 

Comfort food: Mumbai Vada Pav

Vada Pav; our very own comfort food and famous all over the world. This cheap affordable local dish garnered worldwide recognition and become a staple food of Mumbai.  Fried spicy potato patty served between soft bread (Pav) with dry ‘n spicy garlic chutney is the simplest form of our very own Indian Burger.  

You may find multiple varieties of Vada Pav all over the Mumbai and Thane, though there are multiple folklore about the invention of this roadside delicacy, however it is believed that it was invented as affordable snack for the mill workers in early 70’s.

Since then Vada Pav has come a long way. Many companies tried to revamp our good old Vada Pav by redressing it as a Burger. But you won’t be able to enjoy the authenticity and earthiness of a simple roadside Vada Pav. Many of us have fond memories of eating this treat while we were kids. So if you have a craving for a hot vada pav with you spicy chutney don’t hold back your taste buds just go and enjoy the food bon appetite!  

Check out our next blog for countdown of best Vada Pav in the city. So see you soon.