As a toddler, I had heard just a few tales about Bhendi Baazar from family and friends. I had heard of individuals from all corners of the town thronging to the locality to take pleasure in foods and drinks that you’d solely get throughout Ramadan. But I had by no means actually discovered the proper alternative to go to. The bazaar was additionally identified to be moderately cramped and crowded, particularly a decade or so in the past. Accommodations have been normally based mostly on the chawl system, and far of the infrastructure had not aged effectively. However, this integral a part of previous Bombay remained as vibrant as ever, and I appeared ahead to discovering it for myself. Turns out, a lot has modified over time, and luckily, for the higher.

The Feast Begins at Shabbir’s Tawakkal Sweets

The climate was unusually cool for the start of April. Since it was Ramadan, the whole avenue was illuminated with hanging lights over store awnings and throughout alleys. It was round 7 pm, and devotees have been simply starting to interrupt their quick. We seated ourselves on tables in a small courtyard located just a few toes away from our first cease, Shabbir’s Tawakkal Sweets – an outlet that dates all the best way again to 1953. Their authentic store needed to be given up for redevelopment, however their new deal with didn’t appear any much less abuzz. It was time to let the feasting start. I made a decision to begin with a favorite.

_{Baida roti is an all-time favorite that by no means disappoints. Photo Credit: Toshita Sahni}

I had all the time been a fan of baida roti and could not assist being inquisitive about how they made it right here. The roti arrived minimize into six items, and I may already spy the scrumptious stuffing inside. I dipped a chunk into the refreshing mint chutney served on the aspect and took a chew. How had I ever preferred every other model? The outdoors was completely crisp, and the egg didn’t have an overwhelming flavour. Inside, there was juicy hen mince, spices, onion, and, after all, items of inexperienced chillies whose presence you possibly can not miss. We additionally tried the cheese baida roti, which appeared straight out of a foodie’s dream, with bubbly cheese oozing out. To me, the cheese felt moderately misplaced on this beloved conventional dish. However, these round me have been left enchanted by it.
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Mouth-Watering Appetisers

Among the appetisers, we additionally tasted the hen seekh kebab and mutton seekh kebab. Moayyad Mithaiwala, the proprietor, defined that a number of the delicacies have been ready solely for iftar. However, there have been many treats – candy and savoury – out there year-round too. The kebabs have been one such dish, and after tasting them, I used to be glad of the very fact. I already started planning my subsequent go to and mentally making an inventory of people that needed to strive these kebabs. They have been cooked to perfection (I used to be too busy savouring them to provide you with extra poetic descriptions).
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Delectable Main Course: Nalli Nihari, Khichda, and Sheermal

_{We feasted on mutton Nihari and Bohra Khichda for the primary course. Photo Credit: Toshita Sahni}

For the primary course, we had the chance to strive Nalli Nihari – a slow-cooked mutton stew that ought to be the definition of fragrant. This stew is among the delicacies which are ready solely for iftar at this explicit restaurant. Nalli Nihari was initially eaten within the mornings. In truth, the phrase Nihari is claimed to come back from the Arabic phrase Nahar, which means early morning. The stew is usually cooked for round 4-5 hours, leading to splendidly tender items of meat and a curry bursting with flavour. We scooped the Nihari with some mushy sheermal, a kind of flatbread. We additionally relished khichda, a mutton preparation of rice and lentils. It was fascinating to notice that the gravy was white in color. Before this, khichda to me had been synonymous with a thick dal-like preparation that contained turmeric and was yellowish in color – I had by no means tried every other. The Bohra-style khichda was equally, if no more, scrumptious.
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Preserving the Essence of Old Bombay

Our hosts ushered us by way of a avenue flanked by contrasting constructions. On one aspect, an aesthetically designed skyscraper loomed excessive above our heads. Opposite, we noticed buildings nonetheless underneath building – all part of the large redevelopment undertaking undertaken by Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust (SBUT). The newer constructions mirrored sure conventional aesthetics and architectural kinds. This was intentional, defined Murtaza Sadriwala, a spokesperson for SBUT. They believed it was vital to retain a number of the essence of the unique buildings in addition to the spirit of the communities that thrived there – all whereas enhancing the general look of the neighbourhood. This didn’t simply apply to residences but additionally to the various outlets, eating places, and different retailers that have been an integral a part of the material of the bazaar.

Bara Handi – A Must-Try for Meat Lovers

_{Patra biryani is an fascinating native delicacy – questioning the place’s the rice? Photo Credit: Toshita Sahni}

Our subsequent cease was Fakhri’s Farsan Mart, the place we sampled patra biryani, a neighborhood delicacy made utilizing arbi leaves and items of mutton. Although referred to as “biryani,” we have been amused to search out that this dish contained no rice. We additionally tasted “Dubai mix,” an eclectic mixture of chivda and farsan, together with cornflakes, groundnuts, ghatiya, moong, and way more. We have been pleasantly stunned at its yumminess. Next, we peeked into the making of Bara Handi proper reverse. The identify refers to 12 vessels containing several types of slow-cooked meat gravies, eaten individually or blended collectively in several methods. Unfortunately, we have been too stuffed to do it a lot justice. We all wished to save lots of house for dessert – which turned out to be an ideal choice.

Sweet Endings at Taj Ice Cream

_{Taj Ice Cream has been round for ages and their yummy choices appeal to Mumbaikars from close to and much. Photo Credit: Toshita Sahni}

We made our strategy to Taj Ice Cream down the highway, a store specializing in sancha or hand-churned ice cream. It is claimed to have been round since 1887! To make their signature ice cream, milk is added to a copper sancha together with the fruits or flavourings of alternative after which churned for round 3 hours. We tasted the sitaphal (custard apple) flavour, which retained many items of the fleshy fruit – a lot to our delight. We additionally loved the blended fruit flavour, which was pink in color and a bit tart in style. Other favourites among the many group have been guava and mango. One of the very best components was that the ice cream was chilly, however not so chilly as to present you a mind freeze. It was additionally not overly candy, a welcome change in at present’s world of sugar-loaded desserts.

Imam Sharbatwala: A Refreshing Treat for the Taste Buds

After all this indulgence, we solely had house left for some refreshing sharbat. So, we headed to Imam Sharbatwala to strive their well-known choices. We have been served a candy and yellowish milk-based drink with items of watermelon. I may detect a nutty flavour, however the different substances gave the impression to be one thing of a secret. On asking, the seller diplomatically evaded our query. It felt solely proper that some treats retain their thriller!
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A Promise to Return for More Delicacies

As we headed again to the place we began, we seen that crowds of devotees had certainly descended in full power for iftar. Many have been wearing items of conventional clothes, implying that they belonged to the Dawoodi Bohra community. But we may additionally spot folks from different communities who had come to easily benefit from the delicacies on supply. To me, it was pretty much as good an instance of multicultural concord as any. I had all the time believed within the uniting energy of meals and this appeared like proof sufficient. I look ahead to returning to this fascinating nook of a metropolis I like a lot. As I walked to my cab, I additionally eyed the malpuas, kunafas, kulfis, and faloodas that I didn’t have the house to strive. Next time, I promised myself.