22 Dec 2006

PANCHAM PURIWALLA

My mom and I have this queer collection of newspaper articles- important news, fun tidbits, zany ads, webpages and the best of our collection…reviews by food critics. Not five-star restaurants, but local ones, dabbas, old, quaint ones. We hardly visit five-star restaurants as they’re pricey and the food hardly fills quarter of our stomach [terrible for me because I’m a real glutton]

This review is of an old restaurant, called Pancham Puriwalla. It was a famous stall serving puri-bhaji about a century ago and was made into a proper restaurant much later….


We were hot and sweaty from that tiresome train ride. We were tightly packed like cola-cans in a crate. There was hardly any place to move! There were some old ladies selling their wares who were sitting at the mouth of the entrance. People entering the train kept tripping over them and falling on us.
We got down at V.T [ the last stop] and walked down to Pancham Puriwalla, peering at the dog-eared newspaper article about it for directions. A huge, rusty sign-board at the bend of the road caught our eye. There it was! teeming with men running about with red towels on their shoulders. Oh...You should have seen the place... I immediately rated it zero on ambience. It wasn’t well maintained. Old chairs and tables were strewn around the place. The place was as crowded as the train compartment.

“Errmmm” my mom cleared her throat, feeling uncomfortable at the sight. One of the waiters, with a huge belly guided us up to the first floor. “There’s place here.” he explained. The first floor was not bad, [except for some sort of dicey looking, gigantic machine protruding from the wall] so, we took a seat, feeling somewhat relieved.

We were given a choice between three sorts of puris- plain, one filled with potato, another filled with a green vegetable; and three sorts of curries- potato curry with different vegetables to complement it. My mom chose the one with the least fat in it, and I did exactly the opposite. You can afford to go overboard sometimes. I mean, what’s life without food!

Within two minutes, our order arrived along with an additional bowl of two sorts of dal and a bowl of curds [each.] Those kind folks thought we were food critics or journalists [Yes! We do look like those crazy, adventurous sorts.] They even offered us their special pickle- one with whole mirchis [green chillies] with a tikka [spicy] coating over it. Hmmmmm….this was the best and most wholesome meal I’ve ever had in a restaurant. They deserved hundred points for the food and the quick service. The puris were huge, crisp and warm and the curries were the tastiest ever made. There was a perfect blend of spices and the right amount of salt, quite satiating for a glutton. And for dessert…. We had a super huge glass of fresh lassi [butter-milk.]

I was so full by then; I thought I could roll down the steps.And believe it or not, the whole meal for the two of us came within forty bucks! Promising them that I would write a review, I left the place with good memories and a full stomach.

21 comments:

SUNTOO said...

That was great. I will make it a point to go to this hotel and sit upstairs.

Sridhar said...

Umm.. the description ... my mouth is watering. Ya, what is life without being glutonous.

My motto too, has been "Live to Eat".

Hope you can make ur POp enjoy gobbling food instead of pecking at them

Rheaa said...

that's a compliment to an upcoming writer. thanks! i never compromise when it comes to food. i wonder how people STARVE themselves!

-tolerable,tolkien-like teen
RHEAA

Unknown said...

hey rheaa...ur such a smart and inspiring gurl..ur truly a brilliant writer..ur soo kewl. keep it up. u rock!!!! luvya...

Rheaa said...

thanks for the compliment!

-tolerable,tolkien-like teen
RHEAA RAO

varesh said...

gibberish? doesnt tht mean rubbish? u seem quite confused...ur stories are "different" from all ive read soo far bt interesting...r u an avid dog lover? u seem like one..i also love dogs..
u shud continue riting ur blog..its quite interesting..and entertaining..alot of people seem to have given u such nice feedbacks...so dont disappoint them..

varesh said...

check out my blog..thetruthaboutlife123..ur blog...is damn original

Rheaa said...

of course i'm going to continue to write. i'll never stop even if i get the worst comments.i was just trying to make the blog name sound a little nonsensical, that's all. why would i make a blog if i didn't mean to continue writing?

i'm glad you found my blog interesting and entertaining. my aim IS to make it interesting for my readers.

thanks for the compliments!

-tolerable,tolkien-like teen
RHEAA RAO

Rheaa said...

thanks 'love life', i'll check out your blog and post some comments.

-tolerable,tolkien-like teen
RHEAA RAO

sunny said...

yes even i am a fan of pancham puriwala but i have not visited for long - my motto is - eat and enjoy whenever u can -

but the way u hav written it is - i have only one word - wow - it felt like i was there!!

happy eating!!

Anonymous said...

hey rheaa this is varesh....and my nick name "love life" means i love life..nt about my love life..and obviously i dint mean stop riting it...i meant tht u shud often update it more than u do...because...u have soo many visitors..

Anonymous said...

hey people..check out another awesum post..http://friendsforever93.blogspot.com/ it rocks! if u have frends..

Rheaa said...

listen, i've made this blog just three days ago. you can't expect me to update it everyday.

-tolerable,tolkien-like teen
RHEAA RAO

Rheaa said...

i'm glad you felt like you were actually sitting in 'pancham puriwalla.' i hope the magic works on others too.

-tolerable,tolkien-like teen
RHEAA RAO

Anonymous said...

Hi Rhea,

Though I am not much into foodies now a days ( I mean i did have my share of that during my good old days )still whats life without an enjoyable one !! whether its the pancham puriwalla or the pani puri wallas......its good to be aglutton every once in a while . I agree.... keep up the good writing too !!! diana

Rheaa said...

thanks! if you love pani-puris you mst go to 'elco-market' in bandra.

-tolerable,tolkien-like teen
RHEAA RAO

Unknown said...

rheaa i reeli think this blog is a brilliant piece of work...its damn gud and the details...r also very very good..i keep checking to see if u have updated it but i guess ur busy wid the hols..

Manasi said...

Hi, First peek at ur blog... I remember Pancham Puriwalla too! Always full of people, waiting for the yummy food! My Mom used to work in an office in that lane, so I was a frequent visitor there!
Do u recollect the name of that dairy where they sell sweet Dahi in glasses? that was Too good!

Anonymous said...

Please, Please, Please. Please update your site more frequently. I log on everyday and see whether you have someting more interesting to add.

Anonymous said...

Hi

I went to VT or CST as it is known now but could not find Pancham Puriwalla. My bad luck.

Anonymous said...

i'm glad you felt like you were actually sitting in 'pancham puriwalla.' i hope the magic works on others too.

-tolerable,tolkien-like teen
RHEAA RAO

>You bet it does!