It is an undisputed fact that it is the lack of hygiene that makes street food so tasty. Be it bhaji on the beach in Mumbai or puchkas near the lake in Kolkata, or the chola bhatura dripping oil in Delhi, it is often the surroundings as much as the taste that lends the charm to these goodies.
Still, things are not as safe as they were while growing up, and while one longingly remembers eating lip-smacking fare out there on the roadside, one exercises some caution doing the same now.
So, Ranjana Singhal of That’s Y Food decided she would do something about it and went ahead and invited Zaaved Bhai all the way from Benares to serve up authentic chaat in hygienic surroundings at her restaurant.
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“Everything is made in house. Right from the golgappas to the sev,” she says. So one does not have to worry about where the components of the chat have been before they were put on your plate.
Ranjana has chosen 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. as chaat time as she feels there are not enough places that serve something snappy at that time.
The bhaturas are satisfyingly thick yet crusty. And the chanas are just the way you would find them in Delhi. Rich, glistening black with the raspy texture of amchoor, or is it anardaana?
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Make sure you taste the paani puri, or puchka, or golgappa if you prefer to call them that. You have an option of the little puris made out of wheat or semolina.
And if you ask nicely, you will get a sampling of both. The paani puris come with a delicious potato filling and even nicer is the little beaker of paani to go with it. Your nose tingles with the fragrance of mint, coriander and a myriad other spices only a chat wallah is privy too.
I am sure it is just an illusion, but the paani puris seem light and leave you feeling virtuous.
But if you want to dig in there is the pav bhaji, piping hot, aromatic and with generous maska (butter). Dahi bhalla, raj kachori, papri chaat, bhelpuri are some of the other dishes available. You can wash them down with sweet lassi.
But Ranjana, only one thing was sorely missed – a kulhad or even a glass of piping hot masala chai.
The chaat timing at That’s Y Food is between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. every day. To know more call: 0422 4365117/8