It is 6.45-ish in the evening and Panampilly Nagar is caught between evening walkers and traffic. The eaters are out too, as it is the best time to down hot momos dunked in sauce, waffles, naadan egg bhajji or the masala dosa. For, Panampilly Nagar has got just about anything you might want to eat. The hottest on offer now are burgers.
Just in the middle of the tree-lined stretch is District 7 (D7), a food truck doling out burgers, wraps and pancakes. Barely a week since it opened, it has been attracting quite a few foodies, with its unique presentation and delivery. The brightly painted truck rolls into its spot close to Live In Style salon in the evening and by 7, it is surrounded by people making quick orders.
The truck opens on the side facing the road and one can place orders at the live counter. The truck is a mobile kitchen with a fridge, a freezer, an exhaust, a frier and a hot plate. However, it will be stationery for a few months. Shiv Kumar, the owner of D7, says he had been working on the idea for over a year. With a background in hotel management and having worked in hotels in India and abroad, Shiv wanted to experiment with food. And the truck seemed like a different and exciting concept. “It would connect better with the people,” he says.
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Unlike the burgers at the standard food chains, these seem more flavourful and juicy. “We don’t keep any of the patties for the next day. We hardly have anything left by the time we close,” Shiv adds. The cooking is entirely done in the truck. Nothing is brought in from external kitchens or freezers.
Though chicken and beef are the fastest moving, vegetarians have plenty of choice, too, says Nidhi Sooraj. She and her husband Sooraj are friends of Shiv who have been involved with the food truck right from its planning stage. It took a year to set the truck in motion—getting licences, the design and the menu in place. Shweta Vasudevan, a friend of the D7 team and a fan of the food, who was also a part of the planning, says the truck is a refreshing and required addition to the food scene in Kochi. She says the burgers are her personal favourite.
While you are at D7, try the ‘juicy goosey’ chicken and vegetarian ham buggies or if it is beef that you love, go for the ‘Devil on Wheels’, a beef burger.
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The wraps come with egg, chicken and vegetarian fillings. The D7 Signature is its USP, a unique dish that has about half a loaf of bread carved out and filled with a delicious chicken, beef or vegetarian filling. The combos come with aerated drinks and fries. The pancakes are hot sellers, too.
Later on, D7 could also move to other places in the city.D7 has also started taking event orders.