Walking Around Matunga

Chota Packet Bada Dhamaka

They say big things come in small packages or to quote our very own Hindi version Chotta packet bada dhamaka. Ever wondered why the smallest of nimbu (lemon) adds that mouthwatering khatta taste to any of your foods like poha or that spicy bhel. Or the smallest green chilly fried and served with that spicy batata vada gives the zingiest taste to it. The Dus wallah channa –shor garam at the neighborhood channawallah tastes the best and gives you immense pleasure and cuts your boredom while waiting at the bus stop or the railway station. The simplest of toy the wind mill with its attractive colours and free spinning nature never fails to give happiness to your kids when you buy it at the garden. Or the ice cream dolly (duet) with its natural and exquisite taste that comes for Rs.20 gives even more pleasure than eating a Magnum @100 . I still remember the taste of the hot dog served at our canteen in I.E.S School . A simple combination of veg pattie buttered long bread (pav), some tangy and spicy mix chutney and topped up with onions & tomatoes. A hit with the students during recess and after school. The demand was so much sometime we would be disappointed when the Canteen manager would say sorry beta its over , come tomorrow.

I recently heard from the misus that her friend and an ex-student of I.E.S School had celebrated their class re-union and the start attraction of the party was this humble Hot Dog…..

So happiness can be found in  small things or small memories , all you need is a content heart and ability to enjoy life in all its diversities.

If you want to enjoy some simple food and if you don’t fancy a dine in restaurant you can try the “Jayesh Milk Bar” just opposite to Ruia College. In its old glory it was a typical Maharashtrian restaurant with wooden tables , run by its Kokanastha Brhamin owner Mr.Ambdekar. With waiters in uniform and a asal Maharashtrian menu of the best ever batata vada , kothimbir vadi , thalipeet , sabudana vada and sabudana khichadi. Over the years it lost its glory due the owners indulgence in local politics (unsuccessfully tried to get elected as a Independent Corporator twice but lost) and trying yo cash in on the real estate scene by becoming a broker and a travel agent rolled into one.

Had to even sell off his space (gala) used as kitchen to the local wani –Laxmi Stores to recover finantial losses. Now his daughter has taken over and tried to restore its glory. First thing she did was rent the front portion of the space to 2 vendors . One who best in the art of chaat making and the other in sandwhich. Earlier these vendors used to hawk their wares from near the Five gardens , but under constant pressure from local BMC ward officers for hafta (weekly bribe) . Now this new symbiotic relationship was best for them. They were happy to get a place to sell and Ms.Ambdekar got her rent + commission on the food they sold.

Here you get the finest pani puri with its explosive mint flavored pani , lip smacking sev puri with the crunchy mix of spicy fried dal , roasted peanuts , the bright yellow sev , pieces of the sour raw mango to give that tanginess and mashed potatoes and diced tomatoes and onions to make it filling. The Sev puri plates sell like hot cakes among the student crowd from Ruia , Poddar and Wellingkar’s. Sometimes you spot Marathi Television celebrities like Deepak Shirke and Ajay Phansekar of famed Marathi Tele series –Ek Shunya Shunya a Cop –Crime Series in 1980’s on Doordarshan. Then you can spot Sanjay Narvekar Dedfutya of Vastav fame sipping chai and having a hot batavada or a plate of chat. Being a alumnus of Poddar he is seen almost every year during Ganesh Utsav celebrations at the Ruia Naka Ganesh Mandal and participates during the final immersion procession along with the students of these colleges.

At the same eatery the Sandwich wallah makes the finest sandwiches stuffed with fresh cut slices of cucumbers , tomatoes , onions , boiled potato and beetroot . Topped up with yellow sev to give it a crunchy bite. You can also try his Veg Potato Taost sandwich stuffed with potato baji and topped up with green chutney and Amul butter after toasting. Making this sandwich an altime favorite snack of the students hurrying to class or coming out of a boring lecture.

With confidence restored Ms.Ambdekar has stared a take away for the Maharashtrian dishes of the crispy kothimbir vadi , crunchy sabudana vada and even keeps chapatti and usal (moong or matki) during lunch time. You can see people lining up for these during afternoon time.

Another gem is the tiny eatery “Udpi Idli House” at King Circle . Tiny in size but large on options. Its part of the famous Ramanayak’s Udpi Restaurant which is a brand by itself in South Indian cuisine. This one if the specialty restaurants that serves only Idli’s . But every option possible. Looking at the menu you will get confused what to order and what to eat first. A small palce with 4 tables , you see people standing in the area marked for self service and just outside eating away their personal favorites. Even the regular white idli is as soft a cotton and eaten with the tasty sambhar , the feeling is divine. You could try their khotto a cousin of the idli but steamed in Jackfruit leaves giving a special taste and smell. The vegetable idli with dices carrots and tomatoes is colorful and great to eat. My personal favorite is the Kanchpuram Idli , yellow in color and with its unique taste of the chand dal ,cumin and mustard tadka and flovored with dry ginger powder (soonth) and black pepper (kali miri) to give a peppy taste. Another specialty is the mudho , the cup shaped idli steamed in kedki leaves and served on banana leaf served with dollops of butter on top and eaten with Muga podi the spicy dry chutney powder. The other unique dish beyond imagination is their Kakdi Idli made of grated cucumber and giving it a sweet tangy flavor combination. Then you can try their Oondi (small white balls ) , masala idli or the rawa idli.

You would have enjoyed the regular idli with the usual sambhar and coconut chutney but a unique combination here is the Dalitoy , tur dal cooked to perfection and tempered with pieces of ginger , mustard and curyy leaves and dried red chillies in pure ghee. Giving it a heavenly taste. After eating the idli you want to just sip this gravy / dal.

With the belly full , the best after taste still lingering on your taste buds and fond memories you can then walk to the King Circle garden to enjoy the rest of the evening.

So next time you think that only big and expensive things can make you happy , think again and always remember “Big things come in small packages” …….