Local Food

This is one aspect of travelling I like the most. Local food, prepared the way locals like it!

I strongly feel that you should try and order local specialties wherever you go. Not a great fan of ordering ‘Chole Bature’ in Chennai where you have wonderful Idli and Uppam at the local dhaba. I also hate when Indian travel companies say they have Indian Food(Ghar ka Khana) on foreign tour. As a veggie I have little choice. Still, here are some local dishes I liked very much. Grab them if you pass any of these cities.

• Falafel--- (Originally a Arabic dish…but I saw it first in Amsterdam). It was just like eating Pakoda in Amsterdam.Falafel is a sandwich in pita bread. It is filled with vegetables, and falafel balls made from chickpeas. A vegetarian classic, falafel is delicious and filling.

• Momo---DarjeelingIt is something like the maharashtrian dish ‘karanji’ but not that sweeter. Very delicious when eaten with special sauce and chatni.

• Cadby ---- (Some famous shop next to Pizza Hut , Kothrud, Pune)It is a wonderful Cadbury Ice-cream. Tastes same like Cadbury 5-star and very thick shake. It’s very famous in the whole town and this place, although small is crowded with college going people all the time.

• Black Dates or Khajur – (Saudi Arabia)Normally you would say dates are so common, why would I mention them. But trust me, dates from Saudi Arabia are nothing like Dates in India. They are so soft and delicious, they’ll melt in your mouth instantaneously. Faster than even a chocolate would melt in your mouth. I still distinctly remember the taste even if it has been over ten years since my Dad brought them from Saudi. Awesome.

• Croissants---(France)This crecent shaped bread comes in variety of types with lot of stuff added in it. The ones with different cheese varieties or vegetables or simply butter taste excellent. Must have!

• Patbingsu---(Korea)It is a traditional Korean dessert often topped with ice cream or frozen yogurt, sweetened condensed milk, fruit syrups, various fruits such as strawberries, kiwifruit, and bananas, small pieces of tteok(rice cake), chewy jelly bits, and cereal flakes.