It’s been a while since I have done a Finely Chopped Food Walk.
It’s been really hot this summer and I’ve been wary of the heat. However, the temptation to go out with a bunch of food lovers and to take them to my favourite food places and share my favourite dishes with them got too strong.
Which is when I got the idea of doing a food walk in the evening. Of going back to one of my favourite places to eat in Mumbai.
Thus was born the idea of an evening Finely Chopped Food Walk at Fort in South Mumbai.
Fort was once the CBD (Central Business District) of the city. It’s glory days maybe over but the food you get here is hard to beat.
I love the sense of history on the streets of Fort. I love the big stone buildings and the lofty trees which give a sense of peace and serenity. The variety of food on offer is awe inspiring and reflects the identity of the various communities that work here. What stands out most is the Parsi food on offer and the variety of South Indian food including non-vegetarian and seafood. The restaurants here are mostly family and proprietor run places. Most have no branches. The owner’s personal involvement in what is served shows in the steady stream of regular visitors who patronise the restaurants.
This is Mumbai’s culinary heritage at its most classic.
Evening is when Fort closes for the day and begins to empty out. It is a commercial area after all and its worker bees begin to make the trek back home then.
That’s when we can set out to explore Fort uninterrupted enjoying some glorious bites on the way.
So what will this walk cover?
A glimpse of life before modern coffee shops came into being. We will step into one of the last remaining Irani bakeries of Mumbai. Irani chai and bakes for the ultimate vintage Mumbai heritage taste is what we will have.
We will get a taste of the local street food which sustains the denizens of Fort. Served freshly cooked from the wok the way street food should be enjoyed.
Next for a taste of some South Indian food and no, not the usual idli dosa vada tiffin that you might expect.
We will have some sukkha mutton and porotas at Keralite place which during the day is thronged by Keralites seeking a taste of home.
And then another stop for the tantalising Mangalorean seafood curry, prawn gassi, mopped up with muslin like neer dosas.
We will end the evening in a gala way. With a taste of a Parsi wedding feast in a restaurant which is around a hundred years old. Normally you need to know one of the few remaining Parsis to get invited to a wedding and not too many of them get married these days. This restaurant is possibly the only place in Mumbai to offer the full wedding fare outside of a Parsi wedding. The meal will include Parsi classics such as Patrani machhi, sali margi, mutton pulao dar and laganu custard.
So join me next Saturday evening to get a taste of Mumbai at its most glorious.
Specs:
Date: 6th June 2015, Saturday
Timing: 6.00pm to 9.00 pm
Start Point: The Bombay Stores, Fort, DN Road
Things to get: Camera, phone, hand sanitizer, a big appetite.
Planned food stops: 4 to 5. Vegetarian options possible
Inclusions: Stops at some of my favourite restaurants and cafes. Tastings from a mix of cuisines and communities for that’s what Mumbai is all about…local Mumbai street food, Irani, Parsi, Keralite, Mangalorean. We will space out the food to make sure that you don’t miss out on any dish. Bottled water included. Not soft drinks. Eating will be at the participant’s risk. No responsibilities on the food as we will be eating regular restaurant fare. The ‘walk’ will cover essentially 3,4 lanes around Bombay Stores.
Cost: Rs 2,500 (two thousand and five hundred) per head inclusive of the tastings and the walk
Write in at k.finelychopped@gmail.com or tweet me at @finelychopped or write to me at the Finely Chopped Facebook page to book your seats.
So catch you at Fort on Saturday.
being a resident for more than over 25 years now..i can definetly ask u a simple question, why rs.2,500? it comes to not more than 900.
simple answer -180% profit margin!
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Apart from the fact that, he is now a well-recognized food blogger who has made his mark in the food scene of Mumbai. He is charging 2,500 bucks for the intimate… rather personal food experience. You stuff yourself with not just the amazing food but also with interesting anecdotes that only the local is aware of. Not to forget the new people you will meet on this food walk, it's one of a kind experience. Btw, I don't intend to sound like his advocate. Also, I have never been to his food walks… but 3-4 years back I use to create/lead/organize food walks across the city and do pretty much the same thing he is doing. And trust me, people don't remember your effort. Atleast the people I've met didn't, maybe cause I made it appear so easy and comfortable for 'em or some other reason but people have a tendency to appreciate stuff only when they are needed to pay heavily or there's a star value to it.
Wish I had known about your food walks Monco. Were they in Mumbai. I would have loved to have gone on them. Thank you for sharing your views
I've conducted 20-25 food walks and marathons across Mumbai city, sometimes even in Thane. All my walks were designed in a manner to make people aware (and if possible, fall in love) with Mumbai's incredible food scene. Sadly, in majority of my food walks the people I met belonged to the I-want-butter-chicken-like-we-get-in-Delhi category. And it was during these food trails, I came across your blog. Infact, I even remember the very first blog I read at Finely Chopped. It was the one wherein you had written about Rahmaniya. Rahmaniya is still one of my fav places but what I never did in the past was a confab with Mohammed. Anyway, regardless of my experience, food walks are a great way to learn about food and people. Keep 'em going till you can.