Thursday, September 14, 2006

Things to Eat Before You Die (, although I don't want you to die really.)

The Traveller's Lunchbox has come up with this idea of compiling a list of a food-bloggers' top picks. It is about things you've eaten and think that everyone should eat at least once before they die. Sounds nice, doesn't it? Thanks a lot, Mandira, for tagging me.

Since I grew up in Pune...or as my husband once said, since my life has always revolved in a radius of 3 kilometers in a certain part of Pune, all my food memories and longings are connected to this city, that I call my home. (By the way, I am sure you have noticed that I wrote '...my husband once said...'. He is being punished so severely for that one occasion that he will perhaps never say that or anything alike ever again. Trust me. :))

Following is the list of foods or food destinations that I keep going back to. And I will do so until the last breath leaves my body. (What melodrama! Straight out of a Hindi tear-jerker. :))

1. Mango Ice-cream at Buva Ice-creamwale: Yummy yummy yummy ice-cream. It's a modest place in the heart of the city. (Near 'Udyan-Prasad' Mangal Karyalay, for those interested.) The decor inside hasn't changed in the last 30 years (that's how long I have been going there). Neither have the people. Most important of all : The taste hasn't changed. It is still the same taste and texture that I have in my oldest of memories. I am looking forward to making more memories there with my grandchildren. :)

2. Bedekar Misal: This is another one of those old-world joints in the heart of Pune city. If I am not wrong, the restaurant has a different name. I don't remember it, because everyone calls it Bedekaraanchi Misal. Now, Misal, as the name suggests, is a dish made by mixing lots of things. You can see the recipe for it here. But you know what, don't bother making it at home. Just pay a visit to Pune and have it at Bedekars'. You will regret, if you don't. :)

3. Shrewsbury Biscuits by Kayani Bakery: This is an item that many non-Puneites too know of. These famous biscuits make a perfect gift to take home, if you are visiting the city. Only that you have to make sure that you are at the bakery by 7 a.m., if you want to make sure that you get them. :) Read more about the bakery and the biscuits here.
The one thing that I'll want to do before I die is: Sprawl on the sofa in the living room at my parents' place, my sister beside me, both of us giggling like mad without reason, MTV playing on TV, and me munching on Shrewsbury biscuits. BLISS.

4. Kajukand: This is again something that memories are made of. When I was a child, my father used to bring me these sweet, pink squares made of cashews, sugar and with a hint of rosewater. These candies are healthier and cheaper, no doubt. They are also very simple, true-to-the-earth. For me, a symbol of the simple, middle-class life that we had. A life devoid of brands, luxury or affluence. Something that you don't really go looking for in supermarkets. It's the traditional-looking Maharashtrian shops that sell those. Try them out. You'll like them.

The last item on the list is purely a personal pleasure.

5. Tea made by my husband: You would perhaps not find anything special in it. Or maybe you would. Me, I'll want to have it till the last moment. The very last one.

I'd like to read what Anupama (I always tag her, don't I?), Linda and Mythili want us to eat before we die. :)

26 comments:

Anupama said...

Thanx for tagging me again vaishali. I will definitely play this one, but not immediately. In a few days . OK? There's one post I want to do before doing this.

Krithika said...

Shrewsbury biscuits ???? Vaish, I can eat them by the truckloads. We usually get a dozen boxes from Pune but that's never enough. Other specialities from Pune that I love are Budani wafers, Chitale's bakerwadi, Lakshminarayan chivda ...

FH said...

I like those yummy goodies you want to have before you die, some will kill you faster before you eat others :D :D
Kidding girl!! Live to eat and eat to live for a looooong time!!

Anonymous said...

Reading your post made me wish I was back in Punya-nagari right now!!
To add to Kritika's list: Ghodke's amba-burfi, Santosh Bakery (or Green Bakery) pattis, Marzorin sandwiches and macroons.....

-PuneriCook

Anonymous said...

From the sound of it your husband's tea must be tasting like Amruth. But then if you drink it so often, how can you die???
-AnontheOriginal

KA said...

Vaishali
1 butter stick == 113gms

Anonymous said...

One of the main reason I visit your blog is because you are from Pune apart from the fact that you write well and blog interesting receipes. You took me down the memory lane with your list. Joshi wadewale's wada paav and surabhi paav bhaji, frankie from a stall near kapila hotel,dholepatil road are some I add to the list given by krithika and others.


AI

Anonymous said...

Hi Vaishali -- your post reads like a mini-travel guide for foodies visiting Pune! And it is making me hungry...

Thanks for tagging me... I'll put my thinking cap on :)

Anonymous said...

vaishali - your list is making me drool. They sound wonderful. I remember eating Pune's bakerwadi...
For the picture for the meme, save it to your desktop and try uploading to your blog. If it doesn't work, I can e-mail the pic to you.

Anonymous said...

Shrewsbury buiscuits! Yes, absolutely! Scottish shortbread comes pretty close though - for those of you with no links to Pune.

Vikram Waman Karve said...

Dear Fellow Foodie and Fellow Punekar:
Thoroughly enjoyed reading your blog.
Have a look at my food blog at Http://foodiekarve.sulekha.com

and my creative writing blog at
http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com

and my biblio blog at
http://karve.sulekha.com

Regards
Vikram Karve

HAREKRISHNAJI said...

Atlast I have found a blog of my interest.

I have just written blog on Vaishali and other restaurants visited by me in Pune.

You may share, if you wish to
www.harekrishnaji.blogspot.com

HAREKRISHNAJI said...

Hope your husband doesn't mix up between Sugar and Salt while making tea.

Just joking.

rohanfoodie said...

hi vaishali.. nice post.. keep writing.. :)

Anonymous said...

This is great one thing I would pick is rum and raisen chocolate and icecream too much can get sickly but the taste is heavenly.

Anonymous said...

There are so many things that you taste before you die, passion fruit, strawberry cheesecake with cresh cream, honey roasted chicken with cinnamon, this makes me feel hungry already.

Anonymous said...

I am lover of food and I do not think I could choose just a handful of meals, I love the rum raisen idea of will but there are so many delicious dishes, how to choose, curry must be up there, ham and pineapple just to start, fresh cream scones with jam, I could go on forever.

Kamaldeep Chandel said...

I really like indian recipes and I normally surfing indiabite.com

اليوتيوب said...

good article Vaishali i like those food tips thanks long life

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