Showing posts with label restaurant. Show all posts
Showing posts with label restaurant. Show all posts

Thursday, July 02, 2009

beyond horizon: visit to Cafe Pink floyd

So sapota after attending last marriage of circa 2008, made his way to Pushkar. Pushkar is globally famed for its annual animal fair. Its not much of animal fair anymore, its a traditional and cultural Rajasthani festival.
Sapota's arrival with his folks at this place was not much of bang bang. We just landed here in early noon without making any fuss.
From Surender's wedding
First spot we hit was pushkar ghat, which is on the bank of pushkar lake, which is a beautiful lake in this dry land, situated between Aravali ranges. Some pandas were bothering us, but as you guys know sapota is punda buster, so no one could even get near him.
From Surender's wedding
The street from lake to temple was surrounded by shops of stuff, only tourists would buy, traditional clothing, antic jeweleries, decoration items, artifacts, chandeliers, Weapons and things like that. Brahma temple was situated at little higher elevation, so we have to climb over the steps to finally meet our god. The trivia about this place is that, this is probably the only Brahma temple. The temple had ancient architecture, many beautiful idols and copies of Vedas.
From Surender's wedding
So after paying our homages to deities, we dispersed for shopping. Sapota bought saffron kurta(long top), skirts, bangles, chunni(Indian attire for girls) and bags for sapota's sister. As we roam around the market, there were Giant wheels and merry go rounds. The most fascinating thing was Weapon shop, those shops have all the damn hand weapons you can imagine.
From Surender's wedding
Next adventure was a camel ride, Sapota must admit camels are the real cool dudes, I mean they don't give a fuck. The ride was rather an awkward one, but for a first timer, its an experience in itself.
From Surender's wedding
Next destination we proceeded towards was Cafe Pink Floyd, Sapota had read about this cafe in rock street journal. So it was earnest desire of sapota to visit this 'holy' place. There were boards and wall painting providing direction toward cafe pink Floyd. The cafe is located in a rather congested place. The owner had converted his mansion into this cafe, which is symbolism of how rock n roll can change lives. Grand entrance had board has art work from the movie, "the wall".
rom Surender's wedding
As you enter inside you can see there are rooms with with full of art work from all pink Floyd album. Each room named after one album, then there were tents and hammock and other such stuff all arranged in a manner reminding some art work from Floyd albums. As you climb even further, next level has same art work and relics. Terrace again has art work from legendary "The wall" red and black hammer. Entire environment of this cafe is floydized. From top you can see view of full pushkar city. The terrace is just beautiful with small garden on it and the sitting arrangement is just awesome, rugs and shacks all around. different kind of chairs and umbrellas.
From Surender's wedding
We ordered some snacks, and booze, mind it booze is all illegal here, so you get it under the table. Food was good, had good variety and served well. As I talked to owner of this cafe, he told me, how much he loves floyds and how this entire thing is such a passion for him. He however expressed his regrets of not able to attend Roger Water concert, as he is so busy with cafe. Sapota was glad to see this destination. He told me, at night the music goes all loud and psychedelic. We really didn't have time to stay at night.
From Surender's wedding
Wish I could be there for long, our journey had to end somewhere, so we set fourth to Jaipur.

Sunday, April 05, 2009

Sapota's adventure to Baburam paranthe wala

Sapota is a victim of inquisitiveness and sapota head starts on any adventure to satisfy his appetite for information. As soon as there was a power cut, sapota packed himself up and set forth to Chandani chowk. So as bus reached Lal Quila(Red Fort), Sapota tried to recollect the landmarks in the place, with small attempt sapota managed to reach Paranthe wali gali(Parantha Street.). This street was a ubiquitous narrow Indian street, nothing great about it, but it is quiet famous, and a must go for any Parantha lover. Well, Parantha is an Indian bread, which may be stuffed with some ingredients and is pan fried with oil or butter.
A babe with her not-so-hot mom was walking ahead of sapota, sapota followed her till she decided to settle in a dhaba(Road side Indian restaurant), but sapota has eternal itch to explore, so sapota decided to go till the end of the street. But, street was quite small, barely 200-250 meters, there were around 5-6 shops open at that time. The aroma of hot milk and other sweets were all around the street, sapota returned back to the shop where the babe sat, but but but... the shop has no place and it was all hot and steamy there. Defeated by the chance, sapota went to another shop, this one was called "Babu ram paranthe wale", this was clean and airy and not steamy, Sapota loved it and went inside. Now there is always a chance that you may not get the most popular shop in such place, but next shop is almost as good. So sapota ordered almond parantha, which took some time to get there. Most people who were sitting in dhaba seems to have came here, specially to have parantha, there were two families and couple of dudes, but no chic :(.


So sapota was served with plate full of red "sweet and sour" chutney(sort of sauce) made up of dried ginger(indian name: saunthh) then coriander leaf chutney, three vegetables one was gravy potato with makkhane(I donno what is its name in queen's English!), other one was pumpkin and last one mixed thick gravy potato(typically served in Hindu weddings) and couple of vinegar soaked vegetables. Along with this sapota ordered mango drink:Slice and Curd('course, no parantha without curd!). Finally the great Almond parantha arrived, but it arrived without much of a prelude(as in drum roll or guns firing; for the effect 'course!). Parantha was smaller than small pan pizza, deep fried and sliced in four, it was filled with almond stuffing. Sapota must say that small for its price, but too big for its taste, it was yummier than most paranthas sapota had. Sapota ordered another parantha this one was called kurchan parantha. Kurchan is typically the cream which sticks to the large pan, which is used to boil milk, this hardened cream is seperated from the utensil using sharp spoon or knife.


Sapota is floored with this parantha, it was crispy from outside and utterly soft inside because of milk cream and it tasted like having pooris(deep fried Indian bread) with rabri(milk boiled till it reduces its content by 3/4th). The third parantha which sapota ordered was layered paranta, This one again exceeded the expectation of sapota, it was very very crispy and with curd, it tasted like the second best thing in world. Sapota was so bloody satisfied with entire experience. This entire delicious food was for INR 125 only!!! Sapota took some pictures for you guys. Now to fulfill his religious endeavors sapota moved towards Gurudwara Sheesh Ganj Sahib.