Mudasir Tariq
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Mar 3: As street foods are fetching people round the world by its special features like low cost, delicious taste and easy availability, Kashmiris too are substituting the tradition. Over the years a number of street foods have become famous in valley.
The trend has picked up among masses in the valley with children in particular showing a considerable liking for the street foods.
"Being a food freak, I always taste the delicious cuisine and street food during my break. Those makeshift roadside stalls and carts represent some exquisite flavors. My children love to eat this street food when I return from my work, we often go to the places where we can eat barbeques and Nader Munji," said Sadiq Khan, a resident of Hawal.
One can find a whole range of these low fund restaurants and road side carts that satisfy the taste buds with authentic Kashmir street foods. From a recent past many streets and lanes in the city have been dedicated to different kind of street food, some of the popular road side eateries in Srinagar include places like Khayaam Chowk famous for Tujji (Barbecue), Maisuma Chowk famous for Chola Thool, Maharaja Bazaar famous for Lawas Masala, Harisa from Ali Kadal is really to be talked about, Gard Munji of Lalchowk are some of the places that are famous among the masses about street foods.
"When one thinks about some of the places in the city, the picture of the street food obtainable at such places revolves round the mind, these places have now permanently turned into junk food streets and it has become a hobby of Srinagarites to visit these places to taste these easily available delicious cuisines," said Murtaza Ahmad.
Many streets of the city present a festive look after the sunset, as the street food buffers throng these places where they can obtain their favorite street eateries. Owing to the popularity many old city places have turned to be a hub of street foods, with the accelerated demand among masses the sellers are having a brisk business.
"We are having a good response of the masses as we serve them hot, hygienic food at cheaper rates, one gets satisfied both financially and in hygienic way," said Ghulam Nabi alias 'Nab Rista' who sells barbeque at Boulevard Road.
Surprisingly the trend is not only on rise in Srinagar but other places in the valley are also witnessing a good demand of junk food. In the evening one can witness a heavy rush of people around these carts in different towns as well as in villages of Kashmir.
"Everywhere in the valley you will find plenty of carts retailing their meaty products, many with temptingly ecclesiastical names such as Masala Lawas, Nadar Munji, Karra, Gair Munji, Tujj etc. Spiced with chilly, vinegar, onions, curd are eaten unaccompanied, these places have also turned to be the meeting points for friends" said Nisar Wani, studying hotel management at Indore. |
