Special Pohe

It is interesting to know (and taste) different recipes made from Pohe! Regular Pohe (phodaniche), Dahi Pohe, Sev Pohe, Dadape Pohe (Oppressed Pohe would be too bad translation) pohe chiwada (stir fried), Peas/Onion/Potato Pohe (ingredient based categories),etc,etc... Last week I read about Lavlele Pohe (Set Pohe) being famous somewhere – I think Belgaon. But here in Pune, Karve Nagar, I tasted one more type last weekend!

It is Dadape style – but not Dadape – Pohe, they called it special phoe. It comes from a small, family run, snack center called Rajas at Karve Nagar, Near City Pride cinema, Kothrud. Checkout the location link below for map. They serve few other traditional snacks but this item is their specialty.

Pohe is not fried (oil less), wet and red in color. Has raw onions and tomatoes. Cheese garnishing is the only item that probably comes in a way to call it healthy pohe.  Served in leaf bowl, it has got different taste, bit more hotter side. Certainly makes good chatak matak evening snack.

Cheese Chili Toast

I ate many different things under this name at different restaurants. In fact, I was served with cheese sandwich (!) at one place. Many times it is not listed on menu card, probably seen as pretty ordinary, non skilled item. BUT, here is the one from 24 Carat (Ajinya) at Sharada Center, off Karve Road & it is awesome! Ajinkya is drink-after-work place for IT guys around (TechM, Persistent, etc). It goes without saying that Cheese Chili Toast had been favorite chakana on Friday evenings.

Amount of cheese and chili is perfect. Basic bread pieces, topped with cheese and grounded chili, left in oven for a while to let cheese melt over the bread. As bread gets toasted, nice layer of melted cheese forms over. Looks very simple but yet I have had such tasty Cheese Chili Toast only at couple of places & Ajinkya comes first.

Ramnath Misal

Sunday morning brunch was Ramnath Misal. I believe this is not as well known as Katakir, Bedekar (Pending for this blog – some other time). Location is Tilak road, few meters ahead in the same line of Durvankur.  Place is like any average Amrutatulya, crowded on Sunday morning hence take away was preferred option.

This Misal has proper Phohyacha Chiwada as prominent ingredient, to the extent that you can taste dried coconut, Dalya in Misal! In addition they got pohe in it. Tarri has good presence of peas like Ragda of Ragda Pattiece. Comes in medium hot and tez hotness.  Taste is different; one may or may not appreciate as much as Katakir/Sri-krishna. Served with bread slices – I think most of Misals in Pune comes with bread slices instead of bun breads. They also served onion pakodas – of the size of Potato Wada and I saw many people having it there. But I personally did not find it as good to recommend. Main objective is Misal and stick to it!

Faaso’s wraps

These wraps are good anytime except for breakfast (my theory). One wrap can be a quick snack, two or more would make a meal. Lot of such wraps are around these days with different names (Frankie, kathi role, etc, etc).  Inside wrap would be mostly kebabs or desi (actually Panjabi) subzi.  I like Tikka warps from  Faasos’s . Chicken and Paneer, both are equally good. Fresh, juicy but not too much spice with Tikkas. And the actual wrap (roti) is too good. It does not turn into a rubber even if you eat after some time, the tenderness stays!

Basic wrap is Veg Salad warp with Mayo and is my favorite! It reminds me 7 layer burrito from Taco Bell! Off course, this is better version. The butter roti, vegetables and mayo just comes together beautifully – and yes, I guess this is the cheaper one as well. Some good things comes cheaper than some not so good things.

This outlet, one of Faaso’s chain,  is near Karsihma housing society, couple of shops after Pizza Hut while going towards city pride from Karve road.

Biryani @ Vanaz Corner, Paud Road

This Biryani is not from any restaurant or an eatery.  A family brings home made Biryani for sale outside Venkey’s chicken shop at Vanaz corner, Paud road. You can find a fruit juice stall next to it. Place could be hard to find as it is nothing more than couple of containers on a small table. Only available in evening 6pm to 7:30pm or so! I had heard about this from one of my friend & tried to find it earlier without any success. But today when I was walking past it, I casually located it & the confirmed with the crowd standing around small table. Yes – being a street foodie, I do keep my eyes and nose open while strolling around.

So – the Biryani – amazing! In my opinion one of the best I have had so far & probably the best I have had in Pune. (I really loved one from a famous outlet near Chaar Minar Hydrabaad, forgot the name). I tried Chicken and Veg from this place. Chicken is awesome, nicely layered, chicken cooked to the perfection (don’t need a knife to separate it out from bones) with all aroma rich rice. Veg one was little oily, mainly the vegetables. But test was good - after all fat tests good.

The shopkeeper lady told me – they don’t get Biryani on Monday & Thursday! Don’t go there looking for one on those days. They also seem to bring other kinds, like mutton, etc. For sure, Saturday is Chicken + Veg!

Pesara Pappu @ SouthIndies

My lunch today was full of authentic south Indian spices @ SouthIndies, university road, next to Pune Central mall. Claim is all the 4 south Indian states have representation on your plate. With whatever little knowledge I have about south Indian food, my guess is, inclination is more towards Andhra food , like Briyani, Hydarabadi Paratha, Gongura pickle & few Pappus!  (Daal cum Curry cum Soup? - pardon my insanity) All those Pappus had very different and delicious taste. My favorite today was Pesara Pappu.

It was served as a soup. Made up of green moong (Split lentils), thin but very smooth & rich taste, one can easily gulp, 2-3 bowl full. I did two & half.  Overall excellent buffet experience at very reasonable cost! One more item worth mentioning was starters - mouth watering small wada (balls), boiled & garnished potatos and onion bajji with coconut chutney. Highly recommended - looking to visit again!

Shri-Krishna Misal

Sunday morning Misal again! This time Shri Krishna Misal @ Tulsi Baug corner towards Mandai. Have heard about this in past from couple of friends. Very small place, easy to miss unless you are determined eater. One way to find it is look for some crowd outside the small shop.
As you can see, base dish is mixture of fried rice flakes (too much translation of Pohyacha Chiwada!), potato subzi, sev, onions. Could not find any trace of Pulses (Usal). The other red bowl is called "sample" (Tarri or Rassa). It is not as hot as as it looks. Has some amount of Tomato in that & gives dash of curry flavour to the whole Misal. I would recommend you to ask for another half 'hot' sample and mix a spoon or two full  in your Misal - result is fantastic! I heard some people go for just "sample" with bread slices - without the base dish. After enjoying the spicy stuff - go for a glass of buttermilk  - its a necessary ritual.