One absolute must-stopover on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway if you are heading to Lonavla or Khandala the next wet weekend, is this old Dhaba outside the city. I don’t know its name. But you will spot it from a mile away by the number of cars parked beside it on the Expressway. Its specialties are the Vada Pav and Misal Pav.
Popular go-to Maharashtrian snacks of the common man. Both are intrinsically a part of Mumbai. Like Subs and Burgers are to NYC. But widely available outside the city as well. Friends swear that these are the yummiest Vada Pavs and Misal Pavs they have
tasted. I don’t know. I haven’t visited the Dhaba yet. But the pictures they took there leave me with no doubt. Seasoned motorists schedule a stop at the Dhaba just as they do at the food plaza midpoint of the Expressway to take a break.
To my mind, Vada Pav should taste the same everywhere. It’s just a patty of mashed potato mixed with finely chopped onion, green chili, and coriander that’s dipped in a chickpea batter and plunged into a cauldron of bubbling oil. The steaming hot Vada is then put between a Pav that’s slit in half and slathered with green chili and coriander chutney. It’s served with a spicy garlic and onion powder mix and a wedge of lime. The Dhaba owner must put a secret spice in his Vada Pav that brings the Expressway traffic to a halt beside his shack. His Misal Pav is just as popular. A simple mixed bean sprouts curry topped with onions, tomatoes, Gujarati farsan, lemon juice, and coriander leaves. Best had hot. And compulsorily with the humble Pav. Mumbai is staring at another
wet weekend. It’s time to visit the Dhaba.
About Mark Manuel
The above thoughts/content has been proudly copied from the wall of Sir Mark Manuel. Being interviewing almost every role model of this country and going stronger each day. Mark Manuel is a respected Mumbai editor, writer, and columnist.
With over three decades of journalism in leading publications. This includes the Free Press Journal, Times, Dainik Bhaskar, Mid-Day, and Afternoon. He is famous for his brilliant pen interviews. He himself is a TEDx speaker.
Further
His interviews have been featured in several leading media houses. They include the Hindustan Times, Huffington Post, BBC, and Network 18. Almost every famous person has been interviewed by him in the country from Mother Teresa to Muhammad Ali. His first book is just out. It’s titled Moryaa Re! It is a crime thriller that is perhaps the country’s first police procedural. He began his career covering crime. And in a tribute to his experience and knowledge of this beat.
Several distinguished officers of the Mumbai Police and its Crime Branch collaborated with him to make this book possible. Amitabh Bachchan wrote the forward in a statement of friendship for Mark Manuel and admiration for his work.
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