Eat like a Mumbaikar

Kunal Vijayakar raises an eyebrow at our rooibos tea at Brooke Bond Taj Mahal Tea House in Bandra ldquoI want a filter coffeerdquo he announces adding ldquoAnd some good old butter toastrdquo He happily nods when the server suggests brun maska insteadVijayakar set out on a patrol as part of his visitOver our brewlaced conversation food chronicler Vijayakar reveals that he is set to launch a YouTube channel Khaane Mein Kya Hai on February 27 the first show in which he will feature is by the same name ldquoYou cannot deny the digital explosion Unlike television you first use it as a mode of expression and then turn it into something larger than life I am that oldschool guy who got turned on with newsprint writing and bylines The idea is to create a channel that will offer a destination for various show formats and facesrdquo he saysWhen we ask him to give us a sneak peek into what to expect from the show he reveals about his most recent shoot at Dadar Police Station West ldquoWe lunched with six constables who shared their homecooked food with us and also revealed a few nuggets from their livesrdquo says VijayakarBut before they sat down to eat Vijayakar joined them on a quick patrol around town and even stopped at their favourite chai tapri stall outside the station ldquoMost of them have that mandatory one cup while coming in and another cup while leaving It relaxes them they claimedrdquo shares Vijayakar adding ldquoThe ACP took me around the station which unlike our filmy setups israther swankyrdquoThe tour ended in a tiny room where they gathered around a table to break bread ldquoThey had brought delicious homecooked food mdash flower vatana cauliflower with peas bharli vangi stuffed brinjal fried fish sukka chicken kothimbir vadi and bhakri It included a lot of regional Maharashtrian farerdquo he recalls He learnt that the women constables who come from Badlapur wake up as early as 5 am to cook and leave for an 8 am duty ldquoThe show is about food across the city mdash be it on the streets in restaurants Udipis homes or hotels The informal shoot with the cops was oneofitskind They have stressful jobs but it was nice to listen to their happy narrationsrdquo he signs offLog on to Khaane Mein Kya Hai on YouTube