Gourmet from the grand ol' gullies of the Walled City makes its way to the South Delhi folk paradise this weekend, courtesy Gunjan Goela. The Guide peeps into the cooking pot
Gourmet from the grand ol' gullies of the Walled City makes its way to the South Delhi folk paradise this weekend, courtesy Gunjan Goela. The Guide peeps into the cooking pot
Cuisines have come and gone, but old has always been gold. In the capital's context, of course. Long before Delhi knew how to pronounce pizza, it devoured bharwa golgappas, kullas, paranthas and jalebis from Purani Dilli. Centuries later, South Delhi shifted to salads and soups, and the hot, humble halwas remained confined to those legendary lanes and barely-there nooks. 
Old and behold: Street-food buff Ankita Shorey tries out the famous
jalebis pics/Subhash Barolia
Nevertheless, some took on the mission of bringing the pride of those bylanes to popular places so that tourists and locals didn't have to take the trouble of fighting Metro crowds and confusing alley-ways. Gunjan Goela, to name one. Her 8-year-old project Dilli ka Khana is all about making the heritage fare more accessible to the city's far-placed masses, and in its latest avatar, emerges as a three-day food festival at Dilli Haat.u00a0 "I always felt there was a vaccuum that needed to be taken care of. And this fest, I promise, will fill it," she beams enthusiastically.
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Purana goes plush
A flock of famous shops and stall keepers from Old Delhi will participate in the festival. "I have gathered shopkeepers who have been in Chandni Chowk for the past 70 years. It started as a movement to help the local vendors there. I wanted to add mileage to their work, and the exquisite flavours of the charming old area," she says. "The legacy of our forefathers has been slowly dwindling; dying a natural death because there was no demand for the traditional flavours. Now, it is reviving; people are coming from far and wide, and an impetus is but imperative," she stresses.
If you haven't heard of the epicure earlier, Gunjan has been promoting streetside Delhi food since over a decade. She runs a catering unit by the same name, supplies to five-stars hotels and also doubles up as a food historian, taking people out on heritage food walks in the Walled City. Her initiative also believes in striving for respect due to Indian chefs abroad. "It's sad to see how Indian chefs are looked down upon, abroad. I have received a lot of support against this, and want to change things further," she declares.
Grubbing it in
Spread across 24 stalls, the festival will offer food ranging from chole bhature, aloo ki tikki, shammi kebab and chicken pakora to kulfi and rabri falooda. You can sink your teeth into an exotic kaju or badam parantha, or indulge in Giani's yummy kulfis. "I've not just taken the fest to other states, but also other countries, like the US, Dubai and London," reveals the self-confessed sweetaholic, who can't keep off halwa nagori and jalebis.
Dilli ka Khana
At Delhi Haat, Opposite INA Market
Till April 18, 11 am to 8 pm
Entry fee Rs 15
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