Parsi food trail with actor-comedian Zervaan Bunshah

Zervaan Bunshah is our lockdown find We came across his video of a Parsi speaking in Marathi caught by a traffic cop for flouting rules and we went down the rabbit hole of his videos where he impersonates a SoBo boy NoBo aunty Gujju tour guide Bandra girl Bandra boy Pali bros and Parsi matchmaker Wersquove been hooked since and wanted to meet the real DaWaMa Dadar Wadala Matunga chhokro behind these characters So we thought of spending an afternoon hopping around his favourite Parsi joints in the cityFunny man Zervaan Bunshah loves the club sandwich at Cafe 749 Dadar West PicRaj PatilGrowing up in Five Gardens the 29yearold fondly remembers playing chorpolice cricket football badminton and carrom at the gymkhana ldquoThe colony is growing vertically with beautiful old buildings and bungalows that had a character of their own giving way to plainlooking rectangular box high rises that are so aesthetically disgustingrdquo he says humbly as we walk into Cafe Irani Chai at Mahim past two huge jars of Parle Kiss Me toffee ldquoI miss the colony being quieter there are more people and cars now What hasnrsquot changed is the really nice loving and caring peoplerdquoIrani chaiAt the cafe he is friendly with the staff and even hugs one of them ldquoThis is the only Irani cafe in the city where the staff is friendly not snootyrdquo says the actor and voice artiste ldquoIt makes you want to come back and of course the food It is as authentic as it can get It has a homecooked feel My favourites are kheema ghotala Rs 210 brun maska Rs 55 and cheese poro Rs 230 The ghotala is rich and smooth not laden with greaseSandwich IcecreamThe cheese poro is basically a cheese omelette but so much bettermdashyou can feel the rich creaminess I wash it down with a bottle of raspberry soda Rs 45 and no one makes it better than Pallonjirsquos Irsquom not so much of an ice cream soda fan though most in the community love it to bitsrdquo Just before leaving we wash everything down with a cup of Irani milk tea Rs 26mdashit is the perfect closing to our latemorning brekkieChicken PuffFrom Mahim we headed straight to K Rustom amp Co at Churchgate for Bunshahrsquos favourite ice cream in the city speaking about the Parsi new year on the way there ldquoThere is no one favourite Navroz memory for memdashall are the same We spend time with each other eat a lot of food and get drunk After a long nap we head out in the evening to celebrate We have dhan dar patio not dhansak as opposed to what people thinkClub sandwichThe only thing my granny knew to make was custard and she made it really well everything else she made was terrible so I used to love to eat thatrdquo he says At K Rustomrsquos we had to run to the ATM for cash because they are still old school and do not accept UPI or cards Bunshah asked for his favourite lime and lemon but it was out of stock so he opted for Kiwi Rs 100 and Apricot Rs 100 and we share a rum and raisin Rs 80mdashour alltime favouriteChicken BurgerNext up was our ride to Dadar Parsi Colony to the cafe that is the new adda of college students and the place rings with intense debates In the outhouse of Dina Manzil the cosy outdoors Cafe 792 has quite a few wholesome and pocketfriendly snacks and meals sourced from the colonyrsquos home chefs ldquoThe club sandwich Rs 250 puts gymkhana sandwiches to shamerdquo boasts BunshahEven here the staff treats Bunshah like an old buddy ldquoI know the owner and also I am a regular hererdquo he adds For a tiny space the cafe offers an impressive variety of burgers sandwiches and sweet and savoury baked items puffs pattis and eclairs and to keep up with their trendy clientele they serve kombucha Rs 80Cheese PoroSpeaking of the new year Bunshah tells us how some people come up to him and wish Happy Pateti ldquoThere is no ldquoHappyrdquo pateti The word pateti comes from patet meaning repentance and is the day before the Parsi New Year reserved for reflecting on our thoughts words and deeds Itrsquos the day when we pray to our ancestors to come bless usmdashlike an All Souls day so clearly you canrsquot be wishing us Happy Pateti Donrsquot try to sound all cool and be a fool just wait till New Yearrsquos day to wish us Navroze mubarakrdquo he laughs