Sundays are for koker (chicken) and gosht (mutton) biryani. Fragrant with pure spices, and a beautiful red colour of the rice that comes from a local flower called mawal (cockscomb), Rayees Ahmad’s clients in the Valley look forward to having a warm meal that feels like home. Serving a mélange of seasonal foods and forgotten recipes such as nadur palak (spinach with lotus stem), tchokawangan (tangy bringal preparation), alle the kokur (bottlegourd with chicken), kalle maaz (goat’s head meat), paache (paaya) and gaade nadur haak (fish and lotus stem saag), Ahmad’s Tiffin Aaw delivery service has become an instant hit. These rich dishes are steeped in traditions and are known to be a blend of cooking styles of Kashmiri Pandits, local Muslims and Mughals.

Started in February 2020, Tiffin Aaw (loosely translates to “as your meal is here”) is Kashmir’s first affordable tiffin service that currently operates in Srinagar. What began as a one-man team that makes and delivers food across the city is now a 25-member business that has already won awards and recognition in a short span.  From delivering 25 boxes on day one, they’ve grown to 150 a day. Ahmad tells us, “The map of Srinagar is imprinted in my head and I know the bylanes, the congested areas and traffic times well enough to plan our deliveries. The idea is let the customer have a hot, home-cooked meal in the comfort of their home.”