Taking me thirty years back
Today I wanted to try out some street foods - as I had to go out for some work, early in the morning. There are plenty of options available very close to my house in my native, and I was not quite sure, where to try, so I went and ate at few places and now I understand, why there are so many people in front of these shops. It's pretty tasty and affordable at the same time.
One can get the breakfast as cheap as ₹10/- - you get three of these (each costing ₹3/-), and a nice curry for the extra ₹1/- you can ask the curry more. I did not feel like cost of that is just ₹1/-, but they have made it like a combo. And if you give take it for ₹20/-, then you get seven of these, which will be enough for a person. And everything served hot - in fact at times, one has to wait, till they get out because there are so many people waiting to eat and take parcel.
 |  |
|---|---|
 |  |
I was almost done, but since I thought, I would not come back, let's try this out as well - the Raj Kachodi - crispy and tasty - each plate costs ₹10/- only. It was so tasty that, I grabbed couple of them - with different preparation - the person knows how to tweak them for different tastes.
Then I felt like I should try the sweet somewhere and in search of sweet, visited few other outlets to check what they have in store and price. Apparently, everyone has same model - they are too competitive in business.
This guy seems to be having a lot of customers - few were waiting and before even I asked anything he told me I have to wait for 20 mins, before my turn comes. And he also has a contact less payment - quite smart.
Finally found the sweet that I was looking for - only ₹5/- each - it was so tasty that I ate 4 of them. It was feeling like I almost ate a big breakfast that would last for the entire day.
After couple of hours, I felt very thirsty - I was feeling like I should drink water every 10 -15 minutes. When I came home, asked my mother and she was able to explain - they use some cheap cooking oil which causes this thirstiness. Since our body is accustomed with good oil, we are not able to digest them as the hard working village people. Mom had told me to bring Coriander leaves in large amount to make a chutney - she prepared it immediately and it was like a rescue. Let me know if you are interested to know how to prepare the Coriander chutney - a super simple recipe.
I still remember, I did not have any problem eating these, when I was very young and was playing football and doing all sort of hard work. That time, I used to eat fifty of these everyday ( I think, even the size was bigger than these) on my breakfast along with sweet - still having a flat belly. It used to cost only ₹20/- - in exchange of a liter of milk - yes, I did sell milk riding a by-cycle to meet our livelihood at one point of life. I used to sell them to such a food vendor who was our regular customer. So he would take 5 liters of milk and give money for 4 liters - we survived on that ₹80/- per day for almost 2 years - I was growing all vegetables at home. Even though my father did a decent job, he had to pay most of the salary for the loan that was taken with the house being the collateral. The house is in the name of my Mom - my father served the notice to my mother asking her to repay the loan else, it will be auctioned - because he was the bank manager. So to save the roof, we did all sort of hard work. Some people laughed at me that time - but hey, status and wealth are not borne qualities. They change over time with consistent effort. Any work is fine as long as you are honest - of course I don't mean cheat or steal with honesty!!
It's not that I did not get a job - I did qualify for good jobs - but my mom was bed written so I did not go for any job because, I wanted to see her alive and the place of work was not suitable for her - it was a government job in Central Excise and Customs at Shillong, Meghalaya located in the North-east. She was suffering from chronic asthma and we always had life saving injections at home along with oxygen cylinder. She persuaded me many times to leave her and join and live my life with constant NO from me. One fine day, while breaking a termite royal chamber, I discovered a queen termite alive - it was the size of a big prawn. In the process of trying all sort of alternative medicines for my Mom, I somewhere heard that if she eats a termite queen, she will be all right. And what should I call it - pure LUCK - had I hit it directly, it would not have been that effective. I took it alive and asked our neighbor staying on rent to fry it alive in ghee - it shrunk and I asked her to swallow it. After couple of weeks, we saw the magic. She slowly started to recover and was able to walk. After a month or so, she was able to do her work and then slowly we felt, she was not getting serious like before. She still had asthma but it was not that severe. Life changed thereafter.......
Copyrights @sanjeevm - just let me know, if you want to copy.
Hi @sanjivm
Kudos to you for what you have done for your mother. Indeed this is what we should do for our parents but now people are more practical and for the parents are secondary. Your story is heart touching. I agree that sometimes life is hard on us and we should do whatever is available to over come and I think milk selling was the one that kind of.
Probably our kids won't do this much for us - but I feel, I should never regret in my life - do everything possible for everyone - and parents come first in that list - its because of them, we exist in this world.
Wow, I learnt something today. A queen termite can help chronic asthma. That is really amazing. I'm sorry you had to go through a rough childhood. We all have our very own stories. I'm glad for where you are now and the greater place you're going to. I understand what it means to sacrifice for your family. I've had my own share of sacrifice too and I don't regret any. So far they are alive and well.
BTW, the street food look so yummy and tasty. I am a fan of street food, they have a way of satisfying one's taste buds.
It's pure luck to find a queen termite - literally impossible, if you try to find out.
Yes I do know they are scarce. We did an experiment on them when I was in high school and I also worked on them in the university. Though I wasn't aware of their healing factor. Now I do.
I am happy with the story of your mum. You are definitely a good man. Your mum will be proud of you.
She still cooks for me - had I left them, I would not have enjoyed them with me this long.
When I saw the food, my mouth was full of saliva.
The food in those restaurant really tasty.
Also, I have seen shops like this in videos and photos on FB.
Ya, its tasty for sure - they make it a bit different than how we cook at home - a bit of spicy but tasty.
These street foods are quite tasty. This type of food is my favorite. Especially street food is much tastier. Their popularity is much higher and their prices are much lower.
An old woman in our area was an expert in making pakodas by the canal. She was famous throughout the district. I love street foot, it's very spicy.
Hello dear friend @sanjeevm good afternoon
What an interesting post, you teach us very delicious things, I don't know what the reason is, the same thing happens here too, street food also tastes very good
Alternative medicines are very good for different conditions; Good to know that your mother has improved from her asthma
I appreciate that you let us know these beautiful images and their culinary cultures
I wish you a beautiful afternoon
yes, stall food is tasty and afforable.
I remember having toasted vegetable sandwiches in the afternoons near my office
vada pav, cutting chai, bhel puri and the list goes on.
You surely took me down the memory lane :-)
All that food looked really great. Sounds like you ate a lot 😀 I always used to hit the street carts late at night leaving the night clubs. Most or our cart food is hot dogs and pizza though. Sometimes shawarma and falafel depending on what part of town I'm in.
Street food all over the world are the 8th wonder of the world. Fancy restaurant usually have hygiene working for them but Street food has got taste.
The meals you had looked like things I would like to try and being thirsty is a price I'll be willing to pay.
I usually eat lot of street food and one of my favorite is Samosa and ghughuni (grams) and later have a cutting chai ( Tea). I love eating dosai, uttapam, Puri and kachori .
First time i knew from your post that why sometimes people feel very thristy and the reason is the oil they use in cheap quality. Yes its true they also buy the cooked oil from big hotels and restaurant and reuse it which cause gas and acidity in our stomach.
How crazy! Just imagine all those expenses in expensive medicines and with a queen termite, in the end it was the solution, incredible and it even seems miraculous... I have always been a person who loves to eat in the street, but not in restaurants or anything like that, I like to eat in this kind of places, besides it is cheaper, it is just around the corner. Besides, many of these places have a lot of customers, that means that the food is good, as was the case.
Street food is one of the mayor arts of mankind, sometimes is kidna dirty, sometimes is messy, but it will always taste good and if cooked properly, some street vendors are better than high class chef, in fact once i know one street vendor than ended up being a 5star restaurant cheft for years after being just a little stall on the street.
Is good to see is kind of cheap, but what is weird to see is so many people, mygod where i am people dont DARE to do that kind of gathering.
They do earn good - all without any paper work and tax. Today if you eat in a good restaurant, the tax itself is more than 20%.
Wow, wait, 20%?! Ok and i complain about vnzla and the 12% tax
They first take 33% income tax upfront on what we earn and then all these tax - literally paying more than 40% of what we earn - everything in the name of democracy.
In the name of stalin perhabs xD Omg that is a huge chunk of money spended on taxes...
Your content has been voted as a part of Encouragement program. Keep up the good work!
Use Ecency daily to boost your growth on platform!
Support Ecency
Vote for new Proposal
Delegate HP and earn more