Wish-Dish: Pani Puri at Elco Market, Mumbai

Pani Puri is served in every city of India at almost every street corner if I may be allowed to exaggerate. Such is the popularity and reach of this Indian snack. While this dish has a huge fan following across the globe, there is surely some connection between Pani puri and women. I fail to understand the popularity of this dish among women who seem to be more than happy to make a meal out of it at every chance they can. Frankly, once I'm at it, I can't stop eating either.

So when I was in Mumbai recently, I visited this super famous place - It's been around now for decades and isknown as Elco Restaurant is located in Elco Market, Hill Road, Bandra since probably forever. It started off as a cart and is now a full fledged vegetarian restaurant. 

Ask anyone for must visit places in Mumbai and usually the first to get listed is 'Elco Pani Puri'. It seems like in Mumbai, 'Pani Puri' and 'Elco' are synonyms.

So when I was here, I tried the much famed Pani puri and have since been in total awe of it. The restaurant pays high importance not only to the taste and the ingredients but also pays high emphasis to hygiene. 

The puris were really light, thin and crispy.  The filling included potatoes and lentils. Preferences vary and for my way of eating always includes a mix of both the spicy and sweet water (pani) for that perfect blend of tang and sweetness.

In all, a delight to eat.. And easily the best I've ever tasted. 

Price - Rs. 60 per plate

Address - 2/A, Elco Market, 46 Hill Road, Bandra West, Mumbai

Wish-Dish: Andhra-Style Chilli Chicken, Nagarjuna, Bangalore

What is it that takes you to a restaurant again and again? There can be various reasons for you to make a visit to a specific restaurant. For instance it can be any single or combination of parameters of the below list -

1. The cuisine,

2. The food, 

3. The ambiance,

4. Quality of ingredients, 

5. Service standards, 

6. Value for money etc

Sometimes, it can just be a single dish served at a restaurant which can have you coming back for more every single time. Do you agree?

So here's to a new series of posts titled 'Wish-Dish' where I will share with you dishes which I think in all possibility will have you going back to a restaurant for it.

Let's begin this with something I have on my mind since morning -

Andhra Style Chilli Chicken at Nagarjuna, Bangalore

Andhra as a state may have had turbulent times, economic, social and political uncertainties but this one iconic dish 'Andhra-Style Chilli Chicken' has been consistent in bringing smiles and sighs of content to patrons all through these times.

In Bangalore, one of the oldest and the much famed (for very valid reasons) restaurant Nagarjuna has been dishing out fabulous Andhra- Style food with chilli chicken in particular. 

For all those who have not tried this before, it's fiery, it's spicy, it's hot but if you can take heat it's delicious, it's addictive and it can have you hooked forever. Folks who have eaten it, what do you have to say? 

Best eaten with - by itself, with chicken or mutton biryani, Andhra-style meals and my personal favourite 'with curd-rice'

Price - ₹ 190 ++