I wrote about the unexpectedly extraordinary keema pav at Toto's Garage a while ago. Discovered as part of my annual trip to India when I spend quality time sampling great food around the country. In Mumbai, I discovered brilliant vegetarian street food at Elco Pani Puri Centre.
When we visited, we ordered a variety to share - bhel puri, sev puri, chola bhatura, Bombay grilled veg sandwich, and ragda pattice. The two things that stood out for me were the sev puri and the sandwich. Delicious!
For the uninitiated, the Bombay grilled veg sandwich is one of the city's favourite street foods and is so much more than a dull sandwich. Sliced cucumber, tomato and potato on buttered bread, topped with plenty of cheese, covered with a slice of bread that's been generously slathered with a spicy coriander and mint chutney, and then grilled.
How do I describe sev puri, this chaat lover's eternal favourite? Hmmm....ok imagine 6 pieces of fried crunchy flatbread. Topped with lots of sliced onions and potatoes. Topped with spicy garlic, coriander, and mint chutney. Topped with a tangy tamarind chutney. Topped with lots of sev (crispy spiced gramflour bits). Every mouthful bursts with flavour!
I missed the Parsi meal again. That's two years in a row. Darn it. Next year.