TRACK THE TASTE

From Delhi to Jaipur and from Itanagar to Indore, we criss-cross the country to bring you four exciting food tours.

Delhi

A walk through the narrow galis of Old Delhi is nothing short of a live lesson in history. With Mughal-era architectural marvels brushing shoulders with British legacy, and mosques, temples and gurudwaras co-existing, this ancient part of the capital is a unique experience. But other than the monuments and the bustling bazaars, Old Delhi's lanes are equally popular for their culinary offerings served by century-old eateries!

What's More?

A tour can start with a breakfast of deep-fried bedmi puri served with potato gravy, accompanied by tangy chutneys. Have it at Chawri Bazaar, where you can also sample nagori- halwa, a dish of crispy-fried sooji (semolina) bread served with potato curry and sooji halwa (dessert). At the same market, try a plate of tangy kuliya chaat, a unique way of serving fruits filled with spicy chana (chickpea). At Dariba Corner in Chandni Chowk is the Old Famous Jalebi Wala, a spot tough to miss due to the aroma of hot ghee (clarified butter) and serpentine queues! From here, the tour winds to Ballimaran, where you can explore the house of noted Urdu poet Mirza Ghalib. Nearby is a century-old Chaat Corner, where you can taste dahi vada and other yoghurt-based snacks. For nonvegetarians, there are sumptuous options like mutton kofta, chicken tikka, butter chicken etc., in and around Connaught Place.

Best time to visit: All year round.

A food tour of Old Delhi can last from a couple of hours to an entire day. Most tours are conducted on foot. Every food walk in Delhi will head to Paranthe Wali Gali at Chandni Chowk for all types of parathas (fried flat-bread) – the regular ones of aloo (potato), pyaaz (onion) and gobhi (cauliflower) to the fancier papad (papadum), tomato and more! On the side are served thick and sweet lassi (curd drink) and pickle. Chole kulche, matar kulche, chole bhature (types of bread served with chickpea curries) are other in-demand options. Try seasonal specialities like daulat ki chaat (a fresh-cream dessert) in winter and kulfi (frozen thickened milk dessert) in summer. Deep-fried savouries like kachoris and samosas and baked cookie-like nankhatai are always on offer. Guided by a chef, you can not only taste the dishes but also learn more about their ingredients, traditional recipes and old food tales. Some tours end with a tea-tasting session at specialised tea houses at Connaught Place in New Delhi.

A food-tasting tour of Jaipur, Rajasthan, has to start with kachoris (deep-fried savoury with various fillings), served with vegetable curries. While pyaz (onion) and daal (lentil) kachoris are the most popular, you can also try these crispy balls of flour filled with potato, mawa (milk solids) or hing (asafoetida). Accompany the kachori with a glass of sweet lassi, followed by a dessert - halwa or piping hot jalebis. Stroll around Bapu Bazaar, exploring the bustling market famous for mojris (traditional shoes), handicrafts, jewellery, clothes and stone artefacts. Stop at any of the numerous namkeen (savoury) shops to munch on different varieties of bhujias (deep-fried spicy gram flour snacks). Feast on sweet-and-sour dahi (curd) chaat, chaat kachori, mirchi vada (chillies stuffed with spicy filling and deep fried) and many more at chaat outlets and sweet shops. The chaat varieties are served with tangy, sweet chutneys

Near Galtaji Temple or Hawa Mahal, feast on a meal of the iconic Rajasthani daal-baati-churma (baked balls of wheat flour served with lentils and a wheat flour-based dessert) and laal maas (spicy lamb curry). The tour ends with a serving of paan (betel leaf) or local sweets, which are often as much a pleasure to look at as they are to eat.

A food tour of Jaipur is a combination of sightseeing, introduction to the vibrant local life and tasting a wide variety of lipsmacking delicacies from some of the best eateries in the Pink City. The tour generally starts inside the walled city of Jaipur with the participants strolling down the maze of lanes weaving through the historic old city, crossing colourful markets like Tripolia Bazaar, Kishanpole Bazaar and Johari Bazaar.