News
Monday, July 29, 2013
How we go about life in ramazan
Eating out becomes the best outing
By Ahtesham Azhar
KARACHI: With eateries being the only major place of enjoyment for most of Karachiites, the businesses at food streets sees a boom in Ramazan as citizens visit them in huge numbers at Sehar and Iftar times.
People hang out at different eateries with their friends and families to enjoy different spicy foods. In addition to the restaurants and food outlets, the other best places to look for spicy food are the roadside food stalls and vendors.
Ramazan is an even greater challenge for roadside food vendors, who continue to feed Karachiites at Sehar and Iftar. In other words, it becomes an opportunity for them to mint extra money. Moreover, a huge number of people, who otherwise do private jobs and different normal routine works, also get involved in setting up food stalls at different shopping centres, malls and other places.
There are numerous places in the metropolis that are famous for having numerous delicious food outlets. To name a few, these include Bahadurabad, Pakistan Chowk, Boat Basin and the very famous Burns Road.
Bahadurabad, located in central part of city, is not only significant for shopping malls and for other commercial activities, but the locality is also very famous for its food vendors particularly 'Dhoraji Chat', 'Gol-Gappa' and 'Snow Cone.'
"Using quality ingredients and offering products at affordable prices are the reasons behind the success and fame of some of the food items offered in this locality," said a chat vendor Mutahir Hussain. He has been running the business for around seven years, he said, adding, "Everyday a huge number of people visit to enjoy chhola-chat and 'gola' at reasonable prices," he said, adding that Ramazan comes with blessings for Muslims in every thing including business.
Hussain further said that, "Despite closure of business in day timings, we earn more in Ramazan. The price of chat is Rs 40 to 60 per plate."
A customer at his stall, Abdul Haseeb, informed Daily Times that every Friday he takes chat for Iftar from this vendor.
"The taste plus prices are reasonable. I am fond of eating spicy food but due to high blood pressure, doctors have advised me to abstain from very spicy foods, but I feel once a week I should be allowed to enjoy," he said smiling.
On the other hand is Burns Road in downtown Karachi, one of the oldest and best known areas to eat spicy traditional food. Many foodies also compare it with the old Anarkali Bazaar Food Street in Lahore across the country. The place adjacent to Saddar has the perfect ambience lined with old rustic buildings and narrow streets filled with pavements and encroached footpaths.
Burns Road is famous for its traditional food offerings such as Biryani, Karhai, Dhaga Kabab, Fry Kabab, Nihari, Haleem and Fried Finger Fish. More specialties include Kheer, Rabri, Ras Malai, Ras Gulay, Lassi and Dahi Barray.
The famous lassi shops here have been around since post partition and also serve milk with dry fruits. They also serve Mango Shake (aam ki botal) and Mango ice cream during mango season and 'gajar ka halwa' in winter.
In Ramazan the streets show a deserted view during the day, however soon after 3pm the shops start opening and life is seen in its full charm here.
Moreover, after 5pm till Sehar the street are full of public, as large number of people, including ones living far away from the locality, come here for Iftar and Sehar.
"I am selling 'chat', 'gol-gapay' and 'pani-puri' here for last 35 years," informed Shahabuddin, owner of most popular chat stall in the locality 'Adnan Chat House'. He couldn't tell the exact figure of costumers but informed that approximately around 200 costumers come from Iftar till Sehar.
"Gol-gapay are the most popular item at my stall," he said, adding that he hires three more workers particularly for Iftar timings in Ramazan. His clientele includes people from all classes and backgrounds.
Shamim, a worker at ‘Dehli kay Dhai Barray’ informed that they are selling ‘dahi bara' at Rs 360 per kg. "I cannot tell how much we sell per day but we deal with hundreds of customers a day," he said, adding that sale doubles in Ramazan as the dish is considered an essential part of Itari.
Muhammad Farooq , a costumer standing in a long queue at Fresco Bakery to purchase dahi baray informed that he has eaten from every popular shop but has failed to find something that surpasses the taste of the one sold at Fresco. "Despite being expensive, I buy a kilogramme twice a week," Farooq disclosed.
A fry fish seller, Lal Bahadur, informed that the sale of fry fish increases during Ramazan. "Our costumers come from far away to enjoy the fried delicious fish," he said, adding that a large number of people do not eat fish in Iftar but still there are many people, who are keen to eat this nutritious food in meals.
A kachori vendor, Muhammad Imran said that he runs this business only in Ramazan otherwise he is a private employee. Besides selling at a stall for Iftar, I also provide facility of supplying huge orders for Taraveeh and Iftar parties. "Daily sale of kachori is around 10 to 15 dozen and per plate price is Rs 70, whereas, a half plate costs R 35," he said.
Boat Basin has the trendiest restaurants and is considered one of the main food streets in Karachi. The street is thriving with dozens of restaurants. It is the most frequent eat-out place in Karachi for the middle and upper class, and a large number of citizens gather here for Iftar and Sehar particularly on weekends.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk