Dining in Delhi

Good news!  Today's forecast for Delhi is fog, lifted up from smog  yesterday, the sun may or may not peak out a little.  We have just spent three days in Delhi touring around by rickshaw and eating our way across the city.

A normal morning starts out with Missy and I enjoying a special masala tea from the chai guy across from our hotel.  Masala tea differs from chai as it is made mostly with milk rather then tap water, the closest one can get to a latte and far more delicious.  The spices combined with the creaminess of the milk and piping hot is divine.  No less the three chais a day is our earliest pact.

After tea the three of us venture out amonst the street vendors in search of some tasty breakfast.  Some are just set up on a street corner while others have an open restaurant tucked into the side of a building.  Either way whatever is busy and popular is the best bet to approach.  A typical breakfast so far is paranthas, a morning bread snack like a thick roti that can be stuffed.  Ordered up as a thali, meaning it will come accompanied by a small curry and a relish or served with sprinkled sugar, butter and delicious curd.  There is also bread pakoras fried up on every street corner with green chili for 40 rupees.  Super delish.

After breakfast we are usually stuffed and can last till late afternoon when the craving for more goodness kicks in.  Haggling for a rickshaw hire is tricky as expected but sticking to our guns we bang out a price before hopping in.  Skirting in and out of traffic with music blaring is a blast.  Our driver is surprised at us as to the hustle, bustle and horn honking doesn't faze us.  Actually surprised us as well, the likes of Hanoi, Saigon and Phnom Penh have prepared us well and Delhi has been fine.  The main difference is mainly only dealing with men from morning till evening.  Touring through the city is cool and all, we've seen India gate and the prime minister's house, but seriously driver, I am now starving!  It takes some convincing but finally we travel to one of his local street food vendor spots, located is a bicycle market, for some chicken curry.  Upon arrival we are told 20 min... do you drink beer asks the driver?  Heh.  We find a bottle shop and split a couple of Kingfishers in the back of the rickshaw being sure to camoflauge them in metal cups.  Grabbing some chicken biriyani on the way back to the curry place introduces me to a fave of mine so far, chicken and rice cooked up in a large metal sphere pot.  The spices are amazing, loaded with cumin and covered in both fresh green and red chili sauce.  Tides us over till the curry is ready and Kim gets to feed bones to the dogs.  Win win.  The curry is up and worth the wait, super flavourful, both chicken and mutton, a red curry packed with goodness.  Now we can tackle more of Delhi, off to a market we go.

We lost our driver.  I swear he said meet him at platform 7 outside the market but no where to be found.  We wait.  We have agreed upon a day rate and haven't paid yet but we have to get back to the hotel.  We flag another rickshaw and upon arrival explain to the group of rickshaw drivers what happened and are met with smiles and laughter.  A quick call and he is found.  We settle our debt and head in for a rest.  Good times Delhi, good times.

Still recovering from jet lag a bit these past few days but all is well.  We head out the Jaisalmer by train this afternoon, 18 hr trip so we have some shopping to do before we go.  Snacks and some of those metal cups are needed.  Kim and I managed to track down some gin yesterday, an experience in itself especially as two women LOL but mission accomplished none the less.  All in all India is less scary then expected and another lovely country for us to explore.