Winter chill and a lack of sunlight throughout the day are keeping people mostly indoors. Those venturing out are doing their best to stay warm, whether it’s with a hot cup of tea or by indulging in delicious winter street delights. From water chestnuts and sweet potatoes to samosa-pakora, baati-choka, bun-makkhan, gajak, and groundnuts with makkhan malai, all these treats are finding eager customers, and vendors are experiencing high demand.
Nippy days ahead
With the Met office predicting rain in several parts of West UP and in Northwest UP in coming days, there is no respite for the city folks as the fog continues to get dense, temperatures continue to drop, and the chill factor increases.
“Due to dense fog, no sunshine and temperature dropping to 7-8 degrees celcius, the cold day conditions will continue to prevail for the upcoming days in the city as well as pan state,” said M Danish, senior scientist.
Chai, samosa, bun makkhan
Piping hot tea with cripsy samosa and white butter bun makkhan at Sharmaji Tea Centre sells well throughout the year but tastes best in winters, says Kaiser Raza, a union leader and staffer at Lucknow Municipal Corporation.
“Multiple rounds happen in such weather as everyone want to savour hot tea and team it with samosa or bun makkhan,” adds Raza.
{{/usCountry}}“Multiple rounds happen in such weather as everyone want to savour hot tea and team it with samosa or bun makkhan,” adds Raza.
{{/usCountry}}Similar is the scene at other hubs Globe Bakery on Cantt Road, Janpath, Kewal Tea on Maqbara Road and Gupta Tea at Naval Kishor Road. Several tea-coffee franchise stores dotting the city too are hot spots in this season.
The street treats
Litti and Baati Chokha turns out to be another most tempting wintery afternoon meal for many. Santosh K Gupta who runs Palwan Baati Chokha food-truck in Gomti Nagar says, “Jaado mein toh bikri badhti hi hai. Whatever is roasted over hot charcoal does look tempting in winter and is undoubtedly a favourite of many. So, roasted litti and baati with a dash of desi ghee along with green veggie chokha does attract foodies on any chilly day.”
Couple Mukul and Poonam Sharma who run Balaji Food Corner already sold out their kadhi-chalwal and rajma-chawal at their makeshift stall in the same locality at 3 pm. “People love ghar-jaisa-khana and when it’s served fresh hot to them in this cold weather they love it,” says Mukul. Their idli-sambhar and paneer roti combo are also much sought after.