working on a low budget !

i found this really cheap road side stall at yogi nagar at Borivali west 

he serves really cheap chaat items 

Chaat (Hindi/Nepali: चाट, Urdu/Punjabi: چاٹ ) is a term describing savory snacks, typically served at road-side tracks from stalls or food carts in India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh.[1][2] With its origins in Uttar Pradesh,[3] chaat has become immensely popular in the rest of South Asia. The word derives from Hindi cāṭ चाट (tasting, a delicacy), from cāṭnā चाटना (to lick), from Prakrit caṭṭei चट्टेइ (to devour with relish, eat noisily).[4]

below is bhel puri 

which is 

Bhelpuri (Marathi भेळ) is a savoury Indian snack, and is also a type of chaat. It is made out of puffed rice, vegetables and a tangy tamarind sauce.[2]

Bhel is often identified with the beaches of Mumbai, such as Girguam or Juhu.[3] Bhelpuri is thought to have originated within the Gucafes and street food stalls of Mumbai, and the recipe has spread to most parts of India where it has been modified to suit local food availability. It is also said to be originated from Bhadang (भडंग), a spicy namkeen from Western Maharashtra. Dry Bhel is made from Bhadang, The Kolkata variant of Bhelpuri is called Jhaal Muri (meaning "spicy puffed rice"). A native Mysore variant of Bhelpuri is known as Churumuri or Churmuri in Bangalore.[4] A dry variant of Bhelpuri popularly known as Bhadang is consumed after garnishing with onions, coriander and lemon juice.                                               

this is just randomly made 

not much on the taste but not too bad also... 

its value for money for Rs 15/- 

hygiene wise..... a big question mark.....try only if you are adventurous!!! 

yippieee.....i am adventurous.....and i survived to tell the tale...

(things that a low budget can make you do)

below is dahi puri

Dahipuri, or Dahi puri, is a South Asian snack which is especially popular in the state of Maharashtra, India. The dish is a form of chaat and originates from the city of Mumbai.[1] It is served with mini-puri shells (golgappa), which are more popularly recognized from the dish pani puri. Dahi puri and pani puri chaats are often sold from the same vendor.

which experience is also the same as above....

and feelings same as above.....

cost Rs 20/-

im happy that im alive....

Dominoes pizza road style.... the Indian way....

there is a place in Borivali west called Yogi Nagar..

its a middle class to upper middle class locality made up of mostly Gujaratis... so you guessed it right, lots of eating places....good tasty and somewhat unique food....street food..

there is a guy who stands next to the main road alongwith the other food stalls all along the main road, he wears an apron and is accompanied by a nice and homely looking girl (i just like her smile!) and they serve one of the most unique pizza...

have you heard of pizza on the road? without using electricity? no oven ? 

well, here it is!

he uses a frying pan, he first puts some butter on the hot fry pan, then he browns the pizza (with the base loaded with chopped capsicum, tomatoes and onions) then after 5 seconds he puts a seive under the pizza and creates a barrier between the pizza and the hot fry pan, so that the bas does not stick to the pan and the pizza does not burn...

then he covers the pizza (while still on the hot pan) for a couple of minutes then after every few seconds he checks the base and then for one final minute he covers the pizza...

just before serving the pizza that sweet girl grates cheese on top of the pizza and puts either chilli sauce or tomato ketchup or both on top of your pizza before serving...

God bless her soul...

below is low calorie corn pizza 

it has no cheese on it and is made up of very less butter...

(you're right....it was not for me!)

cost Rs 30/-

below is full throttle veg pizza made the (normal people) way

cost Rs 20/-

overall experience:
it was good as there was some uniqueness about the whole thing but taste wise it was ok nothing great, as i found it completely bland and no taste of vegetables...
but i think its worth a try at least once....
and for Rs 20/- its a steal...

BLUEBERRY DREAMS.....

who says that healthy breakfast can be a Second World War Torture tactic of the capitalist World????

(yeah..i know, nobody says that, especially in the morning after a hangover....and that too on a Monday morning.....with pouring rains....this in itself qualifies for a 21 st century torture)

well as per recommendation when i called Bistro On the Go (Borivali west ic colony) , one early rainy suicidal morning, he politely suggested to me to try BLUEBERRY OATS WITH DRY FRUITS TOPPING

i said ok

cost 90/-

and....it arrived looking so cute like this...

whoever has the heart to eat this with cruel and evil thoughts...

its perfectly made oats cooked in milk with blueberry flavor and has dry fruits (dried dates, few cashews and more of dried raisins).... i simply loved it and i guarantee you that so will you...

go and try it..

after eating this i was like

and i went back to sleep............

apple of my eye... or should i say... Biryani of my eye...

there is an area in Borivali west called as Eksar Village, it is made up of a small community of Muslims and therefore there are some really delicious non veg fare around.

there are many places there which serve biryani and kababs.

however,these places are good for a Take Out Meal only as the eating places are too small to accomodate  in-house seating.

this Biryani is from Noor Caterers. 

this shop stands out when you enter Eksar Village as the place with the most people waiting.

so i decided to try out their Chicken Biryani

cost Rs 90/-

its good Biryani but not made to perfection as the rice was slightly chewy and dry and the masala is also very hastily prepared.

chicken is well cooked, no complaints there.

overall experience : its good to try once and try it on weekdays so that you get a properly cooked and prepared Biryani

also you can buy it if you want to buy Biryani in bulk and then re-heat it before serving.

but you will also have to serve some kind of gravy with it to make it perfect.

if you are ready to wait for your meal so long then go ahead and buy it.

butter ..... butter ......buh tter ...... butt err .....

went to Chai Darbar for some craziness !!

this is Bun Maska for Rs 15 each

lathered with heart stopping butter and the sweet bun (soft bread slightly sweet) with hidden pieces of tutti fruity.....ummmm......

so heart stopping....

also had some onion fried fritters cost Rs 20

very nicely fried, though i found their hearts a bit undercooked.... but very much enjoyed the hidden chopped green chillies inside the fritters....

its served with spicy hot green chutney made from fresh green coriander / cilantro and green chillies.

only gripe.....the container of chutney is MICROSCOPIC also the onion fritters are given in small portions..... but then i always demand more of everyone and everything....humph..

Sunday.....Funday......Faasos.....Faasos Champion

have been seeing so many ads about Faasos and everyday i keep getting SMS of all the new items they are introducing....

recently Faasos has started this new concept of All Day Breakfast, and not your Indian Breakfast which all you people living with your Moms and Aunties get on demand...but this is Continental Breakfast with a mild Indian Twist...

So, one fine lazy Sunday, thought of giving their breakfast menu a try.

below is "breakfast for champions" 

it has 

3 plain parathas - whole wheat flat bread fried in butter

3 steamed chicken and black pepper sausages

1 serving of sweet oats cooked in milk mixed with muesli...pista flavour

1 cheese omelette

i just loved the entire affair!

the sausages are cooked / steamed to perfection

the muesli is less in quantity but very tasty and again cooked to perfection

the omelette is good but a bit dry and mildly overcooked

the parathas are good, not awesome because i found them a slightly bit undercooked, but good

ratings:

taste : 8/10

quantity: 8/10

value for money: 10/10

delivery time: 5/10 (took 50 minutes)

uniqueness: 9/10

hygiene: 10/10

packaging: 10/10 (comes in a ready to eat box with branding)

satisfaction after eating: 10/10

hunger quotient satisfied: 9/10

serves: 1 person of average weight and average appetite

recommendation: 10/10

cost: Rs 119/-

below is "veg breakfast combo"

it contains

1 serving poha which is 

Flattened rice (also called beaten rice) is a dehusked rice which is flattened into flat light dry flakes.They are most famously known as "Pohe" in malwa region, also they are considered to be originated in the malwa region itself. These flakes of rice swell when added to liquid, whether hot or cold, as they absorb water, milk or any other liquids. The thicknesses of these flakes vary between almost translucently thin (the more expensive varieties) to nearly four times thicker than a normal rice grain (source Wikipedia)

 3 aloo parathas which is Aloo Paratha (Hindi: आलू पराठा, Marathi: बटाटा पराठा , Urdu: آلو پراٹھا ‎) (Potato paratha) is an Indian and Pakistani recipe and one of the most popular breakfast dishes throughout western, central and northern regions of India as well as in Pakistan.^[1] Aloo (potato) stuffed Parathas are basically unleavened dough stuffed with a spiced mixture of mashed potato, which is rolled out and cooked on a hot tawa with butter or ghee. Aloo paratha is usually served with butter, chutney, curd or Indian pickles in different parts of northern and western India. Sometimes a glass of lassi is served along with it (source Wikipedia)

1 veg mixed pickle single serving

1 butter single serving

ratings:

taste : 8/10

quantity: 8/10 (poha was very very less in quantity)

value for money: 10/10

delivery time: 5/10 (took 50 minutes)

uniqueness: 9/10

hygiene: 10/10

packaging: 10/10 (comes in a ready to eat box with branding)

satisfaction after eating: 10/10

hunger quotient satisfied: 7/10

serves: 1 person of average weight and average appetite

recommendation: 9/10

cost: Rs 99/-

below is "fusion Breakfast" which they have recently launched

it contains:

3 aloo parathas

1 plain omlette made up of 2 eggs

1 single serving of butter

1 single serving of plain cheese spread

ratings:

taste : 5/10 (omlette was bland)

quantity: 8/10

value for money: 8/10 (you just get omlette and parathas for the price, no variety)

delivery time: 5/10 (took 50 minutes)

uniqueness: 6/10 (just omlette and parathas, nothing creative)

hygiene: 10/10

packaging: 10/10 (comes in a ready to eat box with branding)

satisfaction after eating: 9/10 (if u want to just eat and not enjoy ur food)

hunger quotient satisfied: 9/10

serves: 1 person of average weight and average appetite

recommendation: 8/10 (other combos are much better than this)

cost: Rs 109/-

this is mixed veg pickle in close up

its quite tasty and unique

not too sour and can taste vegetables in it

this is museli in close up...

wish i had more quantity but no complaints at all....very happy

and now....

let me see what's for lunch...

Out of my Way....im crazy....and im on a diet...

yep...
what was i thinking...

how can i abandon my deep fried food lovers cult and join the skinny bitches of diet food....hmm...what was i thinking....right?

well, as the story goes...

(no, i didn't meet a Prince Charming who explained me the benefits of diet food....does that ever happen in real life???)

i had heard of this place at Borivali west Chikuwadi, its a roadside stall (most affordable places for me) which serves health food....

they serve different types of salads with sprouts and hot soups and cold soups and fresh juices and herbal juices, the variety is huge...

i am convinced about all of the above but the juices are not too convincing as they are a bit too sweet to be "natural", it tastes like artificial flavoured juices with a bit of canned fruit pulp added to it... definitely not health food.

this is pasta salad...cost Rs 50/-

its made in a very unique way...

boiled pasta is mixed with raw mix sprouts of different lentils and pulses and finely chopped cabbage, mixed with bits of tomato flavoured chakli (Chakli is a savoury snack originating in India. It is a spiral shaped, pretzel-like snack with a spiked surface - source Wikipedia) 

and Chana Jor Garam which is basically pressed boiled chick pea which is sun dried and sprinkled with dried mix spice powder...it gets crunchy when dried and is a spicy and a different third dimension to an ordinary and bland zero calorie diet salad..

if you want it a bit more happening and spicy then he will add on a few sprinkles of tabasco sauce and a few sprinkles of Chaat masala...(i require lots of add ons to eat not so yummy Health food...)

so this was time well spent...food well spent and finally, money well spent...

good night