BJP candidate for Amritsar Arun Jailtey, on the poll day, got up early in the morning as usual, went to the Golden Temple where he paid obeisance. He spent time while sitting inside the sanctum sanctorum, listened to religious hymns with rapt attention in a cross-legged posture.
After coming from Golden Temple, he arrived at Chadha’s house where he had been staying. Following his routine, he didn’t forget to post his views in the blog as usual. This time he skipped the political issues and preferred to share his personal sentiments about Amritsari food experience.
“Today is Polling Day in Amritsar. Having spent past six weeks in Amritsar campaign in this heat, it will be time for me now to move to other States where elections are still being held,” he wrote in the beginning lines of his blog.
Appreciating Amritsari food and his taste towards it he said, “An integral and enjoyable part of the stay in Amritsar is obviously the food in this city. I have always regarded Amritsar as the Food Capital of India. The kulchas and chanas of Amritsar have now created a national impact. Every top caterer in most parts of India has the Amritsari dhaba counter as an integral part of his menu. The kulchas in Amritsar served with chanas with an option of having onion chutney is now available in almost every eatery in the city. The kulcha chana is a preferred menu for breakfast, lunch or even dinner”.
Talking about breakfast he added, “Breakfast in Amritsar is still the stuffed parantha or the poori chhole. The city has a tradition where households still prefer to outsource the poori chhole from the famous halwais rather than cook it at home. Most parts in the old city have their own special halwais”.
Counting his experience for famous eating joints known for delicious tastes, he happily wrote, “ But the most famous one in the city is now ‘kanahiya’ at lawrence Road. The chanas are mixed with potatoes for the curry preparation. This breakfast is highly recommended but should be taken rarely because of its high caloric value.
The Amritsari lassi is available at most of these halwai shops. But ‘Ahuja’ and ‘Gyan’ (lassi seller) have acquired a special reputation. Either of them will provide an excellent treatment for insomnia. ‘Kesar’ still continues to dominate the vegetarian preparations. It enjoys a reputation for being the most famous dhaba in the city. ‘Bharawan’ with its chain of dhabas, under the name of ‘Bharawan’ or ‘Brothers’, is the also recommended for vegetarian food for the tourists and the locals”. Sharing his experience about non-veg food he said, “For the non-vegetarians it is ‘Surjit’ all the way. His Tandoori chicken, Amritsari fish and mutton champs (cooked like Old English cutlets) are highly delicious. The ‘Makhan’ fish has been a gourmet’s delight. What I have not tried so far but has been recommended to me is ‘Beera’ known also for its high quality chicken”.
He couldn’t refrained himself to talk about morning tea experienced number of times said, “The morning tea at the ‘Giani’ Tea Stall initiates the entire gossip which circulates in the entire city. This was my alternative to the lodhi Garden Tea”. “I foresee a situation where some of these outstanding places will acquire a brand value across the country”, he concluded.