Street Food- what is the safest?

SitaParityaga · Mar 29th, 2008, 07:20

This is a great topic.....and I feel encouraged to be more realistic, and less fear driven on the next trip. I've never gotten sick in India....but every trip I ride the edge more and more...but the truth is, I think I'm getting better informed now than I was in years gone by.

Recently I've been into Anthony Boudain on travel cable channel in the US. He's made two shows on India: Kolkata Rajasthan and Mumbai. You could tell he was loving India and loving that street food. The Jaisalmer episode was my favorite!

Check out what he says about street food
scroll down to the second question about parasites.

capt_mahajan · Mar 29th, 2008, 07:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nattusbs

Please no Paradise. I had their Biryani last year - sorry - terrible. maybe they used to be good, not anymore.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hyderabadi

That is disappointing to hear! Was it dry? Was it a 'parcel'?

I have to agree, Paradise has been lost.

Aishah · Mar 29th, 2008, 08:34

Interesting link, Sita! I saw him here around Gopa Chowk but had no idea who he is. He's sitting outside the bhang shop btw. I think he's right about the buffet food - some of the very top hotels do this for bus groups- I have never eaten from a buffet in India. Mr K and I go to one of these places for dinner sometimes but we always order from the menu, never take the buffet. The food is unprotected (no plastic shielding like they have in Oz or NZ) and many people hovering over the food, profusely speaking and spitting (unintentionally but it happens when you get excited in your speech) and coughing over it..

kristinm · Mar 29th, 2008, 08:37

Thanks Aishah I was about to have lunch.... !

Gardener972 · Mar 29th, 2008, 08:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hyderabadi

... a 'hole-in-the-wall' to boot.

Most of my recommendations are slanted towards taste and not 'fine dining' so please don't blame me if you find people peeing in sinks there.

Isn't that the best kind of food, hole-in-the-wall? I think so!

Hyderabadi · Mar 29th, 2008, 08:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by capt_mahajan

Paradise has been lost.

But then,as long as we have = light le lo, kyaa phikar kar ne ka..? Aur ek khuljayega, sabar karo thoda...ustaad.

Seriously Capt., or any one adventurous in HYD - I know it's a long way off from Rajbhavan Rd., and Cyberabad, but some day you got to try out Narmada (if it's still there), current one ways not taken into account >> proceed from Assembly > Police Ctrl. Room, Basheer Bagh Chowrasta, towards Old MLA Quarters - just after Basheer bagh Chowrasta on your left. It's a true 'hole in the wall'.

Before the TDP office moved from opposite it, Narmada usued to be a spicy, beer soaked hot-bed of local politics.

Try their Biryani, Bheja, Mutton Kofta Aamlet, Fish Fry, Gurda Curry / Fry, with their completely different peanut+sesame (I suspect) chutney.

tacita · Mar 29th, 2008, 09:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aishah

... many people hovering over the food, profusely speaking and spitting (unintentionally but it happens when you get excited in your speech)...

or about your big buffet meal!

salad bars are enormously popular here, but i steer clear, especially after having read this lead:

Quote:

A small child snags a piece of melon from a salad bar with her chubby little fingers. A man sneezes, then picks up the tongs resting on a bed of potato salad. A woman runs her finger along the edge of a tuna salad bowl and puts it in her mouth.

the rest of that article inspired no more confidence.

Aishah · Mar 29th, 2008, 09:06

Says it all, tacita. There were very stringent rules re salad bars in Oz and NZ quite a while ago - after cases of food poisoning. Even with the plastic shielding I won't use them.

PeakXV · Mar 29th, 2008, 09:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aishah

The food is unprotected (no plastic shielding like they have in Oz or NZ) and many people hovering over the food, profusely speaking and spitting (unintentionally but it happens when you get excited in your speech) and coughing over it..

Errant saliva, mucous or other particulate can become an unplanned ingredient in any food serving - especially the street food. Good refridgeration, fresh ingredients and a clean cooking environment are the usual things to look out for when dinning out ...... but then again as long as you know it's had the beejeesuz stewed out of it then you might as well throw caution to the wind & chow down.

Hyderabadi · Mar 29th, 2008, 09:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeakXV

Errant saliva, mucous or other particulate can become an unplanned ingredient in any food serving - especially the street food......

DNA, DNA,,, don't forget the DNA.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SitaParityaga

Recently I've been into Anthony Boudain on travel cable channel in the US...

Ah! Bourdain and his friend Zimmern, the kings of street food.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBFDv...ture=re lated

India is no match, sply for Mr.Zimmern.

puchoo · Mar 29th, 2008, 11:44

I think he's more adventerous than alot of Indian's themselves... i like his show a lot as well and one of the best ones was when he gave 'bhang' a try...!

Quote:

Originally Posted by SitaParityaga

Recently I've been into Anthony Boudain !
.

kristinm · Mar 29th, 2008, 11:47

Salad bars really creep me out - all that food just sitting there in the open! And wasn't there a Seinfled episode about the peanuts that come with your beer in NY and how there's urine in them or something??? (It may have been a movie I can't remember - but it seems like a Seinfeld 'moment'.)

puchoo · Mar 29th, 2008, 12:00

That was Seinfeld , and a great episode if i may add!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by kristinm

Salad bars really creep me out - all that food just sitting there in the open! And wasn't there a Seinfled episode about the peanuts that come with your beer in NY and how there's urine in them or something??? (It may have been a movie I can't remember - but it seems like a Seinfeld 'moment'.)

capt_mahajan · Mar 29th, 2008, 12:03

Hyderabadi, thanks

You have recommended this place a few times.. putting this on my list.

Prashant.M · Mar 29th, 2008, 16:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nattusbs

Prashant

Please no Paradise. I had their Biryani last year - sorry - terrible. maybe they used to be good, not anymore.

Cheers

Nattusbs

erm... it wasn't me, it was Cap'n. This is the first time I heard about Paradise; and it's already lost

.

Mar 29th, 2008, 07:20	#91
SitaParityaga member in the forest Join Date: May 2003 Location: California Posts: 852	Every trip, the discipline is wearing down......... This is a great topic.....and I feel encouraged to be more realistic, and less fear driven on the next trip. I've never gotten sick in India....but every trip I ride the edge more and more...but the truth is, I think I'm getting better informed now than I was in years gone by. Recently I've been into Anthony Boudain on travel cable channel in the US. He's made two shows on India: Kolkata Rajasthan and Mumbai. You could tell he was loving India and loving that street food. The Jaisalmer episode was my favorite! Check out what he says about street food scroll down to the second question about parasites.

Mar 29th, 2008, 08:34	#93
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 3,807	Interesting link, Sita! I saw him here around Gopa Chowk but had no idea who he is. He's sitting outside the bhang shop btw. I think he's right about the buffet food - some of the very top hotels do this for bus groups- I have never eaten from a buffet in India. Mr K and I go to one of these places for dinner sometimes but we always order from the menu, never take the buffet. The food is unprotected (no plastic shielding like they have in Oz or NZ) and many people hovering over the food, profusely speaking and spitting (unintentionally but it happens when you get excited in your speech) and coughing over it.. __________________ "Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards."

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Mar 29th, 2008, 08:37	#94
kristinm Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Beautiful Bondi (not Bundi!) Posts: 1,303	Thanks Aishah I was about to have lunch.... !

Mar 29th, 2008, 09:06	#98
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 3,807	Says it all, tacita. There were very stringent rules re salad bars in Oz and NZ quite a while ago - after cases of food poisoning. Even with the plastic shielding I won't use them.

Mar 29th, 2008, 11:47	#102
kristinm Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Beautiful Bondi (not Bundi!) Posts: 1,303	Salad bars really creep me out - all that food just sitting there in the open! And wasn't there a Seinfled episode about the peanuts that come with your beer in NY and how there's urine in them or something??? (It may have been a movie I can't remember - but it seems like a Seinfeld 'moment'.)

Mar 29th, 2008, 12:03	#104
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 9,050	Hyderabadi, thanks You have recommended this place a few times.. putting this on my list.

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