What's Cooking in Restaurants this Monsoon

The sound of rain’s pitter patter which comes as a respite from the sweltering heat automatically put human beings to crave for deep fried pakodas and Kadak chai. No wonder the cold breeze and that earthy sweet scent makes us feel the weather and put us on no-work mode immediately and that is the reason why restaurants across the country are customizing their menu to let customers enjoy the most out of this monsoon season.

Whether it’s a rooftop café or a café with wide-angle view of outside weather, it is always a delight to have soulful bites at a cozy nook overlooking the rain. “People crave for chatpata items in monsoon, and there is nothing that gives more joy during the monsoon season than chaat & pakodas, shares Chef Anahita N. Dhondy, Chef-Partner at SodaBottleOpenerWala Cyber Hub, Gurgaon says who has added a menu called ‘Chaat Pakoda and Chill’ this season that has sumptuous range of pakodas such as Marcha Na Cheese Poppers, Mangalorean Prawns, Coconut Fritters, 3 Daal ka Bhajiya, and CCP – Chutney Paneer Pakoda to name a few.

However, if you think this is it, then you are wrong because they also have quite a range of chatpata chaats as well which includes Palak Patta Pakoda Chaat, Teen Batti Dahi Batata Puri, Ragda  and Shakarkandi ki Chaat along with SBOW special Dabeli and Juhu Chowpatty PaniPuri.

“There's something in the air every year in July & August that makes Indians crave the indigenous deep-fried delights called pakodas. It doesn't matter if it's a drizzle or pouring rain, that single drop of water splashing on dry ground just makes our hearts scream out for a large plate of pakoras,” says Chef Raju Massey at Nukkadwala by adding that it does not matter if the pakoda we love most is made of potatoes, Onion, spinach, chillies or chicken.  We Indians have this amazing concept of high tea, or shaam ki chai, which is quite bland without steaming hot pakoras.

To give as many varieties of chai and crispy fritters the menu at Nukkadwala includes paneer pakoda, Nukkad pakoda with an assortment of Chai flavours like Nukkad Chai, Filter Kaapi, Nukkad Chai Flask and the aromatic Tulsi Green Tea.

Meanwhile at the Decode Air Bar, Chef Ramesh Rana serves Dhokla chaat by giving the mainstream dhokla a twist. Apart from this there are Old Delhi Aloo Tikki, Desi Latpata Tawa Sausage, Lawa Stone ke kabab (they use real lawa stone to make these unique kebabs), Cheese Chilli Bread Pakoda and Chilli Soya Patties. The price of the monsoon menu here is in the range of Rs95 to Rs 395.