Elusive Vada Paav

Mumbaikars are fond of Vada Pav.


For the ignorant lot who read this article, This dish is nothing but a Desi burger, a Patti of mashed potato coated with bengal gram dough, deep fried in Oil and sandwiched in between a desi bun called Paave. The patti is called batata Vada in Maharashtra.

The same vada when it crosses the lingual boundaries and reaches the south india, it becomes Bonda. Although Bonda will have a lot of other ingredients, it is a similie to batata vada.

This is one thing which has eluded my spouse for so many years. The elusive Vada Pav. Having heard the neighbours who were from Mumbai, speak about it, my spouse who is born and bred in Bangalore, was aching to taste the Vada Paav for many a years.

In bangalore, on rare occasions, the cafeteria in my office used to have Vada Pav in its breakfast menu. I would never take it as I knew the taste, having tasted it once enroute to Mumbai (I think that was at Daund Jn., when I was starving as the food in the train was appalling)

Those were the days my spouse would call me while I was indulging in breakfast (possibly a poori saagu or idly vada) and would ask for the menu. The moment I say that it was Vada Paav, there would be a huge cry and raving. Insistence to pack some home would be greeted with a sorry NO by the Café person, as they don’t have provision for take away.

Life presented its momentous memory to my spouse when we migrated to Pune, Maharashtra. Among the long list of things to do, prominent were Danish Pastry and Vada Paav.

The first day out for a brunch, there came the order from my wife for a Vada Paav. Lingering to taste it she was expecting a tasteful extravaganza. Fuelled by her wild imaginations that it would taste yummmmm and it will satiate her inner most desires….

At the shop, first thing she did was to deny the fried mirchi, as she doesn’t take chillies due to health restrictions. She took her first bite into the elusive Vada Paav.

Alas, she went mad at those neighbours who had been in all praise about this desi burger. She was swearing stating that had it been the simile Potato Bonda, without the Paav, it would be more relishable than this bland and non tasting vada Paav.

This reminds me of the old saying about the sour grapes

Hi,

I am a pucca Mumbaikar and Loooooooovvvveee Wada pav. Yes your fair lady is quite right .It does taste like bonda, but for the spices. Poor girl so much anticipation!!.
Why don't you introduce her to Goli Wada pav (having outlets everywhere)or the Srikrishna outlet in Dadar famous for its jumbo ones., but of course at your own risk

Regards,
Devika

Originally Posted by myfairlady

Mumbaikars are fond of Vada Pav.


For the ignorant lot who read this article, This dish is nothing but a Desi burger, a Patti of mashed potato coated with bengal gram dough, deep fried in Oil and sandwiched in between a desi bun called Paave. The patti is called batata Vada in Maharashtra.

The same vada when it crosses the lingual boundaries and reaches the south india, it becomes Bonda. Although Bonda will have a lot of other ingredients, it is a similie to batata vada.

This is one thing which has eluded my spouse for so many years. The elusive Vada Pav. Having heard the neighbours who were from Mumbai, speak about it, my spouse who is born and bred in Bangalore, was aching to taste the Vada Paav for many a years.

In bangalore, on rare occasions, the cafeteria in my office used to have Vada Pav in its breakfast menu. I would never take it as I knew the taste, having tasted it once enroute to Mumbai (I think that was at Daund Jn., when I was starving as the food in the train was appalling)

Those were the days my spouse would call me while I was indulging in breakfast (possibly a poori saagu or idly vada) and would ask for the menu. The moment I say that it was Vada Paav, there would be a huge cry and raving. Insistence to pack some home would be greeted with a sorry NO by the Café person, as they don’t have provision for take away.

Life presented its momentous memory to my spouse when we migrated to Pune, Maharashtra. Among the long list of things to do, prominent were Danish Pastry and Vada Paav.

The first day out for a brunch, there came the order from my wife for a Vada Paav. Lingering to taste it she was expecting a tasteful extravaganza. Fuelled by her wild imaginations that it would taste yummmmm and it will satiate her inner most desires….

At the shop, first thing she did was to deny the fried mirchi, as she doesn’t take chillies due to health restrictions. She took her first bite into the elusive Vada Paav.

Alas, she went mad at those neighbours who had been in all praise about this desi burger. She was swearing stating that had it been the simile Potato Bonda, without the Paav, it would be more relishable than this bland and non tasting vada Paav.

This reminds me of the old saying about the sour grapes

Dear DH mine,

very funny posting this here....you have some serious explaining to do.....all i can remember of that episode was you laughing your heads off looking at the expression on my face..... But thanks for indulging me DH...and yes a wonderful write up....

love

aqua.

I love Vada paav with lots of green chillies served in the side. There is a place in Dadar, Mumbai called Sri Krishna that serves one of the best batata vadas.

You guys are making me feel hunger for vada paav now in this ice rain @ Boston!!

Great writeup MFL,

Just all this talk about vada pav, wants me to comeback and stay put in one of those farsan places!!
Vada pav is nothing without the lasun ki chutney and the green chillies..

Keep writing. Nice to have another couple in IL.

vandhana

MFL what an Entry !!!!! You have even slightly over taken Priya dare I say ! Maybe MiL strong writing abilities have rubbed off on family
This is definetly an elusive item.. maybe without mirchi dw did not like as much ! But the Dadar vada pav amidst the crowd is an experince all by itself :) keep writing..

Vada-paav is the quintessential delicacy of Mumbai! I absolutely love it. Being a pukka Mumbaiker like many of you here, for me vada-paav is welcome any day, any time of the day and in any season.

Devika, your mention of Srikrishna vada-paav brought back so many great memories of those days. The sugar cane juice stand near by (near the steps going to Tilak bridge) used to be my next stop after eating the vada-paav at SriKrishna.

And like you said Vandhana, the mirchi is a must with the vada-paav. Then there used to be a chakkar to Ideal Book Depot. Of course, I would never return home without a packet of "kadak boondi laadu" from near Dadar station.

The other equally lovable delight is the Bombay Sandwich that I used to eat every single day for 2 years on my return from my office at Tardeo to home in Chembur. I would get a sandwich and an "Energy" drink from the vednor right under my office building, seat myself comfortably on the top deck of BEST's double-decker 90 LTD and enjoy the ride! The vendor had gotten to know me so well that he used to keep my stuff ready a few minutes before I'd come down.

My hubby who is not from Mumbai does not understand what's to die for in that simple vada-paav. I guess he will never understand!

Yummmm.... I know I will be visiting Srikrishna on my next trip to India. I just have got to!
SS

Oh oh - I did not realise this. You are our Sunkan's SIL and Aquamarine is Sunkan's daughter?

Hi Nivedi,
You got it right!!

Originally Posted by nivedi

Oh oh - I did not realise this. You are our Sunkan's SIL and Aquamarine is Sunkan's daughter?