“The usual tea or would you like to snack on something?” Asked my husband, as we reached our regular chaiwala Kakaji’s stall after the morning walk. While my husband went to get hold of the steaming glasses of cutting chai, I noticed an auto wala having a hot plate of nagpuri tarri poha. He was all engrossed in his breakfast. After finishing off, he headed towards the water can. A steel glass was kept there. He washed it thoroughly and drank to his fill. As soon as he left another student came and again washed it and reused it to quench his thirst. 

There was another car parked besides us at the roadside. While the wife enjoyed a plate of poha, the husband was keen on his samosas. Then, there was the other lady who appeared to be working as a house help. She quicly snacked on the vadas and moved ahead for the day’s job. Observing all these people eating at the same place made me think, food, especially street food, brings out a kind of equality. No one bothers which religion or caste the person belonged to who ate in the same plate before him or her. Everyone is driven by taste and cost efficiency. In lavish hotels and restaurants, we can see patrons only from the rich and sophisticated class. But the street food stall caters equally to the taste buds of both the rich and the poor in a pocket-friendly manner.

Everyone has one or more favourite street food snack. As for me it has always been the “phuchkas” i,e paani puri of Kolkata. It has a different taste from that of Maharashtra. A foodie friend of mine had told me while travelling if you really want to know the authentic taste of the place, have a plate of paani puri at the local street vendor. I truly vouch for that. Every region in India or for that matter worldwide has a typical street snack. In Nagpur, its famous tarri poha and patodi. If we move towards the Marathwada region, people swear by the missal pav. In the north, you have ragda patties. Rajashthan is famous for all kinds of kachoris. New Delhi serves your appetite with a full meal of chole bhature or kulcha chhola at reasonable price. In the south, it’s the Idlis and vadas and so many versions of the humble dosa. The diverse the culture, the richer is the food variety. Every city has a famous street food vendor where people throng in queues to savour the delicacies .

Today information is at our finger tips. We can search for the best places to eat while travelling in our gadgets. Youtube videos and Facebook posts offer such details and whereabouts of best street food in any city. Street food has always been pocket-friendly compared to eating out at a restaurant. However many of us are concerned with the hygiene factor of food served. What cleanliness precautions might or might not have been taken while preparing them? The street food fans often argue that one should at times eat at such palces; it keeps your immunity on toes. While eating out at such places one should carefully look around at the surroundings. If there are flies or stranded water, it’s always better to avoid. Now a days vendors use plastic gloves and plastic paper plates to maintain hygiene. However, I remember eating phuchkas in donas made of leaves in Kolkata. I feel those were more eco-friendly.

With Google to answer every query of ours, I often search for recipes of street food over internet. However meticulously I try them, I always miss out that Midas touch of flavours and ambience. There is one panipuriwala, whom I never miss to visit whenever at I am at Amravati. His food is tongue-burning hot and spicy . People come from far to taste that zing. Once while serving me, he told me, "Sara kuch humari ghar wali banati hai. Usi ka jaadu hai. Hum to sirf bechte hai.” I could sense his affection and pride for his wife who is always behind the scenes. With all its own pros and cons, street food still steals heart of foodies and brings people closer.