Substituted from a large tree (for irony) near the center of the NSD compound and the scaffolding around it, the Bharat Rang Mahotsav 2015 Food Court is now adjacent to the entrance, on the left, as it were. That taste is probably the pursuit of capital in Delhi, it is probably a wise decision. Culture, after all, does not get cold and rubbery. And speaking of cold and rubbery, this year the emphasis has been more on food quality rather than serving in a pleasant environment.
Scaffolding and food courts relied heavily on last year’s visual appeal; The food was the best indifferent. It was a scene, a monolithic tree, surrounded by a wooden platform and pitched by a dilapidated canopy, smoky air with the smell of kebabs, the faint sweetness of frying jalebis and, of course, the ubiquitous litty choka, a subtle reminder that most of the nation’s theatrical former home. The kebabs were out of breath in the cloud of chaat spices, the biryani was more colorful than it tasted, and the jalebi was just fine, because really, how could you mess it up? Not so this year.
In addition to a mungfaliwala located at the very beginning, there are 12 food stalls, with a cross-section of cuisine. Interestingly, instead of the characterless food of ordinary anonymous vendors, there are stalls of established brands at this time, ranging from the delicious (and controversial) Changeji Chicken in Dariaganj to the popular Lebanese food shop, Jijo. There are also stalls selling Delhi’s favorite standby stuffed parantha, Daulat ki chaat, chicken korma and shirmal, tikka and kebab (without chaat spices), pastries and roadside favorite fried Indian sandwiches. Prices in the pocket are easy, with meals for two will return you anywhere between 100 to 200 rupees depending on the food of your choice.
We tried Khan Mughlai Kabab’s Chicken Biryani and Jijo’s Chicken Shawarma. The former piles up on a plate of ever-present thermocol, garnished with chutney (not chutney) and chopped onions, and to lend it an Americanism, “just eat well”. The latter is the largest shawarma we’ve seen in town, consisting of chicken, actually pickled vegetables, and fresh mayonnaise; A garlic sauce with it is sharper than most ascetic theater critics. The price of both is fairly reasonable 120 rupees, they hire us like a job at Ibsen; Although the stomach is much easier.