Delhi is among the top destinations for foodies and Chaat lovers. When one speaks of Delhi Chaat, there are a few types that promptly come to mind, like Tikki Chaat, Kachori Chaat and so on. If you want to try some of the lip-smacking dishes, head to Tasty Tongues Delhi Chaats in Bavdhan, Pune. Shevali and Anuj Mathur, founders of Tasty Tongues Delhi Chaats, share more about their 15-year-old project, and passion.
From home kitchen to an outlet
“After we got married, we came to Pune and observed that people here liked North Indian food. Parathas were the most preferred option, so we started making around five types of Parathas. Initially, we set up our food business at home. After Parathas, we added Tikki Chole and Samosa to our menu in 2002.
Later, when my mother-in-law came to Pune, she encouraged us to go ahead in the food business. After sometime, we started North Indian thalis. Most of our customers were bachelors, students and we were also taking orders for kitty parties. Since we received a good response, we decided to start a small outlet, where I cooked food and served it on leaf plates,” she says.
Adding more, Anuj says, “My wife was passionate about cooking. Earlier, there were many South Indians in our locality and they liked Parathas and Tikki Chole. Soon, they started giving small orders and Shevali became famous as ‘Parathewali Bhabhi’.”
To add value to their business, the couple keeps travelling and visiting popular food outlets. “We are foodies, so when we travel to different places in the North, we taste food at famous outlets to keep ourselves updated with the taste and variety,” Anuj adds.
Ask Shevali how she came up with the menu and she says, “While creating the menu, we did a lot of testing. For instance, apart from five basic Parathas, we experimented a bit and came up with 70 more types. To the existing menu, we have added juices as well. Over the years, we have maintained the taste and quality. Also, we have trained our chefs to cook as per our tastes, and I do taste the food everyday to make sure it is consistent.” Shevali attributes their success to consistent taste, food quality and word-of-mouth publicity. On an average, they sell nearly 300 plates of Chaats and nearly 600 plates of Jalebis every day.
What you should try
One must try their Tasty Tongue’s Special Paratha, Pani Puri, Tikki Chole and Jalebi with Rabri. Shevali came up with the recipe for Tasty Tongue’s Special Paratha when she experimented with the leftover gobi, paneer, cheese and onion, and it turned out delicious. “The sweet chutney we use here is different than the ‘meetha pani’ that is generally used. We use dates and jaggery in it. For Pani Puri, the spiced water served is cold and instead of the ragada, we use potato, kala chana and onion for the filling. We are basically serving Golgappas,” she says.
Fried in pure ghee, the Jalebis are thin and crispy, making every bite delightful. The mildly sweet Rabri is the perfect accompaniment for the Jalebis.
We liked the Tikki Chole too. Perfectly cooked, along with the sweet chutney served in the Chaat, this one is an absolute winner. The Tikki in the Chaat had a crunchy exterior, which made it all the more delicious. With a perfect sweet and tangy balance, Tikki Chole stole our hearts.
When visiting the outlet, you must try their Pani Puri / Golgappa. Also, the good news for expectant mothers is that this outlet serves free Pani Puris to them. Anuj says that it’s a tribute to his mother, who always liked to pamper expectant moms.
To enjoy Delhi Chaats and popular street food, you know where to head.
