A Visit to Chippiwara in Old Delhi-A Gastronome's Treasure Trove

An unplanned visit to Chippiwara in  Old Delhi in the evening led to a culinary experience like never before. Moreover, looking at the place where my brother in law had lived as a child, led us through numerous alleys and gateways that reminded me of the stories of the early days of Delhi under the numerous rulers who held sway two or three centuries ago. Although this was a rather hasty visit, it was replete with sensory experiences of sizzling delights to titillate the taste buds. Among the things that we enjoyed were the Shahi Sheermal, Shahi Tukda and the Kebabs and Nihari. The Sheermal prepared by Haji Nadeem is of the best kind. There is a variety of these sweet bread. The one costing Rs. 40/- has dry fruits in it and it can be eaten plain. It is a must-try food item if you are visiting the Jama Masjid area. I am sharing a few photographs of the Sheermal for you to see.

The kebabs prepared by the Al Jawahar restaurant in the lane are succulent and dissolve in the mouth. We ordered the same from the restaurant and brought them home to enjoy them later. All we did was heat them in a pan with a dice of butter. I am sharing a few photographs of the kebabs sizzling in the pan.

The entire street comes alive in the evenings when the food stalls come to life. In fact, it is only during the evenings that one would be able to enjoy the street food on offer. One stallholder even told me that his day started at 6:00 p.m. and went on into the wee hours of 3:00 a.m. in the morning. During the day, the Commercial part of Old Delhi comes to life. The wholesalers for stationery items, textiles, brass items and many other such items do brisk business. 

The narrow alleys, twisted lanes and ancient faded frescos, ornamental arches, and the numerous iron gates stand testimony to the place's medieval historical significance. The narrow alleys and gates were necessitated by the need to defend the area from the large number of marauding soldiers belonging to various invading armies from other countries who wanted to plunder the city.