LITTI BIT MORE

 Sameep Karve boards Litti Express to hog up delicacy of Bihar-Litti Chokha

After a long time my search ended and I was able to hog up the most awaited cuisine in my food list. This is a simple food dish of poor man or rather a worker class of Bihar and it is very filling and nutritious. I am talking about the Bihar's most famous cuisine Litti Chokha. The delicacy, which has been a staple diet of poor people over the years, has hooked celebrities in a big way in recent times.

However, Litti has made a special identity of Bihar. A distinctive cuisine of Bihar and a vital part of the ethos and culture of local people, the humble Litti Chokha has been accepted into the national scenario, and how!

You can have it piping hot at the railway station, a roadside dhaba or even order it at some swanky ethnic restaurant in the city. Interestingly, it has now become a trend for almost all Bihari Babus to throw ‘Litti-Parties’ in New Delhi and flaunt their regional identity. But Litti has been an endearing part of Bihar’s historic past.

My hunt began by searching on Zomato if I can trace out any restaurant or small eating joint in Mumbai which serves authentic Litti Chokha as in Vadodara we dont get this food and as I am in Mumbai so didn't want to loose a chance to taste this delicacy as my taste buds were tickling from long time. While googling for this cuisine I spotted one small eatery named Litti Express at Adarsh Nagar in Jogeshwari and gave a call on that number which was mentioned on google. The call was attended by Ashish who is the owner of this small shop and he guided me to reach here. Ashish greeted me very humbly and he is very courteous and by profession he directs art films and runs a production house and this is his part time venture as food is his passion and he wanted to introduce this delicacy of Bihar in Mumbai and make it popular among locals. He is making his full efforts for this and he also told me that for preparing Littis all the raw material is brought from their homeland Bihar. The main ingredient is the Sattu flour of Chana which he told that it is roasted on sand and hence has the real taste. This Chane ka Sattu is not available in Mumbai.

The restaurant is not rich in ambience and it is in small lane and swanky shop having 2 to 3 tables for sitting and there is small Bhatti nearby where littis are roasted. I ordered one plate of Litti Chokha which was for Rs.50 serving 2 hot litti balls and chokha along with the complimentary siding of green chutney made of coriander leaves and mint with raw onions.

Litti: The Sattu dough balls are stuffed with a mixture of spices like black pepper, Thymol (ajwain), ginger, garlic, mustard oil, lemon juice and salt for flavouring. After that these littis are baked in hot Bhatti and it throws a smoky taste which is unique in its sense. Once ready it is dipped in Desi ghee. In nutshell it is highly nutritious.

Chokha: It is spicier accompaniment made of roasted eggplants(Brinjals), mashed potatoes, bit of tomatoes and lots of green chillies.

My overall experience was very good and was highly satisfied. So if you are in Mumbai head to Adarsh Nagar, Jogeshwari(W) for this mouth watering delicacy.

Still my feeling is that Litti-chokha has failed to make headway as a business product on a bigger scale so far, but its prospects are immense. It will take an enterprising entrepreneur to come forward and make capital out of it.

If it is marketed properly, there is no reason why litti-chokha cannot be Bihar's answer to Mumbai's Vada Pav which lures the rich and the poor alike.

Sam's Report Card:

Taste: 8/10
Service: 8/10
Ambience: 6/10
Value for Money: 8/10