MILK PUDDING-KHARWAS AT PRAKASH SHAKAHARI UPAHAR KENDRA

I always had a soft spot for kharwas..its silky texture and melt in the mouth appeal makes me go all yum!! Earlier during my childhood days it was easy to spot handcarts selling these milky slabs on streets of Mandvi, Mangal Bazar. But today it is difficult to spot any handcarts selling Kharwas on streets of Baroda. These flat milky slabs are easily available on Mumbai's streets covered with  cloth to be sliced off and sold in portions. Now a days it is available quite easily at outlets selling typical maharashtrian food.

It is akin to caramel custard or even a cheesecake in terms of texture and look but nothing can beat the flavour and texture of traditional kharwas. And what more, its rich in proteins and calcium, the best form of  dessert for children!

Kharwas is made from milk of a cow or buffalo which has just given birth..This milk is also referred to as colostrum. Usually the milk 2 days after the birthing is used. This milk is very thick and nutritious.

Today on a festive occasion as I was in Mumbai so thought to try something new to give sweet treat to my taste buds so just headed at Shivaji Park, Dadar and landed myself to one of the iconic Maharashtrian eatery for which I have already posted reviews.

I ordered Kharwas and two square of  white slabs were served in small dish flavoured with saffron. It was soft with white texture and just I had spoonful of this  sweet devil and seemed like milk cascaded away in few seconds on my tongue.Highly nutritious and very healthy.

If you are in Mumbai do lay your hands on it. My total damage was Rs.32 and it was full worth.

MASALA PAV AT DP's MATUNGA

 Sameep Karve falls in love with Masala Pav.

My love for local street food continues and I always prefer to eat at road side joints which serve fresh food. A city characterised by its nightlife, late food joints where the elite and not so money monkers savour the kebabs together and it's always open door policy to people from nooks of the country. With great colleges , comes the responsibility of feeding thousands of students, hundreds of faculty and other visitors who throng the area. Beside any college, you will find a vendor/fast food corner serving delicious, lip smacking food.Today while coming back from office via Matunga thought to indulge myself in Mumbai's famous culinary preparation which is side dish while eating Pav Bhaji. Yes in this post I am describing about Masala Pav.
Pav has become a part of Mumbai's culture and there are many dishes associated with it. It wouldn't be wrong to say that life of Mumbai runs on Pav. This humble form of bread has many stories behind its origin which has ingrained itself in Mumbaikar's life right from blue collared mill workers to white collared Upper and middle class public.

To satiate my craving for Masala Pav I headed to Durga Parmeshwari popularly called DPs Opp Ruia college at Matunga. It is very famous place among college students to hangout. It is basically a small fast food joint serving authentic south Indian food, sandwiches, parathas, Pav Bhaji and Masala Pav. I had heard about it that Pav Bhaji and Masala Pav are their signature dishes and restaurant has also bagged TOI food award for serving best Pav bhaji in Mumbai.

I ordered Masala Pav and it was served in few minutes. Masala Pav served here was totally in different style. It was not like the one which we get inGujarat where two Pavs are fried on Tava in butter and spices. Masala Pav is a complete meal in itself where 2 pavs are dunked into a mix of mashed potatoes and onions finely diced and slightly sauteed with spices, and toss it with masala in tomato gravy along with lemon wedge on the top and garnished with coriander It's taste is quite different to that of pav bhaji. Masala Pav can be a quick fix to satiate evening snack pangs and it comes to hungry soul's rescue when while eating Pav Bhaji the Bhaji runs out of the plate.

Overall a very good experience and I strongly recommend this place to have Masala Pav and Pav Bhaji if you are here in Mumbai. The prices here are not too steep and normally you will feel contented for what you pay.

Sam's Report card
Taste-9/10
Service- 8/10
Ambience-6/10
VFM-8/10