'My tastiest meal of 2019 in Chicken Gali' - by K J S Chatrath

This was my tastiest meal of 2019. No, I am not making a mistake. In 2020, thanks to Covid, there was hardly any opportunity to try out food outside one's own modest kitchen. I came to know of a little chicken joint in Palika Bazar,in Connaught Place New Delhi. In the first week of December 2019, I reached Palika Bazar around 12.30 an and took entrance through Gate No. 1. Climbing down a few stairs I was there in no time. I took a turn to the left, half a dozen steps and I was in, what I would call 'Chicken Gali' or 'Chicken Street.' There aI found about half a dozen shops getting ready to serve lunch. Each one has a speciality chicken dish. I chose one which was starting and ordered a plate of chicken and two home made large tawa chappatis. A few rings of onions came as complimentary. One had to stand and juggle with the food. But it was one of the tasties chicken dishes that I have had in my life,.Mildly spicy, fresh, piping hot and very deeply cooked.Feeling satisfied I paid the bill- Rs.80 for chicken and Rs.20 for two chappatis and left.... All through the solitary confinement forced by fear of Covid, memory of this meal has sustained me and I am hoping that acche din ayengey and I would be able to repeat that tasty meal. In the mentime I am taking cue from Wordsworth and trying to relive the experience through the inward eye.

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