Kite hunting and Midnight cravings: Part 1

  

The first instalment of my 2 part series on ‘The Kite Season’.

Ever experienced utter chaos? Having no idea of what is happening around, losing your way, finding it difficult to understand what the hype is all about – but in spite of all of the confusion, enjoying every moment of it. These were the exact feelings I experienced during my visit to “The Kite Market”, popularly known as “Kangshaal” in Gujarati – and only in Ahmedabad.

Every year, a night before 14^th January – the day celebrating “Uttarayan” or the Kite festival, massive markets are organized that sell only kites and everything related to kites. Kites in all shapes and sizes – ranging from small 1-inch baby kites to massive 5 footer ones are sold here. Of course, you cannot have kites without the glass powder coated “Manja” or “Phirkis”. Different hues, sizes of the manjas are available in the market for sale here and believe me, even small kids – hardly 5 year old ones know their kites and their manjas. It is quite embarrassing for a non-kite flyer like me facing these tiny people telling you which manjas are the best and the finer nuances of flying a kite.

Rows of Phirki's / Kite Manja

Transporting these kites is another story all together. There is barely any space to breathe in the market – even at midnight, leave alone finding space to walk. The kites are held high above the head and people walk through the crowds trying to weave their way across. It’s a sight. Sounds of whistles, blow-horns, people bargaining on the prices of the kites, vendors screaming the prices for the kites and accessories – its utter chaos. But in the midst of all the chaos – you see a reason to enjoy. It’s a common thread binding all the people in the market - kites. There is no social strata, no caste or religion that matters here. Everyone’s the same and they have one common aim – “Kites”.

Now as confessed, I am no kite-flyer but one part of the market experience that most interests me  - apart from spending time with all the relatives in Gujarat – is the love of my life “ Food”.

Visiting the kite market is a culinary experience by itself. Street food is found in abundance. Food you would probably have never even thought as being possible finds its way here and believe me or not – sells like hotcakes.

My last visit to the kite market in kite market in Ahmedabad left me speechless in terms of the kind of dishes that can be created. The food is all really simple made using day-to-day, easily accessed ingredients. Ingredients that can be picked up from the next-door food store but when the innovation takes over – it’s all chaos. The kind of chaos that although is maddening, you somehow end up enjoying every part of it.

Accompanied by relatives in Ahmedabad after the kite hunt, we ended up going to the Manekchowk food market located next to the kite market. There were brightly lit up stalls selling delicious chaat dishes like “Bhel” and “Sev puri” and the more warmed up versions of “Potato tikkies”. Another stall selling piping hot tea found its space there as well.

Manek Chowk market

What caught my attention, however, was the array of stalls creating and selling – sandwiches and pizzas. Now, you would probably question, what’s different about that? Every place has a sandwich and pizza place. True, but not every place has a “Chocolate sandwich” or a “ Chocolate pizza”. Yup, you read it right…it’s all chocolate!!

That’s a crazy combination you would think - Exactly as I did. Whoever has a chocolate sandwich?? But believe me, this was one dish that was raking in the cash. Never in my life have I seen a demand for such as weird concoction but I guess, that’s the way innovation works.

Am gonna share the recipe I picked up after having eaten the Chocolate sandwich. Much as I would like to shy away, I do admit – it wasn’t bad. In fact, quite interesting. Not many ingredients in there but very innovative piece of work.

 

Bread – 2 slices

Butter – loads

Milk chocolate (melted) or nutella

Weird extra ingredient – Shredded processed cheese

Smear the bread slices with butter on both sides. Layer one slice with melted chocolate and generously top with the shredded cheese. I think they even added some sandwich spice on top of it (really don’t remember, but give it a try). Cover with another bread slice and enjoy!

Note: These can even be toasted.

I shied away from the chocolate pizza because I guess the sandwich was as far as I could venture with my culinary adventure here. It was a crazy but a thoroughly enjoyable experience. 

Oh, by the way, there were pineapple based sandwiches and pizzas we well. Might brave the crowds to try them next year again.