Shillong Street Food-Small Momos

Saturday, July 11, 2009

NORBU:Until my dying day, I will swear by the momos of 'Norbu's. Not to be mistaken with Nobu of London unless you've downed one too many.Situated in Jhalupara, the 'bronx' part of Shillong town Norbu's doesn't pretend to be anything else than just what it is. A small joint that sells alcohol and food. Norbu's boasts' of A-listers like the nearby parking attendant, the coolie, the cab driver, the roadside labourer, the 'teer'seller and a cluster of men who's profession is anybody's wild guess.Assuming you will go only for the momos, and not for the clientele as charming as they are, be prepared to be hit by the onslaught of alochol-infused smoke and a lot of testosterone.This 'club' is patronised by men only.Of course with the exception of moi. I don't blame the ladies for the poor attendance as women are not allowed to drink in here.Not that it stopped me.My male companion just appeared to be slightly more desperate than usual by ordering several rounds of drinks and no one batted an eyelid.Surreptitously sipping the hooch and ineffectively hiding the glass behind the water jug whenever somebody passed our cabin, I wolfed down the light and paper-thin if a bit-oily- momos by the dozens.Not that I should have bothered.No not about the wolfing down bit of the said momos but the hiding of glass/covert sipping.As long as I didn't try to open a bottle by crashing it on someone's head I was covered. Now that's the beauty of Norbu's.I wonder if you're one of those who appreciates a place like this.No one cares who you are, what you're wearing,what you're talking...or how you're talking.Don't get me wrong, I love the swanky club scene as much but at Norbus'what you see is what you get.No pretense...that's always refreshing for me. Try the chilly chicken(dry)...quite something.                                                                                                             Tip: If you're a woman, try to go with a male friend.And needless to say, don't attempt to dance on the table.Just don't dance. Anywhere.

Shillong Street Food-Aalu Moori

Aalu Moori-Tuesday, July 14, 2009

There's this street food which is particular only to Shillong.Its fluffed rice (moori) chopped boiled potatoes, onions,diced keri or raw mango to which is added jeera/cumin seeds, black salt , chilly powder, tamarind paste and a drop of mustard oil.All the above is thoroughly mixed in what appears to be an old paint dabba/container.

The rest of the paraphenalia used in the making of this heavenly concoction is also slightly dubious in origin.But once you see this brown white mixture that is emitting such a heavenly aroma, one kind of pushes the hygienic/sensible part of oneself effectively out of the picture.At least, that's what I did.

One time,I had this friend who was with me when I my beady little eyes chanced upon the moori-walla.He the friend ,was horrified as I zeroed in on the moori-walla.You see, the moori-walla has been very much a part of one's school and college days in Shillong.You know those days when your stomach was made of cast iron and your face was acne free no matter what you ate? 

I remember my friends and I would throng to the moori-wallah after school and spend the little money we had and got ourselves in a real fix if we spent the money which we collected for the annual fetes or picnics.But I digress. Going back to the horrified friend, he was horrified for two reasons which on retrospect explains the safe distance he maintained while I was going about this 'filthy'business. One was obviously the hygiene issue which the moori-wallah inadvertently raised. The horrified friend,being the observant and sensitive soul that he is, no doubt espied the tools of the moori-wallah's trade and well,was horrified. The second reason was how a seemingly sensible and mature person like me(I had finished college some time back) could act like a school girl and rush to the moori-wallah to have my face stuffed. 

Well, such is the lure of the moori-wallah in Shillong.Till date, my favourite is the one who is stationed at the junction of All India Radio and the old MBOSE office near the Governor's house. I've known him for over two years and though our relationship started haltingly, we've passed the awkward stage now.The last time I met him he told me how he was hoping to meet the Governor via the gardener so he can get his trading license. By the way, my city friends find this 'aalu-moori' similar to 'bhel' or what mumbaikars call 'sukha bhel' but believe me, this is way better. Sorry my quasi-homies.