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.