21/11/2016
Hey SWOTIES!
A big shout out to all those who participated in the 2nd SWOT-on-Wheels city wide food tour; and for those who missed out, here’s my account of the progression of events.
The journey began at exactly 5:30pm, from a common meeting spot in Zamzama where all the participants had assembled beforehand. A comfortable air-conditioned coaster was hired by the SWOT-on-Wheels management and space was adequate. The mix of participants was fairly diverse, with people coming from all different age groups and walks of life. However, what was inarguably common amongst these participants was their shared passion for food.
It is important to note here that this tour was purely dedicated to the love of Desi food. Hence, the mix of eateries chosen by the SWOT-on-Wheels management was an assortment of the finest, most time-tested Desi hotspots of Karachi.
Our first destination was the unmistakable Café Lazeez at Burns Road. Perched quietly at a corner of the road, this Desi-food powerhouse is easy to miss. However, don’t be fooled by the understated façade, as this eatery is anything but ordinary. We secured an ample amount of space in the dining halls and upon mutual consensus, Masala Mutton Chops and Fried Fish were ordered. Service was quick and the food arrived in less than ten minutes. Coming to the food, let’s start with the Mutton Chops. Being fortunate to have lived in many different regions of Pakistan, I’ve tried Mutton Chops from well over a gazillion different places all over the country, embodying different culinary styles. Hence, competition was tough. However, these Mutton Chops from Café Lazeez seemed to carve their own niche. Tender to a certain breaking-off-the-bone point, yet firm; succulent, buttery and well balanced - these Chops were packed with flavor. The recipe was somewhat reminiscent of staple Afghani cuisine, with hints of salt, pepper and garlic. The flavors were well balanced, and the spice level was rather mild. The only thing that could’ve been better about these chop would perhaps be a slightly tangy punch in the gravy, as the mountain of butter in every serving somewhat flattened the overall profile of flavors. Nonetheless; these Chops were absolutely delicious, unique and better-tasting than most other options I’ve explored to this day.
Next up was the Fried Finger Fish. Battered and deep-fried to a golden-brown tint of perfection, the fried fish was as inviting as it could get. With a gentle squeeze of lemon on top and a pinch of chaat masala, the fried fish dived into my mouth, causing waves and ripples through my taste buds. It was done just the right way, with the optimum amount of crunchiness on the surface, paired with a tender center and a counterbalanced punch of sour, salty and spicy.
Dusted with eatery numero Uno, we headed to eatery numero Dos. Presenting, Shams Chaat in Garden East. This, my friends, is a place intended for only the most ‘Chaskoray’ of you lot. Almost minimalistic dhaaba-style, this joint offers a mélange of all things Sweet and Sour. As is self-explanatory through the name of the joint, the Channa Chaat seemed most appropriate for a heads up. The Khattay Aaloo on display seemed no less appetizing. They say, when in doubt – order both! And so we did. The Chaat was as fresh as it could get, loaded with a hodgepodge of chutneys and condiments, packing a punch of almost nuclear proportions. The moment a spoonful went into my mouth, I got knocked out by a few potent punches of the erupting assemblage of flavors. I quickly realized it was way too addictive and turned over to the Khattay Aaloo as a futile diversion. My bad, things just worsened from then on. The Khattay Aaloo, laden with a blend of spices and covered in mushy, slimy red masala paste were simply delectable. What was better – the Channa Chaat or the Khattay Aaloo? Perhaps I’ll never know. You see, it’s the same as having to choose between two of your kids. Neither of them is better or worse to you than the other. You love them both equally yet differently.
Hardly recovering from the aftermath of our Shams Chaat sojourn, we were herded into the coaster, which went raging towards our next and final destination: Meerath Kebab House at Gurumander.
Meerath is amongst the who’s who of Karachi’s desi food landscape. It is a landmark, that has stood through the test of time, setting benchmarks for others in the Desi Barbecue business. We decided to stick to the basics, ordering Seekh Kebabs and Malai Boti accompanied with Poori Parathas. The service was quick and food arrived piping hot. I can confidently say that I haven’t had better Seekh Kebabs anywhere. What might pose as a close rival would perhaps be ‘Bhaiyaa Kay Kebabs’ from Lahore. However, no other kebab comes close. A distinctive charred, smoky flavor was engrossed into the very root of this kebab, with the spice level being optimally mild so that one could taste the meat as well. One could easily devour a dozen of these kebabs, had they not been as well fed as we were on that day. The malai boti was also delightful, however ordinary. It was far too mushy for my liking even though the taste was great. I’m somewhat fonder of a firm Malai boti, rather than one that’s falling apart. Anyhow, my companions seemed to be perfectly happy with it and went through a few rounds of said Malai Boti.
A few spoonfuls of Sweet, gooey Rabri provided a subtle finish to the dance of flavors on my palate. Shots of sweet lassi from a nearby milk shop concluded the performance.
All in all, the 2nd SWOT-on-Wheels tour was an absolutely delightful, engaging and fun-packed event. Happy tummies and happy faces in the end were reassuring of the success of this event, with participants forming friendships, a collective passion for food and an appreciation for all things Karachi+Desi.
