Under an
ancient peepul tree at one edge of the raucous Defence Colony market. That’s
where I’ve eaten the juiciest, tenderest chicken tikka. Outside of GymkhanaClub, that is.
Saliva inducing
steam trails behind the waiter as he hurries towards me - holding the plate of
tikka at shoulder height. It holds a large portion – 10 hot pieces straight out
of the tandoor. And on a late winter evening this makes for a great meal.
You stand
around a small round waist high metal table that’s almost as gnarled and
battered as the tree itself; and you hit elbows with a tiny shack hawking paan
and cigarette and gutka; and you sink your teeth into the succulent, yielding
flesh.
The chill in
the air bites hard. And after every mouthful you can’t but glance over your shoulder
just in case a ghostly spirit, tempted by the luscious chicken piece in your
hand, decides to pop out of the thick, leafy branches above.
The tikkas
are delectable, fresh and sensational. The keema kulcha is crisp outside and
soft inside. As it should be. Crunchy, yet dissolving effortlessly in the
mouth.
Yes, the
cooks here know their stuff. It’s an ancient art and they have mastered it, I
can declare.
However,
just because it’s an outdoor, takeaway kind of a place don’t think it’s cheap.
Prices match those at any upmarket dine-in restaurant. But it’s worth every
hundred rupee note. Every slurpy tikka.
Col Kababz at
Defence Colony market has been around for decades; and the way it’s cooking, is
likely to be there for a few more. Go there and savour the tikkas.
But watch
out for the ghosts!
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