Food Focus – Chole Bhature from Chandni Chowk

1. Food Focus – Chole Bhature from Chandni Chowk Food reflects our culture, resources, tastes and affordability. Hence when you have any food, you’re literally taking a bite of the food’s journey from its home. Punjab is easily the biggest influencer when it comes to unique flavors and recipes in the long list of North Indian cuisine. It is home to the famed Chole Bhature, also popularly known in Chennai as Chola Poori. Chandni Chowk in Delhi is the place that has adopted Chole Bhature as its own and has since become synonymous with the dish. Chandni Chowk to Chennai Suman, our in-house Chole Bhature expert, who runs the ‘Chandni Chowk To OMR’ food joint at OMR Food Street, in Injambakkam, ECR, says that the magic of Chole Bhature is in its earthy flavors. What’s in it? The Chole a.k.a. Chick Peas a.k.a Channa is cooked to well but not till it gets mushy, with wholly native spices like cumin, turmeric, cloves, pepper, chilli, cardamom, garlic and asafoetida. Then it’s topped off with tangy lemon, tomato and butter garnish. While the Bhature a.k.a Poori a.k.a Indian Bread is made of maida and whole wheat flour with a pinch of salt, finely kneaded, rolled, pressed and eventually fried in oil until it’s puffy, golden brown. While Chole Bhature gives you a taste of Punjab, it also tells you a lot about how great food can have non-descript ingredients, easy recipes and humble origins. The appeal though is across classes. People throng the Chole Bhature outlets in Chandni Chowk almost on a daily basis to relish this food of the masses, from the heart of India. That’s what good food can do to you. It’ll bring you to where it is. Get your Chole Bhature fix at the Chandni Chowk To OMR outlet, in the ECR stretch and you’re sure to taste the authentic Punjabi-ness of this amazing dish, right here in Chennai.