At the heart of Dilli, lie two things - tea in monsoons and Connaught Place.
Dilli is well-known for two things - street food (lip-smacking चाट) and monuments.
What if these four come together for an amalgamation that woos the hearts of common folk every season?
Yes, I am referring to Chaayos - a brand that has been the focal point for its 'Experiments with Chai' every season - be it summer, monsoon, or winter - thanks to its concept of cyclic menus - that have something new to offer each time - be it with their beverages or snacks.
This time around, 'Experiments with Chai' has been revamped to 'Experiments with Chaats' as Chaayos has set foot (or should I say taste buds?) into the savory segment.
In the offing for #ChaayosMonsoon are new additions of four Chaats that prompted me to pay a visit to Chaayos' new home - in M Block, CP - which is their second after a quaint one in F Block, CP.
As a matter of fact, Chaayos M Block, CP is their largest outlet in Delhi, and the second largest in the country, only succeeded by one at Chhatrapati Shivaji Domestic Terminal in Vile Parle, Mumbai.
This particular outlet could as well be called a mini tea estate of sorts as it has alleys and arches leading to partitioned seating areas, love for tea and the capital city alike depicted through aesthetic wall art, and even a map of Delhi illustrated tastefully.
Not to forget that the outlet has donned a playful avatar with paper boats all over the place, to prompt patrons to ring in childhood memories associated with monsoons. :)
Life has only two T&C - Travel and Chai, and Chaayos as a brand is living up to both of them, one step at a time - by reaching cities across the nation with the rapid expansion of the cafe chain, and exploring the diversity that can be achieved on the plate as far as both tea and snacks are concerned.
Elucidating my experience of 'Experiments with Chaat', this #ChaayosMonsoon, here goes...
Egg White Chaat is the most चटपटा among the four, with the low-calorie, protein-rich element of egg - the whites - providing for a good relish especially when garnished with thinly sliced tomato chunks and onion - paired with the in-house mayonnaise sauce.
Bhelpuri is the quintessential street food that needs no introduction and has a personality of its own, thanks to puffed rice being paired with सेव, पापड़ी, onions, and tomatoes - the entire presentation is complemented by a dash of lime. At Chaayos too, the Bhelpuri Chaat is unmistakably appetizing.
Chicken Keema Papdi Chaat is hard to miss out on, thanks to its intriguing presentation of chunks of
पापड़ी being layered with minced chicken, the red and pink hues, and mint garnish. As far as the flavor is concerned, the zest and tang embody what 'Dilli Ki Chaat' should be like.
Samosa Matar Chaat is the most elaborate of all, owing to the fact that a true-blue Delhi-6 style समोसा paired with मटर, interspersed with a spread of पापड़ी chunks, tamarind chutney, चाट मसाला, and a hearty dash of lime comes across as a delight to the eyes and the tummy, all at the same time.
It's a tough task to pick favorites among the 'Experiments with Chaat' that #ChaayosMonsoon brings forth, only made tougher by the meme-driven 'चाय पी लो' that has taken social networks by storm, on which Chaayos hasn't failed to take a quip too.
On the whole, I had a hearty time with #ChaayosMonsoon this time around, and I am sure that the new menu would be successful to fuel another home run for one of the most loved tea chains across Delhi that Chaayos continues to be. :)
