Eat like a Mumbaikar

Kunal Vijayakar tasted home-cooked Maharashtrian food at the police station

Kunal Vijayakar raises an eyebrow at our rooibos tea at Brooke Bond Taj Mahal Tea House in Bandra. "I want a filter coffee," he announces, adding, "And some good old butter toast." He happily nods when the server suggests brun maska instead.

Vijayakar set out on a patrol as part of his visit

Over our brew-laced conversation, food chronicler Vijayakar reveals that he is set to launch a YouTube channel, Khaane Mein Kya Hai, on February 27; the first show in which he will feature, is by the same name. "You cannot deny the digital explosion. Unlike television, you first use it as a mode of expression and then turn it into something larger than life. I am that old-school guy who got turned on with newsprint writing and bylines. The idea is to create a channel that will offer a destination for various show formats and faces," he says.

When we ask him to give us a sneak peek into what to expect from the show, he reveals about his most recent shoot at Dadar Police Station (West). "We lunched with six constables who shared their home-cooked food with us, and also revealed a few nuggets from their lives," says Vijayakar.

But before they sat down to eat, Vijayakar joined them on a quick patrol around town and even stopped at their favourite chai tapri stall outside the station. "Most of them have that mandatory one cup while coming in and another cup while leaving. It relaxes them, they claimed," shares Vijayakar, adding, "The ACP took me around the station, which, unlike our filmy set-ups, is
rather swanky."

The tour ended in a tiny room where they gathered around a table to break bread. "They had brought delicious home-cooked food - flower vatana [cauliflower with peas], bharli vangi [stuffed brinjal], fried fish, sukka chicken, kothimbir vadi and bhakri. It included a lot of regional Maharashtrian fare," he recalls. He learnt that the women constables, who come from Badlapur, wake up as early as 5 am to cook and leave for an 8 am duty. "The show is about food across the city - be it on the streets, in restaurants, Udipis, homes or hotels. The informal shoot with the cops was one-of-its-kind. They have stressful jobs but it was nice to listen to their happy narrations," he signs off.

Log on to: Khaane Mein Kya Hai on YouTube