The Ban on Beef

So beef was banned recently, wasn't it? At least in the state of Maharashtra, in India, it was. People went crazy. There was chaos in everyone's mind. The act was passed ages ago but the law came in effect completely out of the blue, banning the consumption, possession and thereby sale of cow, bull, ox and buffalo products leaving aside water buffalo meat. We all know how tough water buffalo meat is but somehow, when the craving gets intense, that's the only thing we can run to now. Anyway, my point being, was it justified to ban it? Hell no. Everyone should be given an option to choose. I am a frequent red meat eater. However, there are people who would've eaten beef only once in a lifetime, loved it and yet never touched it since, who still mourn about this ban. There are people who even criticise this category of people. To the critics I say, they aren't mourning about it just because everyone is. They might not have eaten beef the way you and I used to. But they always knew that if they wanted, they could at any time because it was always there. Now, that security has been taken away from all of us and the thirst for medium rare bloody goodness grows. A handful of us now know the places which serve the real stuff off the menu and will die to keep it a secret. I suggest you start looking around too. For people who don't crave it as much, places like Salt Water Cafe, Smoke House Deli, Indigo, and the like are the ideal places you could visit to satisfy your meat appetite.You know how, whenever a new drug enters the city, word spreads fast, like the recent entry of meow meow. I'm waiting for the day it happens with beef and I shall be forced into walking down a creepy, dark alleyway or venture into a small village ( what we call jhopadpati) in the city, whisper the words 'beef. 2 steaks' , drop the money, pick up the stash and leave as quickly and quietly as I got in. I would go home and cook it medium rare, have one steak with creamy, buttery mashed potatoes and the other in a brioche bun with a fried egg on it and two slices of sharp cheddar, and yes, I would finish that entire meal by myself. Oh but that's all a dream for the future. The real question is how we will survive till that dream comes true. 

Sardar Pav Bhaji serves the best Pav Bhaji in Mumbai?

I don't think so...

Agreed. It did. At a point of time, in an unforgettable era, where every morning, the city of Mumbai would welcome the opening of a new stall or 'thelas' as we call them. Sardar may have been the only pav bhaji place at the time serving out of a concrete structure. However, over the years, most of the thelas have been shut down by the authorities of our city and what remained formed the 'khau gallis' or food streets that we frequent today for cheap,delicious and absolutely unhygienic foods. The profit margins grew due to the closing down of the remaining thelas in the city and many more concrete structures came up among these khau gallis that are mentioned later on. I think Sardar got famous for its generous portions of butter, not to mention its location, between Mumbai Central Station and the famous Haji Ali Mosque. In today's world, Sardar's pav bhaji has become an absolute flavourless affair with the lack of pav bhaji masala and enough quantities of salt. Its portions of butter which have now doubled in recent times could explain the exorbitant prices but I don't think people like paying so much any more just to consume mashed vegetables and fat. To the people of Mumbai, and the lovely tourists who visit our city, do be daring enough to venture out from the well known. The khau gallis, I'm sure are unhygienic but definitely not as much as consuming about a 100 grams of butter in one serving. If you do get the courage to venture to these places, the tastiest ones I suppose would be Cannon Pav Bhaji bang opposite CST station and Lenin Pav Bhaji between Marine Lines Station and Churchgate station. For a safer option you could even visit Badshaah opposite Crawford Market. These places are definitely worth a visit and chances are you will mostly survive. As for Sardar, however hard it is for me to admit this, having so many memories attached to this place, its the end of an era.