Sandeep Dwivedy
Post News Network
Cuttack, April 5: A lively city with a rich, diverse heritage, Cuttack boasts of a street food culture which is unrivalled not just across the state but also beyond.
Such is the amazing range of street food that it is hard even for veteran purists to decide on which of the many dishes occupy pride of place.
“The jury is out on which dish best defines the street food scene in the city,” says Nandini Samantray, a Ravenshaw student and a self-confessed street food buff. “But I think most would agree the local ‘panipuri’ is what sets this city apart from others. No place on Mother Earth makes panipuris like Cuttack does,” Nandini says.
The street food scene in the city has managed to hold fort, and come out on tops, against an unrelenting battle waged by swanky restaurants and pizza-burger chains. One reason for this is its ever-affordable yet lip-smackingly delectable fare that is on sale across the city.
“The affordability is what helped street food survive in Cuttack. Unlike in Bhubaneswar, where some fast food joints sell their food at prices which would put fancy restaurants to shame,” says Nandini, who believes street food’s USP should be its affordable cost.
The boom in street food is thanks partly due to the ‘khatti’ (get-together) corners that abound in the city, patronised by both students and grown-ups alike.
“Khatti is incomplete without gupchup and dahibara, with a masala cold drink to wash it down with,” says Samuel J, an engineering student who is four years old in the city.
“Where else would you get panipuri, dahibara aludum, chaat, pav-bhaji, bara-aluchop, rolls, and a whole lot of other dishes, all so scrumptiously made and that too for rock-bottom prices? Nowhere but here,” proudly asserts Samarendra Mohanty, a bank employee from Patra Sahi area.
“The recent scourge of jaundice took a toll on street food but that was temporary. Now due to summer, lassis and fruit juice have become popular but street food will always remain dominant,” says Kedar Behera, a lassi stall owner.