Vadapav v Mac: the great fastfood debate

Sena plans vadapav stalls to counter Mac

PTI | May 06, 2008 | 12:00 IST

Hot vadapavs served in corporate style with a 'Jai Maharashtra' greeting from an assured Maharashtrian vendor - Shiv Sena will now take the popular snack to the Marathi Manoos their way.

Announcing a state-wide network of Maharashtra Vadapav Vikreta Sena, the party mouthpiece Saamna said on Tuesday that the Shiv Sena sponsored association of vendors would be selling the popular spicy preparation comprising bread and potatoes at various stalls in hygienic conditions matching McDonalds and international pizza outlets.

When contacted, Sanjay Gurav who would be in charge of the project, told PTI the decision to launch vadapav stalls with corporate look in Mumbai and rest of Maharashtra was taken after four month-long discussions with party executive president Uddhav Thackeray.

The customer would be greeted with Jai Maharashtra by the vendors who would be serving hot vadapav, he said, adding only Maharashtrians would be allotted the Sena sponsored stalls to help them secure self-employment.

About the price of this common man's brunch which normally costs Rs 5 - Gurav said the Sena supported corporate variety would cost nearly Rs 8 which was justified in view of the assured quality.

In Mumbai, office goers at various places including Nariman Point and Cuffe Parade are often inconvenienced as their lunch hour gets over even before they manage to buy eatables, thanks to the serpentine queues.

"Our vadapav will surely come handy for all segments of consumers serving their needs without compromising on quality," Gurav added.

In rural areas, unemployed self-help groups will be extended financial assistance for the purpose.

Many decades ago when Bal Thackeray floated Shiv Sena, the party had encouraged vendors to add Pav to Batatawada (potato) to make it tasty and a substantial snack to enable them to earn their livelihood.

...............

No we are not debating about Shiv Sena and its strategies...the debate is food...

Who wins hands down as the favorite fast food...vada pav or the Mac...

what gets your mouth watering...is it the desi fast food viz...bhel puri, chaat, paani puri or is it the burgers and the fish and chips washed down with colas ?? and why??

mmmm... i am feeling hungry already!😊

For me desi wins hands down! Have never been fond of Big Macs and the likes. Chaat, dosa, bhel-puri... yum!!! 😆 Next in line would be the fabulous falafel sandweesh (as they are called here). 😛 Don't mind authentic fish and chips (battered haddock, chunky chips with vinegar splashed on them...sigh!). I wish this Vada Pav Sena would set up a stall somewhere close by, and maybe diversify into other desi items 😍 😆

Vada paav, bhel-sev-pani puri, dosa, veg sandwich over Mac 😛

Love falafal and bring on some Mexican food 😳

Originally posted by: TallyHo

Who wins hands down as the favorite fast food...vada pav or the Mac...

what gets your mouth watering...is it the desi fast food viz...bhel puri, chaat, paani puri or is it the burgers and the fish and chips washed down with colas ?? and why??

Neither for me. 😃 am not into junk food unless there is no choice whatsoever. no vada pav either with bread and potatoes.😕 too many carbs there.. Macdonalds have started to introduce sandwiches, salads, wraps etc but still don't know many desis going there unless one is a hardcore burger eater. myself , I prefer a healthy sandwich made with whole grain bread , nice chutney or pesto spread , some slices of apple or avocado sprinkled with chaat masala, cucmber, a little cheese and topped with hummus.. ummmmm....😛

Kudos to 👍🏼 shiv sena for raising standards of service for these fast food outlets , hopefully they will improve hygiene as well. 😛 can't say the same about offering assistance to selected few though. 😡

Originally posted by: TallyHo

...............

No we are not debating about Shiv Sena and its strategies...the debate is food...

I loved these emoticons Maya used. Had to use them somewhere😆

Who wins hands down as the favorite fast food...vada pav or the Mac...

vada pav but the Graden burger served in India's McDonalds are pretty neat too😃 However, for me, chicken strips win over chicken pakoras any given day. Therefore, I would say, it depends on which men-u items we are talking about😆

what gets your mouth watering...is it the desi fast food viz...bhel puri, chaat, paani puri or is it the burgers and the fish and chips washed down with colas ?? and why??

well, if you are comparing fast food to fast food, nothing beats good old chaat, bhelpuri, pani puri etc. but I do enjoy those southwestern eggrolls Chilly's serves. They are goooood!!!

mmmm... i am feeling hungry already!😊

I am too full right now to be hungry but still drooling over chaat😆

Originally posted by: lighthouse

Neither for me. 😃 am not into junk food unless there is no choice whatsoever. no vada pav either with bread and potatoes.😕 too many carbs there.. Macdonalds have started to introduce sandwiches, salads, wraps etc but still don't know many desis going there unless one is a hardcore burger eater. myself , I prefer a healthy sandwich made with whole grain bread , nice chutney or pesto spread , some slices of apple or avocado sprinkled with chaat masala, cucmber, a little cheese and topped with hummus.. ummmmm....😛

Kudos to 👍🏼 shiv sena for raising standards of service for these fast food outlets , hopefully they will improve hygiene as well. 😛 can't say the same about offering assistance to selected few though. 😡

same here. neither. vada pavs are too low-tech while macs are all tech. cant handle either. 😛

actually, mommy does make great vada pavs (i think tastier than what they have in juhu beach at least) and though she hardly uses oil, i cant eat it too often. as for macs, that can only be a trip getting back to the city late sunday evenings when there's nothing else open. dont care much for other desi fare like chaat etc. Gotta keep the stomach working well for when the markets make one want to throw up😊

Originally posted by: chatbuster

same here. neither. vada pavs are too low-tech while macs are all tech. cant handle either. 😛

actually, mommy does make great vada pavs (i think tastier than what they have in juhu beach at least) and though she hardly uses oil, i cant eat it too often. as for macs, that can only be a trip getting back to the city late sunday evenings when there's nothing else open. dont care much for other desi fare like chaat etc. Gotta keep the stomach working well for when the markets make one want to throw up😊

😲You both are 😕....I can't resist the chaat stuff and for me the Macs and the other non-desi stuff don't even exist(because I desify them)...😆...I disagree with those who call these chaat stuff junk food😡...It all depends on the way you make them, even the supposedly healthy foods could be messed up with the way you prepare them and the limitless consumption...😛

Originally posted by: TallyHo

Sena plans vadapav stalls to counter Mac

PTI | May 06, 2008 | 12:00 IST

Hot vadapavs served in corporate style with a 'Jai Maharashtra' greeting from an assured Maharashtrian vendor - Shiv Sena will now take the popular snack to the Marathi Manoos their way.

Announcing a state-wide network of Maharashtra Vadapav Vikreta Sena, the party mouthpiece Saamna said on Tuesday that the Shiv Sena sponsored association of vendors would be selling the popular spicy preparation comprising bread and potatoes at various stalls in hygienic conditions matching McDonalds and international pizza outlets.

When contacted, Sanjay Gurav who would be in charge of the project, told PTI the decision to launch vadapav stalls with corporate look in Mumbai and rest of Maharashtra was taken after four month-long discussions with party executive president Uddhav Thackeray.

The customer would be greeted with Jai Maharashtra by the vendors who would be serving hot vadapav, he said, adding only Maharashtrians would be allotted the Sena sponsored stalls to help them secure self-employment.

About the price of this common man's brunch which normally costs Rs 5 - Gurav said the Sena supported corporate variety would cost nearly Rs 8 which was justified in view of the assured quality.

In Mumbai, office goers at various places including Nariman Point and Cuffe Parade are often inconvenienced as their lunch hour gets over even before they manage to buy eatables, thanks to the serpentine queues.

"Our vadapav will surely come handy for all segments of consumers serving their needs without compromising on quality," Gurav added.

In rural areas, unemployed self-help groups will be extended financial assistance for the purpose.

Many decades ago when Bal Thackeray floated Shiv Sena, the party had encouraged vendors to add Pav to Batatawada (potato) to make it tasty and a substantial snack to enable them to earn their livelihood.

...............

No we are not debating about Shiv Sena and its strategies...the debate is food...

Who wins hands down as the favorite fast food...vada pav or the Mac...

what gets your mouth watering...is it the desi fast food viz...bhel puri, chaat, paani puri or is it the burgers and the fish and chips washed down with colas ?? and why??

mmmm... i am feeling hungry already!😊

I think Jumbo does that for last so many years.. so whats new.. Vada pav and mac.. thats no competition.. vada pav win hands down....😊

Originally posted by: raksha.l

😲You both are 😕....I can't resist the chaat stuff and for me the Macs and the other non-desi stuff don't even exist(because I desify them)...😆...I disagree with those who call these chaat stuff junk food😡...It all depends on the way you make them, even the supposedly healthy foods could be messed up with the way you prepare them and the limitless consumption...😛

Rakshu traditionaly the way chaats are made with all that fried , stale stuff like dry bhel mix ingredients , there is nothing nutrionaly redeeming about them. Like CB said , we can westernise it and make it healthy - like modern bhel - chopped apple, rice krispies, chick peas, baked not fried crunchies and loads of green/mint, red and imli chutney topped with pomegranate seeds, fresh corriander...yummmm.😃 for a kick , add a little homemade mango salsa.

Vada pav, as I said what is good about eating white bread and potatoes? 😕

When will they be expanding to the States.

I am a huge fan of Indian snack food. Not that I American junk any less, but that I love Indian junk more.

Hmm Vada Pav, Samosa Pav and Double Roti from that stall in front of school. Bhel Puri, Sev Puri & Pani Puri at the park. Frankies outsde the shopping complex. Chole Bhature at Jhamas, Pav Bhaji and Masala Pav at DPs. The Idlis, Dosas, Rasam Vadas and endless servings of sambar and chutney at Manis. Ragda pattice at the beach. Those amazing Veg cutlets and veg sandwiches they serve on the Konkan railway trains. Those bhajiyas and pakodas that guy fried in front of the temple. Rassa omlette at Colva beach. Those Chinese dosa places by the railway station, and yeah Indian Chinese from the road stalls.

What I miss most is bhutta. We grill corn every summer, but nothing matches the smoky taste of desi corn enjoyed with the earthy scent of monsoon setting the atmosphere for pure ecstatic eating bliss. Better than chocolate, amazing enough to be a sin.