Monsoon munchies........

Monsoon munchies

Sonal Ved checks out what the celebs are indulging in and avoiding in the rains

From summer's icy golas and slurpy smoothies, to monsoon's steaming chai and pungent bhajiyas-it's time again for your taste buds to turn a new leaf. Now that the rains are here, we take you along to check out the special monsoon menus of our celebrities-what they plan to indulge in and what they will stay away from.



* RAIMA SEN

I love eating Bengali khichdi, which my cook prepares very well. It has some amount of fish, as well as eggs and vegetables. Nothing fits my mood better than hot khichdi on a cold rainy day.

Taboo Tidbits: I consciously stay away from raw vegetables in the monsoon, so my salad intake reduces considerably.


* CHAVI MITTAL

I love to indulge in ice-creams and cold desserts, be it chocolate truffle or malai ice-cream. It's the perfect way to chill in this already chilly weather. I particularly enjoy visiting the Lobby Bar at Bandra's Sea Rock Hotel and the Cafe Coffee Day at Carter Road-for the view.

Taboo Tidbits:What I really dread in the monsoons is 'rasta' food_pani puri, bhel puri and bhajias because I think it's just too unhygienic.


* YASH TONK

I'm a complete North Indian, when it comes to the rains_I love eating something called 'puda'. It's an out-and-out North Indian sweet-dish made from wheat flour. Since monsoon comes after a hot summer, it is celebrated with this dessert.

Taboo Tidbits: I avoid fried and oily items like pakodas or bhajiyas, as I find them too heavy.


* ARJUN PUNJ

The rains are a perfect time to bring out all those delicious munchies. I love eating fried stuff, like pakodas or vada-pav-they perfectly suit the climate. If I could, I'd squeeze in a jaunt at Worli sea-face and enjoy the rains along with my favourite monsoon snack.

Taboo Tidbits: What I avoid eating during the rains is seafood. I once had fish in the middle of the monsoons and landed up with a really bad stomach.


* REVA BABBAR

The first thing that I get my hands on in the rains is bhutta. I just love munching on some hot corn-on-cob with lots of lemon and mirchi. My favourite is a bhuttawala in the corner of Yari Road.

Taboo Tidbits:I stay away from mangoes in this weather. The quality deteriorates and they usually taste awful.


* RAJESHWARI SACHDEV

I have very simple taste—chai and baingan or aloo pakodas. Anything piping hot is welcome in the monsoon. I also think corn is perfect for this season. There's this great bhuttawala at Kapol Niwas, Matunga, who serves the perfect cob.

Taboo Tidbits: I usually eat anything and everything, whenever I feel like it.