AMRITSARI KULCHA HUT IN TALAB TILLO , JAMMU

                                    

                                           

If Halwa Shop is  Closed,  Amritsari Kulcha Hut  Opposite V Mart Talab Tillo, Jammu ,  Brings  a New  Great Food  Legacy To The Locality 

Among the most cherished morning rituals of Jammu is the Desi Ghee Suji Halwa of City Chowk. Sold from an enormous Paraat  since nineteen fifty eight and known to everyone as Sharma Ji or Pandit Ji ka halwa, it is served piping hot in a leaf dona with a small wooden spoon and is completely sold out by half past eight in the morning. It is more than food, it is memory, and it has set the standard for what an authentic old city breakfast should be, simple, rich in ghee and deeply nostalgic. For many who grew up in Jammu, the day felt incomplete without it.

There was another equally loved institution at Talab Tillo, also run by an elderly gentleman called Sharma Ji. Those of us who lived nearby would buy Halwa from him and would always ask for Treid. Tried is the hard caramelised crust that forms at the bottom of the Paraat after continuous heating for hours. It turns a little  brown, gets soaked in ghee and becomes intensely flavourful. For connoisseurs it was never waste but a delicacy in itself, given only to regular customers who knew to ask for it. Unfortunately that shop closed after Covid and with it a small but important piece of Talab Tillo food heritage disappeared, leaving the area without any proper breakfast destination.

It is in this context that the newly opened shop opposite V Mart Store at Talab Tillo is such a welcome arrival. The outlet is called  Amritsari Kulcha Hut (Pure Desi Ghee)  Since Nineteen Ninety Nine and Na Ma Taste. The family that owns it is not new to this trade at all. They run the reputed and long established Amritsari Kulcha shop at Bus Stand in Jammu city, known for decades for its consistent taste. This new branch therefore brings a trusted legacy to a locality that has been waiting for a good morning eatery. The premises are clean and modern and unlike the congested lanes of the old city it offers proper parking space and restroom facility as well, which makes it very convenient for families and for those travelling by car.

While Kulcha remains the main attraction, the menu is far larger than a single item shop . Kulchas are served with chana, chutney and Amul butter and are made fresh in the tandoor, very crisp outside and soft and flavourful inside. Varieties include Aloo Kulcha at one hundred rupees, Mix Veg at one hundred and twenty, Aloo Pyaaz at one hundred and twenty, Aloo Gobi at one hundred and twenty, Chilli Aloo at one hundred and twenty, Aloo Garlic at one hundred and thirty, Moong Dal Aloo at one hundred and thirty, All In One at one hundred and forty, Paneer Aloo Pyaaz at one hundred and forty, Paneer Pyaaz at one hundred and seventy and the special Maharaja Kulcha stuffed with paneer and dry fruits at two hundred rupees. There is also an option for one hundred percent whole wheat and for Chur Chur style at ten rupees extra. Rice combos such as Rajma Chawal and Chholey Chawal are priced at one hundred and forty rupees. Under their sister brand Na Ma Taste, with the aim of bringing together authentic South Indian food and flavourful Indian chaat made fresh with care and hygiene, they offer Gol Gappe at eighty rupees, Kaladi Kulcha at ninety, Aloo Tikki with Dahi at one hundred, Papdi Chaat and Bhalla Chaat at one hundred and twenty, Pav Bhaji at one hundred and forty, Plain Dosa at one hundred, Masala Dosa at one hundred and twenty, Butter Masala Dosa at one hundred and forty, Paneer Dosa at one hundred and forty, Idli Sambar at one hundred and Vada Sambar at one hundred and twenty, along with Sweet Kesar Lassi, Zeera Namkeen Lassi, Pudhina Namkeen Lassi at seventy rupees and Mango, Strawberry, Pineapple and Chocolate Lassi at ninety rupees.

In conclusion this shop has done full justice to the long pending demand for some authentic Amritsari Kulcha in this area. Everything is tasty, fresh and clean and the combination of very crisp Kulcha with salt Lassi is excellent. It is a perfect spot for breakfast in Talab Tillo. The only issue that remains is that you cannot have your Kulcha before nine in the morning. I returned disappointed twice for this very reason. If they can start a little earlier, perhaps by eight o clock, this place will become the undisputed morning destination for the lovers of breakfast food. 

( Avtar Mota )

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