From some articles that I've read, it seems that the "Wada Paav" was "invented" especially for the mill workers. In the "mill-boom days" (1950s, 1960s, 1970s?), the mill workers came out of the mills during their lunch breaks and wanted some quick bite. (Maybe they had lesser duration breaks or maybe they wanted to use the break for doing things other than eating...gambling, fighting, general loitering). The "Wada" (Batata Wada) was sandwiched into the "Paav" and some chutney added for maximum effect.
It is quite easy to visualize how the setup would have looked like: In those days, cooking on the roadside or pavements was not allowed (neither is it now, but then...) and housewives of workers used to pre-cook the wadas at their homes and "assemble" the wada paav outside the mill gates. The trend caught on and since the cost was quite low (even now it is in the range of Rs. 3 to Rs. 5) and it was quite filling, "Wada Paav" became big business.
Now, we can see "Wada Paav" vendors everywhere. The difference being that the "Wadas" are cooked fresh on the spot. Whether this is hygenic or not is a different question; but it is definitely good business.
Consider this: I one happened to ask a "Wada Paav" vendor outside Andheri railway station about his daily sales. He said it was in the range of 7000 "Wada Paavs" per day. Multiply by the rate of Rs. 4 per "Wada Paav" and you get a daily turn-over of Rs. 28,000. Of course, depending on the location, one might have lesser or more sales.
"Wada Paav" has also been called the "Indian burger".
Some of the best "Wada Paavs" that I prefer are:
- Near Apna Bazar in Andheri (West), a stall sells one of the best "Wada Paavs".
- Outside Andheri railway station (East) where all the photocopier shops abound, there is "Sangam Wada Paav" (actually, there are multiple "Sangam Wada Paav" stalls).
1 comment:
Back in 1993, when we used to go to our engineering college in Airoli via Thane Station we had many quick buys at "Kunj Vihar" or KV for regulars. It used to serve "Jumbo Vada Paav" costing Rs 5 at that time. A Huge Vada stuffed in equally huge Paav was quite filling. Instead of regular red "gun-powder" chutney, they have a sweet and a spicy liquid chutney. Havent visited it in last 10 years but still remember the good old days at KV.
Post a Comment