Heard of biryani made without rice? Here's where you can try it in Mumbai

Did you know that before Bohri Mohalla came to be called by its present name, it used to be a Parsi enclave? Set out on a food-cum-heritage walk through the area with Blue Bulb and Khaki Tours, through which you will not only get to savour interesting eats in the neighbourhood, but also get to learn fascinating tidbits about the place. "The walk is not just about eating good food. We've picked spots that offer unusual dishes, and we are going to delve into their histories, or provide anecdotes about them," says Bharat Gothoskar of Khaki Tours. From non-alcoholic absinthe to delicious dishes made of buffalo udder, this is a walk for those who are not afraid to experiment. "We will also be replicating the Bohri way of eating, by alternating between sweet and savoury items," adds Gothoskar.

Loyalists believe Bohri Mohalla offers tastier and more unusual fare than the more popular Mohammed Ali Road nearby

ON: December 16, 7 pm to 9 pm
MEETING POINT: Khara Tank Road.
LOG ON TO: bluebulb.in
CALL 9022270033
COST: Rs 1,199

Try biryani without rice
The century-old Firoz Farsan, run by Bohras, is well-known for its gathiya, chivda and other namkeen snacks. Another food item it is especially popular for is the patrel biryani. "The name is a bit of a misnomer, because the dish does not include a single grain of rice. What it does contain is patrel (colocasia leaves), which are coated in a paste made of gram flour and assorted spices, then rolled up and slow-cooked," explains Gothoskar. Meanwhile, the masala-flecked meat (usually water buffalo, but mutton and chicken versions are also available) is cooked separately. Once it's ready, the colocasia is added to the mix, then served to customers.

Dig into a south Asian platter
Occupying possibly the largest space along Khara Tank Road is Indian Hotel, which serves up an array of dishes cooked on the tawa, right from gurda (kidney) fry to baida roti. "What's fascinating about this place is that if you look closely, you realise that they offer Bangladeshi dishes, as well as what they call Karachi rolls, and even an item called Burma sandwich. We thought it was cool that despite having dishes from three different countries, it was named Indian Hotel," says Gothoskar.

Meet Kasturi, the sandwich
Jilani Fast Food Corner serves up a variety of snacks, including chicken baida roti, mutton frankie and even gurda and bheja rolls. While these may not seem out of the ordinary, what you must try here is the chicken Kasturi sandwich. "More than the eateries themselves, it's about the unique offerings that you won't find elsewhere. At Jilani, this has got to be the Kasturi sandwich, which is not, in fact, named after a person, but rather after the kasuri methi that imparts the dish with a light bitter aftertaste," shares Gothoskar.

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