Food streets heat up as winter sets in
“As the weather turns cooler, Lahore's appetite for hot and spicy treats is also returning, with food stalls and eateries drawing crowds during the evening. As dusk falls, sizzling jalebis dipped in syr…”
As dusk falls, sizzling jalebis dipped in syrup, freshly fried samosas, moong daal pathoras and pakoras can be found at food points across the city, with their aromas attracting passers-by. For many Lahoris, a cup of hot tea completes the experience.
Lahore's evenings are traditionally associated with food, but the arrival of a slight chill has further increased the flow of customers to eateries. From Gawalmandi and Fort Road to Gulberg, Johar Town and Township, demand for hot and spicy snacks has risen during the evening hours.
Office workers returning home and students coming back from universities and colleges can be seen enjoying the cooler weather with their favourite foods. Ayesha Khan, a woman visiting the market for shopping, said she preferred cold foods during summer, but as soon as the weather became cooler, an evening without a hot samosa, tea and jalebi felt incomplete.
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University student Hamza Ali said sitting with friends at a food point after classes and having hot samosa chaat or pathoras was one of the best things about the cooler weather.
Sidra Mahmood, who was out shopping, said it was difficult to resist when the aroma of freshly fried jalebis and samosas reached her, although she tried to avoid eating too many fried foods. Food vendors are also welcoming the seasonal change.
Shopkeeper Muhammad Usman said demand for samosas, pakoras and pathoras increased as temperatures dropped, particularly in the evening. Office workers returning home and families were among the customers visiting food points in large numbers, he added.
Another vendor, Ali Raza, said demand for jalebi and tea also increased with the change in weather. The aroma of freshly prepared jalebi was often enough to attract customers, he said. However, health experts have advised food lovers to enjoy such treats in moderation.
Dr Ali Rashid of Services Hospital said samosas, pakoras, pathoras and other fried foods could be consumed occasionally and in moderate quantities, but excessive consumption could put a strain on the digestive system. He said spicy and fatty foods could aggravate acid reflux, heartburn and indigestion in some people.
He advised citizens to eat fresh and hygienically prepared food, drink adequate water and avoid lying down immediately after eating. For Lahore's food lovers, the changing weather has brought a familiar evening ritual back to life steaming cups of tea, crisp samosas and freshly prepared jalebis.
With a little moderation, residents can enjoy the flavours of the season without compromising their health.
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