Description: Iconic Chandni Chowk food stars in Netflix’s delicious new docuseries
If there’s one place that captures the essence of Old Delhi with all five senses, it’s Chandni Chowk. The chaotic lanes dripping with history, tangy aromas, clanging ladles, and relentless chatter of vendors — it all forms a theatre of taste. So when Netflix dropped its brand-new India-focused food docuseries, “Rang Rasoi,” and featured the storied foodscape of Chandni Chowk in its pilot episode, Delhiites sat up in nostalgia-laced excitement.
More than just a visual treat, the episode reminded countless viewers of the kallari-style kachoris from Jung Bahadur Kachori Wala and the stanched legacy of Karim’s kebabs steaming in the winter lanes. It wasn’t just about street food – it was about memory, culture and community. What makes this show even more special is its complete avoidance of the sanitised, overly curated trope of food television. Instead, “Rang Rasoi” gets its hands dirty — in the best way possible — diving into the stories of the people who make this food, their hardships, and the love that goes into each simmering pot.
As Delhi continues to modernise with glass-front cafes and online deliveries, the streets of Chandni Chowk remind us what food used to mean — something cooked not just by recipe but by repetition and reverence. The international spotlight now thrown on these culinary treasures via a global platform could mean renewed appreciation, tourism, and hopefully, preservation of these legacy shops.
But the changemakers aren’t just chefs; they’re viewers like us. By choosing to patronise these heritage eateries, revisiting markets with our families, or even talking about their stories online, we keep their legacy thriving. It’s also a cue for new-age food influencers to bring more storytelling into their content — beyond plating and price points.
Hearteningly, the docuseries doesn’t romanticise poverty; instead, it brings dignity to the profession of street gastronomy. In doing so, it elevates the status of the humble paranthewala or kababi to what they truly are — artists of edible heritage.
So this weekend, perhaps skip the food court at the mall. Take a walk through the gallis of Chandni Chowk. Each bite might just be a lesson in history and a celebration of culture. And hey, thanks to Netflix, those flavours are now streaming worldwide.
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