15 Comments
User's avatar
Abhishek Shetty's avatar

This was amazing and now I will walk out of my apartment in Mumbai and look for the closest batata vada stall!

Expand full comment
Sana Ally's avatar

Awwe Sai bai! What a deliciously delightful post with the sweetest ending! I can almost taste that vada! Your description of the school kids descending on the vada stall like ants is so perfect! Made me chuckle. Cheers to your return to substack, I have missed you here! 😘🤗

Expand full comment
Sai Raje's avatar

Thank you, Sana! 😘

That stress was real! Swarming the shop counter clutching exact change, handing the money over and hoping they didn't forget your precious vada pav. All while jostling fellow vada crazed kids! 🤣

Expand full comment
Karthik's avatar

Mouth watering stuff! Bombay rains, vada pav aani chai :')

Expand full comment
Sanobar Sabah's avatar

Thank you for liking this post Karthik! I used bits of it for a writing exercise with our cohort and just never came to comment here. Totally loved re-reading it :)) Sai, I had no idea about the history of Vada Pav - my favorite Mumbai dish! Thanks for writing this delightful piece 💕

Expand full comment
Sanket's avatar

I regret reading this essay on a hungry stomach. So good job(?) Sai 😜

Expand full comment
Sanobar Sabah's avatar

I read this around my breakfast time, in Abu-Dhabi! Kahan se laun Bombay ka Vada Pav :/

Expand full comment
Sai Raje's avatar

Thanks, Sanket. I delayed dinner to write this so familiar with the hungry tummy feeling, and now feel like I need to make vadas sometime! 😅

Expand full comment
Shivangi Walke's avatar

Wow, thanks for sharing this Sai. I grew up in Thane too and we were regulars to Gadkari Rangayatan. Joshi vada near New English school was our favorite.

Expand full comment
Sai Raje's avatar

Oh wow, I grew up close to Gadkari. Thane was such a different vibe then (in a good way). Joshi vada near NES and the Ram Maruti and Gokhale Road area had quite a few good vada options!

Expand full comment
Mumbai || Paused's avatar

It has its own cool quotient and identity. :)

Expand full comment
Sai Raje's avatar

It does too! Btw I was reading your photo essay on Chendani koliwada and that stirred some memories of Thane and batata vadas. ✨🙂

Expand full comment
Mumbai || Paused's avatar

Awesome. Must go back there this Ganpati season :)

Expand full comment
Suhas Raje's avatar

Softest promise kept was a secret to me till this date. Just remembered that I have had my first home made Vadas also happened to be by her in 60's. Fond memories left behind by some people. Incidentally, I had missed that there was a commemorative postage stamp featuring Vada Pav

Expand full comment
Shreya's avatar

Oh this is positively delicious! It made me relive my undergraduate days at Sophia College 🥰

Expand full comment