The ubiquous "Mewad ka Ice cream" vendor could hardly miss your eye across Mumbai. His wheeled pushcart is typified by decorative fake flowers, cone hangings, big display of "Mewad ka Ice cream" and English & Hindi. These days some innovative ones also have " neutral ice cream" or " netural flavar" (read natural ) displayed prominently on their cards to catch the attention of modern day health freaks, or may be to put up a bit of competition to the Big players in that market!
What has always amazed me is the fact that for years, these Ice cream wallas have managed to appeal to people of all ages, castes, creed or economic strata! In fact in the buzzing commercial districts like Nariman point, you could see these tie clad, mobile flaunting executives relishing 4 in one I/C + falooda after a heavy lunch. In fact some frequent the stalls so regularly that the vendor prepares the favorite platter at the sight of the clientele descending from scycrapers afar!
While after 20 years in Mumbai I still haven't mustered enough courage to eat in these stalls, I reckon the day is not far.
I wondered about these:
1.The Mewad cart has excellent refridgeration without any power consumption!
2.While hygiene is an issue, the exteriors of cart are neatly maintained.
3. Their cones are very popular, more than other mainstream brands!
4.The origin of "Mewad ka Ice cream" is unknown. Its apparently not trademarked as you can see scoresof vendors across the city.
Mewad, a place of historical significance in Rajastan, is known for its valiant Rajput ruler Maha Rana Pratap ( a.k.a Mewad ka Rana) . I really don't think he or his descendants invented the icecream to earn any royalty from this. SO I URGE the Akhil Bharatiya Mewad ka Iceream Vikreta Association to immediately take needful action to protect its IPR, lest the concept should be hijacked by US!
Happy Lickin! & HNY to all!!
6 comments:
Certain things have universal appeal ; ice cream is one such thing. As you have rightly said, ice cream attracts people of all ages/caste/creed. Perhaps, Mewad`s appeal is not limited to masculine and feminine, but also those in "neutral" genders ! ( Mumbai has more such population)
Your writing goes to show that you are a fan of Mewad ice cream, just longing to taste it but not having sufficient guts to buy a cup or cone. Is it that you want to know, beyond doubt, how it got the name Mewad before tasting it?
It is likely it should be Mewed ka ice cream ( to satisfy those mewed ie. who cry like a cat for that ice cream)
..Gandy..
I love the mewad icream too.. In Goa they sell an icream candy called ice fruit...its really bliss..
I love street food.. (read as I love food).. Vada Pav, Misal, Pav Bhaji.. et all
You are right..we should patent these products before someone in the US calls Vada Pav .. "Potato Burger"
Nice post
ROTFL at Gandy's comment. I'm having tears of laughter. Bow to Gandy! He's a champion of wordplay. (and hence rightly named Gandalf the wise)
"refridgeration" (you mean refrigeration? I know, I ain't the nitpicking kind, but just noticed)
I SCREAM FOR ICE CREAM. :D Nothing beats Kulfi. Licky-Licky!!!
Gandy:
zip it or I'll break your hippety!
Gollum:
Some peepl always have room in thiir tummy for ice cream yummy..with some hershey' topping ?
Parag:
We are all street dogs, in a way!
u hav not had an opportunity to be raised in madras.. the land of ice-creams. who can beat the once-upon-a-time famous.. paal-ice, cone-ice, cup-ice, ice-proot (fruit).. kucchi-ice..each costing not more than 15 paise.. (Hey its the 70-s).
And thats not it..that industry generated so much of employment in the country.. you hold those 'desserts' in ur hand.. a swarm of air borne insects converge on ur candy.. thereafter generating so much work for medical graduates/ post-grads, microbiologists, x-ray/lab technicians, laborers like nurses, wardboys.. Lord JM Keynes would have been proud..
Arag
@ Arag:
Albuquerque! Snorkel!!! See, I can do it too :P
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