Locals turn to dining at home

Manmeet Singh Gill
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, July 10

Amritsar, colloquially known as Ambarsar, is definitely known all over the world for its faith. However, there’s one more sublime factor of the city that attracts people here like bees to a flower. And that would be its lip-smacking food, and cuisine — especially street food — that leaves one drooling. The ‘papar-warrian’ and ‘amritsari kulche’ are massive favourites with the populace. You can find the market places, overcrowded at times, filled with chowhounds noshing to their heart’s content.

Unfortunately, post-Covid outbreak – even as the government allowed restaurants, hotels and dhabas to operate – the locals are still fearful of eating outside and have turned to dining at home, thus dishing out a new normal for themselves. Even the hardcore party animals seem to have found taste buds for the home-cooked food. The deserted sight of market places, where one earlier had a hard time finding a vacant parking spot in the evening, seems surreal though.

Surinder Singh, a businessman, said, “Dining out once in a week was the unsaid rule at our home. Now, we have not even ordered a pizza in the last three months.” He added that people are afraid of getting infected and prefer home-cooked hygienic food these days.

For many families, eating out on the weekend was a routine thing to do, but basking in fear many have not gone out even once in last three months. They state that partying can wait as threat is still looming large.

A few of the residents revealed that not only they have eaten homely food but they have also tried their hand at cooking to beat the boredom. “I think I have turned a chef during last three days! With nothing much to do, I tried my luck in the kitchen and it turned out good,” quipped Sandeep Singh, a college student.

Apart from having a number of well-known names in the food business, the city also has a well established street food culture. But then again, the threat of the virus has greatly impacted this sector. The decrease in tourism has further worsened the scenario.

Ashish Kumar, a dhaba owner, said, “With educational institutions closed, the youngsters are not coming to eat. Earlier, they were one of biggest factors in running our business smoothly.” He added that even as they have put in place safety measures, people have become more health conscious and not taking any chances.

Speaking out 

I have stopped eating anything from the market. I do not even buy a water bottle as it needs to be sanitised. And it has not given me any trouble so far. We are not sure that the chair or the table we are using in a restaurant or a hotel is contaminated or not. —Sukhwinder Kaur

If one has to eat out, one should choose an eatery very carefully. We can never know if the place is contaminated and if the person serving is healthy. Recently, I had to eat out a few times due to business compulsions and I feel eateries too are trying to adapt to the new normal. — Charanjit Singh

The home-cooked food has become the first preference for all these days and it is a good thing. We have seen samples of high-end restaurants fail on quality parameters during the recent times. — Harman Handa

I used to party a lot and every other day our band of friends used to plan for new eateries. Now, I have not even met most of my friends for a long time. I do miss going out and my friends, but I think it can wait a little longer. — Sukhjinder Kaur