Kalu Halwai

Rana Partap Bagh is where we are, specifically Plot Number 248 in Bara Hindu Rau. Most people just know us as Kalu Halwai. It’s a busy area with a lot of trucks and bikes moving past the plot. We have a big open area where the cooking happens. There is usually smoke or steam in the air depending on what’s on the stove. The name Kalu has been around for years. We aren't trying to be a five-star place. The benches are simple wood. Sometimes the paint peels a little because of the heat from the kadhais. We don't have a marketing department writing things for us. It’s just us. We wake up when it’s still dark to start the first boil. Dealing with the heat in Rana Partap Bagh during the summer is the hardest part of the job. You just get used to it after a few years. We use large iron pans that have seen better days but they work exactly how they should. People come by Plot Number 248 for a quick bite or to take stuff home in boxes. We tie the boxes with thin string. It’s a fast-paced environment. We don't spend time on fancy plating or things like that. If the food is ready, it goes out. The floor gets a bit slippery with all the ghee, so we have to be careful. It’s a real job with real sweat. We just put our heads down and work.