Dadas Biryani

Down here in Baner Gaon, Dadas Biryani is basically where the locals end up when they don't want to cook at home. We start the fire early because the rice takes its own time to get right. My cousin and I handle most of the heavy lifting, carrying the big metal pots from the back. The smell of the spices usually drifts out onto the street, and that’s how people know we’re ready. We don't have a big menu, we just do biryani. If you want something else, you’re in the wrong place. The kitchen gets really hot, especially in the summer, but you get used to the sweat and the smoke. We use the old recipes that haven't changed much over the years. Most of our customers are guys from the neighborhood or families who send their kids with a tiffin box to get a pack. We try to be generous with the portions because people here have a good appetite. Sometimes we run out before nine o'clock, and then we just have to tell people to come back tomorrow. It’s a bit of a scramble when the weekend hits. We don't have a lot of space for sitting, so most people take it away. It’s just honest food made in a hot kitchen. We don't try to make it look like a five-star meal, we just want it to taste right.