India's Iranian cafes fading out By Jayshree Bajoria BBC News, Mumbai
The Iranian cafes in the western Indian city of Mumbai (formerly Bombay) have long stood out from other city eateries - but their days could be numbered. With their red and white checked tablecloths, straight backed wooden chairs and the aroma of freshly baked bread and sweet cake, the cafes are an indelible part of Mumbai's cosmopolitan heritage. But all this may well become a thing of the past. Having withstood a century of change, the cafes are feeling the heat in Mumbai's fiercely competitive food market. Many of the so-called Irani cafes are getting a complete makeover and becoming pubs or restaurants. Others are simply shutting up shop. Exotic confectionery Regular customers swear by brun maska (bread and butter) and paani kam chai (a special Iranian tea) - regulation Irani cafe fare. Jayant Kamat is one of them. He has been visiting the 101-year-old Kyani cafe in south Mumbai since he was in school. "Even though it's hot and sweaty here and there's a lot of din, this is my favourite place. It is homely, you can sit here for hours. The ambience and prices have remained the same over years,'' says Mr Kamat. Vanita Rodrigues, another regular patron, echoes the sentiment. "The food is fresh, delicious and unique," she says. But nice prices and exotic confectionery don't seem to be saving the day for these cafes. Read the rest of this article at : Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/south_asia/4485523.stm
