This Patna-Based Litti Chokha Expert Is Taking The Bihari Delicacy Global!

Bihar has been quite a frequent visitor under the limelight. After garnering bulks of praises for the BYF’s Roti Bank venture in Patna, the state is now making news on an International level. The superstar this time is Bihar’s traditional food, litti chokha. Yep, the very same dish that gave Aamir Khan them feels and that would get every Bihari reeling!

Darbhanga-born street food vendor Dinesh Kumar has been recognized for his exemplary litti-making skills, which is flying him to Philippines! How, you may wonder. Turns out, the Bihari delicacy is going to represent the country and state at a global level in Manila at the international food festival to be held from 31^st May, where it will battle it out with other international food preparations like the Mexican taco, Thai Sukiyaki, and even New York’s red hook lobster pound to bring home a certificate of excellence.

Rags To Littis

Patna-based litti chokha expert Dinesh Kumar, (along with a tikki-chaat maker from Delhi, Dalchand and Rekha Devi) who has been selected for the five-day event, will represent India under the banner of National Association of Street Food Vendors of India (NASVI).

In an interview with Hindustan Times, Kumar revealed his “rags to riches story. “I left my home in Darbhanga district in north Bihar at quite a young age and came to the state capital, Patna, 127 km away, to earn money. For some time I worked at a roadside dhaaba (eatery) and sold nuts on pavements near Patna Museum and at Maurya Lok shopping complex,” he said.

Following the growing demand of street food and ready-made food among Patna’s locals, Kumar set up a small litti chokha stall on Dak Bungalow road in 2004, which eventually led to NASVI recognizing the untapped potential that this man harbored.

“(The stall) soon started drawing food lovers. Considering this popularity, NASVI invited me to its national food festival in Delhi. I offered a new dish’ litti-chicken’ prepared by my associate, Ashok, which became a rage among Delhites and even among foreign visitors,” explained.

Image: Dainik Jagran

The Street Food Revolution

Sangeeta Singh of NASVI said that the street food sector is a big industry that holds great employment opportunities if correctly administered. “Many foreign countries support street food to tap their tourism potential, but our country, which has maximum varieties, lacks this kind of support and promotion,” she said. “It is because of popularity of Indian street food that our country has been assigned two stalls, while other countries have a just one,” she added.

Over the past few years NASVI has been actively involved in uplifting the face of Indian street food. The organization’s most notable venture included its collaboration with the Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to bring a bout of quality and hygiene amongst street food and vendors in the Capital.

The event, hosted by World Street Food Congress, Manila, will be attended by 17 countries and will have 30 stalls, two of which have been allotted to India. And as for Bihar’s favourite food, it may just be on way to becoming the world’s favourite food, thanks to two litti experts with rock solid aspirations!

Feature Image: 13 Secret Sauce

Source: Hindustan Time