PANAJI: With prices of onions having reached the three-digit mark, roadside food stalls and tiny cafes are drastically reducing the quantity of the bulb in their food items.
This has resulted in mouth-watering snacks like kanda bhajji temporarily going off the menu at some places, while items like ross omlette and pao bhaaji, that are usually served with
onion
slices, now come with a heap of shredded cabbage on the side— and if youre lucky, it may have traces of finely-diced onions mixed in.
Vendors lamented that they’ll have to compromise with foodies’ taste buds until onion prices come down.
“We cannot shut shop overnight simply because the price of onions is out of our budget. We need to feed hungry customers while keeping our business running. Using cabbage as an alternative is a temporary fix— we cannot continue compromising this way,” said a roadside vendor. Currently, onions are being sold in the range of Rs 150 to Rs 200 at Goa’s markets, making a dent in the common man’s monthly budget. As a result, the restaurant business has been hit and this crates a ripple effect that trickles down to the consumer.
A resident of Porvorim, Nikhil Rao, likes eating chicken xacuti, chole and ros omlette with chopped onions on the side, and says many eateries flat-out refuse to serve onions as an accompaniment “Only eateries at where I am a regular oblige me with some onions mixed with cabbage to go with my food,” he says.
The shortage of the bulbs has also left some of our favourite home-cooked meals tasting bland as scrimping on onions has become a necessity in most households.
“Onion forms the base for most of our gravies and curries. This shortage has come at the worst time, considering weddings and feasts happen at this time of the year. When onion is commercially cultivated in Goa, and the climate here is favourable for its growth, why do we still have a shortage?” asks Ribandar-based Brijesh Kakodkar.
Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword.
Start a Conversation
Post comment