Small shops work large wonders with modak

This year, traditional steamed variety is rare and expensive

MUMBAI: Ganeshotsav is keenly awaited by sweet lovers as they wait to savour the delights of chocolate, fig, kiwi fruit and paan

modak

. This year also, a selection of exotic praline and cranberry sweetmeats has lined up shopfront displays.

Sweet shops commonly use mawa, cashewnut paste, dried fruit and nuts, or chocolate as a base and then add different flavours or fillings to each. These are then shaped into moulds. The original favourite 'ukdiche modak' made of rice flour is not readily available off the shelf, except at the odd restaurant.

In the bustling lanes of Thakurdwar, connoisseurs seek out small shops which work a perfect balance with the sugar content. On Tuesday evening, the cooks at Swastik Dry Fruits kept bringing out large thaals of anjeer, kesar, orange, rose, strawberry and Cadbury chocolate modak. Ranging from a modest Rs 440 per kg to Rs 600 per kg, these were far more palatable than those at a famous Maharashtrian branded store nearby that curiously uses Glucon C to sweeten its modaks.

Morbiwala nearby has also laid out a delectable array of kiwi fruit, rose, anjeer and chocolate, costing up to Rs 880.

Bandra-Khar residents flock to Regal Plus at Pali Naka for their annual modak treat. Owner Bhushan Bandagle says, "This year, the new guava flavour is the pick of the season. Other bestsellers are black currant, orange, caramel, rose, butterscotch and chocolate." Regal's sweets in milk, mawa, chocolate and dried fruit cost between Rs 680-1,300 per kg.It also has a "no added sugar" variety, which comes for Rs 1,650 per kg.

Meanwhile, the humble 'ukdiche modak' now cost an exorbitant Rs 30 apiece at Modakam restaurant near Siddhivinayak temple. Owner Pushkaraj Gaikar says that this year, his wife and mother have been preparing them at his home rather than handing the task to his chefs at the restaurant. Denying labour trouble, Gaikar says the modaks are softer than before.