Plates and Stories

I still eat out, but now I check kitchens, ask hard questions, and put health first.

- Basharat Ahmad

Like many Kashmiris, I love food with curiosity, nostalgia, and unapologetic indulgence.

Walking through Srinagar’s old city, I still catch the smoky aroma of sizzling kebabs, the earthy scent of Goshtab simmering in copper pots, and the warm fragrance of freshly baked naan.

These streets are alive with food, each restaurant and stall a thread in the fabric of our culture and history.

For years, many young people turned to the food trade, drawn by the promise of steady work and an apparently easy path.

Then came delivery apps: a few taps, and a plate of biryani, a tray of kebabs, or fried fish would appear at your door.

We ate with ease, trusting that someone somewhere had ensured the food was safe.

Last week, that trust broke.