Fruit for thought – The Hindu

Bizarre food inventions make short-lived waves on social media, and are forgotten before another trend takes over. But rarely does an offbeat combination stick around for decades, crafting a legacy for its makers. Jain Coffee House has achieved this feat with their special fruit sandwiches, in the historic Chawri Bazar market of Old Delhi.

Pawan and Anil Jain run this modest cafe tucked inside the labyrinthine alleys of a granary. They owe the fruit sandwich contraption to their father, Shambhu Dayal Jain, who established the coffee shop in 1948.

Slices of fruit, butter, cottage cheese, in-house chutneys, bookended by slices of white bread, is the blueprint for a fruit sandwich. The full recipe is a Jain Coffee House heirloom.

They offer a variety of fruit sandwiches including mango, apple, chikoo, and even the eccentric samosa sandwich and the saffron paneer sandwich, all starting at ₹60. If the sweet sandwiches are not your cup of tea, you can choose from their namkeen or khatta menu.

Anil Jain holds the popular fruit sandwich at the Jain Coffee House, Chawri Bazar area in Old Delhi SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR
| Photo Credit:
Shiv Kumar Pushpakar

Pawan says the fruit sandwiches stand out because of theeffort that goes into each layer. “Noingredient is store bought. We make our own dry fruit and kesar chutneys, and each fruit is handpicked by us to ensure its quality and freshness,” says Pawan. The fruits are seasonal, and the mango sandwich is the most coveted now. A bite will leave your taste buds bewildered and amused at the same time.

The state of the cafe belies its fame. Prakash Joshi, a regular customer, says the place has not been renovated or repainted in the last 35 years. “But still people throng the place; I think if anything is changed it will lose the charm!”

Customers from all over like to photograph the quaint shop as it is, housed inside a narrow dimly lit room. It is a trusted haunt, say many.

Beyond the regulars, the coffee house has also found patronage in heritage and food walks, foreign tourists, and social media influencers. “ People come here by word-of-mouth; I have never had to advertise,” says Pawan.

“Somebody comes alone, relishes our sandwich, and brings someone else with them the next time, and it has goes on,” he adds, pointing to the awards and medals from food review organisations that decorate the wall.

The cafe is five minutes walk from the Chawri Bazar metro station, on Ballimaran Road; 10am to 8pm