INA market, Delhi

Time for a dinner party with friends. What to serve, what to serve .... hmmmm ... let's go to INA market and see what they have to offer. Off we went, Ian and I. It was a great experience - my first time at INA market, which I have heard a lot about.
The selection of spices and herbs is amazing. Whatever we asked for they produced in an instant. They even had soap nuts, which we use for our laundry. A lot of people here use them to wash their hair as well. Check this out about soap nuts!

"The Indian National Army Market, popularly known as INA Market, is known as the food bazaar of Delhi. Fresh seafood, meat, spices, vegetables, fruits - if you don't get it anywhere else, you get it at this market. You can also get some rare wine and liquor. The shops here sell varieties of imported foodstuff and the shopkeepers speak even in languages like French, German and Japanese." (source)

Wikipedia gives this information: "INA colony is a residential colony maintained by the Airports Authority of India for their employees. It was named after a former private airline, Indian National Airways, which was amongst those nationalised and merged to form, Indian Airlines in 1953.
Situated on Aurobindo Marg, across Dilli Haat and behind INA Market, the colony lies near Safdarjung Airport, on Sri Aurobindo Marg, opposite to Laxmibai Nagar adjacent to Kidwai Nagar east. The INA market also has shops selling varieties of imported foodstuff and wines for expatriates due to its proximity to Chanakyapuri diplomatic enclave. Starting 2010, it is serviced by the INA underground station of the Delhi Metro. INA market is also famous for its Sea Food items."

Reading about it and actually seeing it are two very different things! Live chickens, raw meat, fish and sea food share the space with flies, dirty feet, cheese, food stalls and fresh vegetables.

Hustle and bustle and lots going on, and at the same time friendly and with a smile mostly.

Hmmm, salmonella anyone?

Some of this fish and sea food is actually fresh - just come in from either the west or the east coast that morning probably.

Imagine this work space all day every day! Where is HR when you need them? Oh, ... yes, right.

Pork!! And lots of it. Strange to see here.

Slightly mixed up, or?

WHAT is this?!

Make way, make way.

I don't think I have lived in India long enough yet to stomach this. Maybe ... never?

In the end Ian went for wonderful grilled mackerel with rösti and poached vegetables. For dessert he made a divine banoffee pie with a hobnob base. If you have not tried it, do next time. For a starter Om and Durga made samosas that went down very easily! And they learned a new word - in French no less: crudité.
All in all we had a lovely day and evening.