Tiffin culture picking up in Ludhiana

Mumbai's tiffin culture is catching on in Ludhiana also. In the Feroze Gandhi Market, where many corporate offices of Indian and multi-national companies, and the Ludhiana Stock Exchange are located, more than five restaurants have started the tiffin system.

Approximately 30,000 people work in various offices located in this market. People working in these offices feel that as these days there is time crunch as both husband and wife may be working and may have to get their children ready for school, so if they skip cooking during morning time it relieves a lot of pressure.

Narinder Singh, an executive with a private bank in Feroze Gandhi area feels that the days when wives got up early to prepare food and also get the children ready for schools, are long gone.

"Now, after the tiffin system, which started in Ludhiana a few months back, there is no need for the ladies to cook during morning time. They feel free from the extra burden. These restaurants provide same quality of food which we eat at home and that also at a very nominal price. Now my wife only cooks for my son.'' People also feel that the food brought from home turns cold by lunch time. Tiffin-supplying restaurants have managed to tap this opportunity.

A lunch tiffin coats Rs 25 - 45 inclusive of Value-added tax and all other taxes. In the same way breakfast can be had for a price ranging from Rs 10 to Rs 20. A lunch tiffin comprises one vegetable, one dal, a cup of rice, curd, four chapattis, salad and pickle while the breakfast tiffin carries three stuffed paranthas, curd, butter and pickle.

People there are also preferring buffets at these restaurants which are priced at Rs 39 to Rs 45. A lunch buffet comprises five vegetables, two salads, two raitas, pickle, rice, veg pulao, naan, chapati and a sweet dish. Also the menu changes everyday.

Recently, a restaurant chain named Chawla Chicken, with 80 joints spread across the country, started Chawlas Veggies and offers tiffins as well as buffet. Similarly, Waheguru Da Dhaba, the oldest player of this field in Feroze Gandhi market area, is doing good business.

Inderjit Kaur in Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar area supplies tiffins to bank employees working in the market and a lunch tiffin can be had for Rs 35 only.