PESHAWAR
Known as city of hospitality, Peshawar have started attracting siri paye food lovers due to its delicious taste and high level of energy.
As the temperature in the historic city is getting cooler, the demand of siri paye food prepared from pure meat obtained from sacrificial animals especially cow, oxen and buffaloes were increased in Peshawar.
Scores of paye shops at Qissa Khwani bazaar, Hasthnagri, Namak Mandi and Fawara chowk in cantonment were drawing a substantial number of buyers after pleasant change in weather.
“I came from Wapda Town Nowshera to enjoy the mouthwatering siri paye at Qissa Khwani with my family,” said Qaisar Khan, a former PESCO employee while talking to APP on Sunday.
Besides its delectable taste, he said that the special dish was very useful for people with weak bones and low level of protein besides anemia.
“I had inherited the paye business 30 years ago from my father and despite increase of meat prices, he earned substantial profit, “ said Umar Daraz, a paye seller at Gor Kathri while talking to APP.
Carrying on the family legacy of running their decades long siri paye restaurant “Nika Haji Nazeer Ahmed Paye, commonly known as Nika Siri Paye’, Umar Daraz said that his great grandfather Naik Mohammad also known as Nika had introduced the special dish to the city and he was proud to carrying it forward.
“The paye is prepared in a clay pot on low heat for 18 hours and then served in clay bowls. A big bowl costs Rs600 and smaller portions are sold for Rs250 and Rs300.”
Umar said that people from adjacent districts come to his restaurant to enjoy their favorite food especially on weekend.
He said overseas Pakistanis also place an order for frozen paye so they can take it abroad when they go back to share it with friends, saying he also receive orders from Swat, Chtral and Murree besides Afghanistan.
Thai vlogger and food connoisseur, Mark Wiens, also tried it in 2018 and called it one of the best dishes he had eaten in Pakistan.
Umar, however said that the business has taken a hit due to the inflation and price hike.
In favorable conditions, he said two to three maunds of siri paye were sold daily. “But due to inflation, I now manage to sell only one maund per day.”
The cold winds have brought an increase in the demand for local ‘winter delights’ in Peshawar where a large number of citizens can be seen in these shops.
The food stalls are doing good business due to the rising demand for these cousins.
Great rush of food lovers are also being witnessed on stalls and shops selling chappli kabab, rice polao, peshawari green tea and fried fish.
Temporary stalls have been set up by vendors where winter food items are being sold like a hot cake. The demand of fried fish and Chappli Kabab increased manifold in Peshawar where these outlets were crowded with customers on Sunday.
