As schools and colleges reopen after the summer break, Natasha Coutinho gets TV stars to share their favourite memories from their days as students — especially the delicacies they’d gorge on at their campus canteens
Vrushika Mehta
The samosas at my school Canossa Convent, Mumbai, were for Rs 5 each. I would save all the money I’d get from my relatives for these samosas. I used to get around Rs 11 initially, and later, around 51, and every penny was spent on that yummy snack. I recall running down the stairs as soon as it was break time, to buy the samosas before they could get over. Right from the start of my lessons, my mind would be on the samosas. I enjoyed them piping hot, and even more so during the rains.
Harshad Arora
I still remember the chole bhature and bread pakora we would get in Ryan International School, Delhi. I would always be borrowing money from friends to buy them.
Preetika Rao
I studied in Sophia college, Peddar Road, and the month of June takes me back to those days — the new classrooms, fresh faces and the excitement of our new canteen. We had a big canteen with a fixed menu and I would have my favourite batata vada. At times, we would even ditch canteen food for a snack joint close by which served yummy grilled sandwiches and noodles. I miss those days.
Kiku Sharda
I’m from NM college in Vile Parle and our canteen was one of the most famous places in that area. Two colleges — NM and Mithibai — shared it. The medu vada there was to die for, soaked in sambar, served fresh and hot. I loved it so much that after a point, the canteen guy would just see me and get medu vada without me even asking for it. Even the bhel was too good. I’m a complete chaat person, I could live my whole life on fast food.
Divyanka Tripathi
Our school canteen samosas were my favourite. So much that when my brother was born, that was what I treated my friends to. I bought around 300 samosas that day at Carmel Convent, Bhopal.
Shakti Arora
I couldn’t resist vada pav. During break time, we would always have butter vada pav outside NM college along with piping hot tea.
Sukirti Kandpal
There was a canteen in the boys school next to our school, St Joseph’s, Nainital. There the canteen guy was called “Cakie” and he used to make amazing candies. Ginger candy was my favourite.
Nandish Sandhu
I studied at IHM Dadar, Mumbai and my favourite canteen foods were pizza and apple pie!
Sumit Kaul
I did my B.Com from NM College, Mumbai. I was a regular at the college canteen and just loved the rava sada dosa with coconut chutney. That was my staple every afternoon. I don’t like crisp dosa and the canteen dosas were neither too soft nor too crisp which was perfect for me. Just thinking of them makes my mouth water. Yum!
Sara Khan
In my canteen I couldn’t get enough of the vegetable lasagna and fish and chips. I studied in London.
Deepika Singh
I studied in IP College Delhi (Civil Lines). I used to enjoy samosas and tea as my budget was limited, those days. I also loved Banta (a sweet and salty lemonade) which was sold in glass bottles for Rs 5, outside my college.
