Finish a 4 kg ‘Bullet Thali’ in 60 minutes and take home a Royal Enfield bike

This is one New Year challenge announced by a Pune restaurateur that is driving foodies and bikelovers crazy On January 1 when Atul Waikar the young owner of Shivraj Hotel on the Old MumbaiPune Highway threw the gauntlet people rubbed their eyes in disbeliefFive brand new gleaming Royal Enfield Bullet bikes each costing around Rs170 lakhs were up on the firing line outside the eatery with a poster proclaiming the Bullet Thali challenge grabbing eyeballs by the 30yearold Waikar himself a bike aficionadoThe offer is simple If you want to win a free Royal Enfield Bullet bike then gobble up my yummy nonvegetarian Bullet Thali in 60 minutes flat Waikar told IANSAkin to the Bullet bike the Bullet Thali is not for the weaktummied smiled Waikar as the challenge was poised to set the cash registers roaring after the long Covid19 pandemic lockdownIt is a massive thaal platter with 16 starters and main dishes comprising a mouthwatering gourmet of fried surmai pomfret chicken in tandoori and masala dry and grey mutton prawn biryani kebabs several salads and other accompaniments all whipped up by a battery of over 4 dozen cooksMany came saw and ordered the Bullet Thali but were knocked down the table halfway though the reputation of the challenge has spread far and wide nowYes I also heard it this week I am now practicing to eat like a Bakasura and then go for the challenge a young Pune medico Dr Reeana F Irani a foodiecumbike lover enthusiastically told IANSOn learning of Shivraj Hotel retired Mumbai Assistant Commissioner of Police Ashok Jadhav patted his slim middle and wishfully told IANS I am going for the challenge Hope to own one of the bikes thereWaikar who invested fully in the new bikes is pleased with the response and is currently doling out over five dozen Bullet Thalis to customers who eat less but ogle more at the twowheelers displayed outsideHowever last week there was an unassuming rolypoly customer who sauntered in casually ordered a Bullet Thali and to the shock and surprise of the entire packed restaurant rode away on one of the BulletsThe lucky winner was Somnath Pawar of Solapur He completed the Bullet Thali in under an hour and we formally gifted him a bike of his choice Waikar saidBesides Bullet Thali Shivraj Hotel has a gluttonous menu for his ravenous patrons a Bakasur Chicken Thali Sarkar Mutton Thali Special Ravan Thali Pahelwan Mutton Thali and Malvani Fish Thali each costing around Rs2500Waikar who started the eatery 8 years ago after his middlecollege regularly comes up with such innovative ideas to keep the customer and cash inflow steadyIn an earlier competition the hotel challenged four people to finish the staggering 8 kg Special Ravan Thali with a prize of Rs 5000 and the bill generously waived offNestled in a corner of the lush green hills of the Western Ghats the restaurant has virtually become a landmark for its thalis with many from Mumbai Thane Palghar Pune Nashik Aurangabad Satara and other places trooping in even for Sunday lunchdinner tagging along relatives and friends Waikar saidThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever