On Thursday, Sridhar Vembu ate a vada pav for the first time in his life. The Zoho co-founder, whose net worth according to Forbes is $5.8 billion, said he enjoyed the Rs 20 snack in Mumbai and wondered why he had not tried it earlier.
"Enjoying vada pav in Mumbai. First time in life. How did I miss it all this while?" he wrote on X along with a picture clicked at the eatery.
Among other billionaires who were spotted enjoying vada pavs during their visit to Mumbai were Apple CEO Tim Cook snd Paytm's Vijay Shekhar Sharma.
Two years ago, when Cook was in India to launch Apple Store BKC and Apple Store Saket, the day before the official opening of the BKC store, he was photographed having the snack with actor Madhuri Dixit in an iconic vegetarian restaurant located in South Mumbai’s Tardeo neighbourhood.
Swati Snacks counts among its patrons Reliance Industries' chairman Mukesh Ambani who by his own admission has to have food from here at least once every week when in town. Others who have been regulars here include the artist MF Husain and tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain. The reputation of the eatery is such that you rarely get a table without a wait time of at least 30-45 minutes.
A week after Dixit's visit with Cook, her husband Dr Shriram Nene took Paytm CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma to Swati Snacks for some vada pav. "Our vada pav moment at Swati Snacks. The company was what made the experience," Dr Nene tweeted with a photo featuring Sharma and two others.
Often dubbed the “Indian burger,” vada pav is far more than a quick bite—it’s a cultural staple. At its core, the dish consists of a spicy potato fritter, or vada, encased in a golden, crispy gram flour coating. This is nestled inside a soft, butter-toasted bread roll known as pav. But what truly defines the experience are the layers of flavor provided by fiery garlic chutney, cool green chutney, and a tangy tamarind spread, often accompanied by a deep-fried green chili on the side.
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