Eggs Kejriwal: From Mumbai’s Streets To New York’s Restaurants

The easiest breakfast idea is always eggs. We agree to that, and we know that you would too. Eggs are one of the most versatile ingredients to work with. From a quick boiled and poached egg to a desi-style bhurji, the protein-rich eggs can work well for breakfast, as well as for lunch and dinner. One egg dish that has touched the hearts of not just Indians but people abroad too, is Eggs Kejriwal.

Also Read: Sali Par Eedu: These Parsi Breakfast Eggs Come With A Surprise

Now, the first common misconception that arises as soon as one hears the name of this dish is that it is linked to Delhi’s Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal. But that is far from the truth. While the dish is definitely named after its creator, it isn’t the CM. The origin story of this unique egg dish takes us back to the 1960s. It is said that Eggs Kejriwal originated at the famed Willingdon Sports Club in Mumbai in the late 20th Century.

Just a few decades ago, an elite entrepreneur and a member of this premium sports club in the heart of Mumbai decided to have eggs. The pure vegetarian household left Devi Prasad Kejriwal with no other option but to satiate his egg-licious cravings outside. At the club, he invented his own kind of toast, layering cheese on a slice of toasted bread and topped it with fried eggs. With a garnish of green chillies and cilantro, the cheesy and eggy toast was ready to be served hot.

While that was the original style of making the dish, now you’ll find people topping the eggs on toast with mushrooms and a host of other vegetables. Since the dish became so popular at the club, the other members started demanding it too and that’s how Eggs Kejriwal made it to the menu of the sports club. Interestingly, what was once an elite club recipe started being sold on the streets of Mumbai as a quick breakfast and snack.  

Gradually, the fan fare of this unique dish spread to other parts of the country with metros like Delhi getting fascinated with this new rage. Little did Mr Kejriwal know that his affinity to eggs and creation of a delicious egg dish would reach the breakfast menus of popular restaurants in New York and London too. Moreover, this dish was also included in the list of top 10 dishes of New York a few years ago and that is enough proof of how eggs have in turn become a way of connecting hearts across the globe.