Sizzler (food) facts for kids
A sizzler is a special meal that was first made in Mumbai, India. It's cooked and served on a super hot metal plate. This plate sits on a wooden stand when it comes to your table. The sizzler gets its idea from a Japanese cooking style called Teppanyaki. In Teppanyaki, chefs cook veggies and meat on a very hot metal surface. This makes the food soft inside and crispy outside.
Contents
History of Sizzlers
The Indian sizzler was created by a person named Firoz Erani in Mumbai in 1963. His restaurant, near Excelsior cinema, was simply called "Sizzler." He got the idea from an American restaurant he visited in California. This American place also served a dish inspired by Japanese Teppanyaki.
Firoz Erani's second wife, Tachiko, was Japanese. In 1967, they closed their "Sizzler" restaurant and moved away to the Isle of Man. But the sizzler story didn't end there!
The Place: Touche
Firoz's son, Shahrookh Erani, wanted to keep the sizzler tradition going. In the same year, 1967, he opened his own restaurant called "Touche" in Mumbai. Later, in 1971, Shahrookh moved to Pune. There, he started a new restaurant called "The Place: Touche." This restaurant is still very popular today. It is run by Farida Vachha and is known as the original sizzler restaurant in India.
Sizzlers Become Popular
In 1975, another businessman named Vazir Rizvi started his own sizzler restaurant in Mumbai. He called it "Kobe Sizzlers." Soon, other restaurants in Mumbai, like Yoko Sizzlers and Fountain Sizzlers, also began serving sizzlers. In Pune, places like Zamu's and Yana became famous for them too.
Today, many big cities across India have restaurants that specialize in sizzlers. Some of these well-known sizzler restaurant chains even have branches in the UAE.
What is a Sizzler?
A sizzler is usually a complete meal all by itself. It has meats and vegetables cooked in a tasty sauce. All of this is served on a very hot metal plate.
The dish has been described as a "piece of meat, chicken, fish, or a veggie patty that is roasted, grilled, or lightly fried." It's served on an oval-shaped hot metal or stone plate. This hot plate is placed on a wooden base.
Why is it Called a Sizzler?
The name "sizzler" comes from the sound it makes! The metal plate is heated up right before your meal is served. When the cooked food is placed on this super hot plate, it makes a loud "sizzle" or hissing sound. This smoky sound and smell make the dish even more exciting and delicious!
Even though sizzlers can have many different ingredients and sauces, the way they are cooked and the equipment used are usually the same for all of them.
