When Haji Zahooruddin started working at Karim’s over 70 years ago, the business consisted of a single restaurant run by his father and grandfather. Striking this balance enabled Zahooruddin’s “number one contribution”, said Shahid Siddiqui, a regular at the restaurant who has written extensively about Old Delhi. The public image of him as an embodiment of Old Delhi customs was shared by those who knew him personally. “Babu used to say, ‘If we let others own a franchise, will they give the same attention to the quality of spices we use?’” said Zain-ul-Abedin, Zahooruddin’s son. Visit Zahooruddin’s restaurant, and you’ll find traces of the past still alive.

Source: Hindustan Times January 31, 2018 18:27 UTC