Hyderabad, Feb. 3 -- If you are a true Hyderabadi, you know that the first spoonful of the season's first haleem hits different. You might also know that it comes after a long wait - a whole year of craving and dreaming about the slow-cooked stew, ghee chilling on top with birista and nuts. It wouldn't be wrong to say that even biryani doesn't stand a chance in the city when haleem walks in.

And well, it has walked in. Hyderabad can now collectively exhale as the first batches of haleem have already started making their way out of deghs. Nearly two weeks ahead of Ramzan, select restaurants across the city have started serving the special dish, marking the soft start of the season. Ramzan this year is expected to begin on February 17 in I...