Posted on April 18, 2015

The Potbelly Rooftop Café

TUMMY-LICIOUS

By Prakriti Bhat

Shahpur Jat is gaining recognition because of the numerous boutiques mushrooming in that area which spoil you for choice. Till a few years ago, it was not a well known place but these glamorous boutiques have definitely made it a popular shopping destination. It is common to spot people hopping from one outlet to another. It is close to Hauz Khas metro station. Amongst these clusters of boutiques lies a quaint little café atop a spiraling flight of stairs-The Potbelly Rooftop Café. It is not easy to find the place but a visit is worth the effort.

Pooja Sahu, the owner, used to work as a designer. Bored of her job, she decided to open a café which would bring the flavours of Bihar to the common Delhite’s plate. Therefore, she picked up her mother’s recipes and The Potbelly Rooftop Café was opened in Shapur Jaat four years ago. The place received a positive response from people. “We wanted to call it ‘Petoo’s’ originally but then settled for ‘Potbelly’. Our main focus is quality food. It was totally an experimental venture but the response has been amazing.” About 2 months ago, another branch in Chanakyapuri was opened owing to its grand success at the original branch.

The café is situated on the fourth floor for which you have to climb an arduous set of narrow stairs. The moment you reach the top floor, you will realize that all those stairs weren’t for nothing. The eclectic decor will sap away all that tiredness. The interiors are vibrant and homely. The makers seem to have put a lot of attention into even the smallest details. The chairs are a plain white decorated with different colours of cloth or strings. The lanterns are made with glasses which hold the bulbs and are decorated with colourful strings. The napkin holders are made of terracotta with simple designs painted on them. The walls are adorned by empty frames with beautiful and aesthetic designs. The ceiling is not a regular white washed wall but a bamboo-like structure which give the place a very rustic but charming appeal.

The place serves Bihari cuisine. The menu offers regional starters like Pakora Basket, Sabudana Basket, Baggia Basket, Keema Ghoogni Fry and Pothia Machli Fry. Main course offerings like Litti Chokha, Maithili Thali and Dehati Fish n Chips are popular here. Most of the dishes are served in terracotta bowls. Pakora Basket has an assortment of Pakoras with green chutney and tomato chutney. Baggia Basket is a very unique dish. These are rice flour pockets stuffed with spicy Chana Daal. The surface is a bit hard but not much. It can easily be cut using a spoon or fork. They are served with red and green chutney. This dish comes in two terracotta bowls joined by a handle. The presentation is excellent and has a rural touch to it.

Litti Chokha is probably the only Bihari dish most have us have heard of. The crust was scrumptious but the stuffing was a bit sticky. It is served along with Chana Daal, spicy mashed potato and mashed brinjals. Fish and chips of English origin are given a Bihari tadka with Dehati Fish n Chips. Also, don’t miss the Keema Aloo Chop. It is a combination of minced meat and potato cutlets served on a bun with chutneys and mouthwatering Sabudana Pakoras. The Golmirch Chicken is a meal in itself. The Chicken cooked in lip-smacking gravy is served with the good old Lachha Parathas. Their Mirch Masala lemonade is the perfect thirst quencher and the Oreo Shake is a super-hit with the customers. The staff is quite gracious and the prices are economical.

The Potbelly Rooftop Café stands apart due to its quirky theme. Delhi offers cuisines from all over India and the world. There are several Chinese, European, Mediterranean, Italian restaurants which open the window to global cookeries. Also, there are restaurants serving South Indian, Maharashtrian, Bengali, Rajasthani, Parsi, Punjabi and Gujarati food. However, very rarely do we find a place that serves kosher Bihari food and that too at a nominal rate. Our knowledge of Bihari cuisine is usually restricted to only Litti Chokha. Potbelly Rooftop Café has brought out this long forgotten cuisine to life by not falling prey to foreign influences and sticks only to Bihari food.

A Chinese or Italian restaurant can easily attract crowd because people are constantly looking for global cuisines to try in the city. There’s a famous saying, “ghar ki murgi daal barabar”. But to open a place like this and embrace our own culture is something that ought to be appreciated. More places like these should be established to whip out the lesser known traditional delicacies. Their branch in Chanakyapuri is probably more accessible than the one in Shahpur Jaat. However, those stairs at Shahpur Jaat are a great way to boost your appetite!

Location- 116 C, 4^th floor, Shahpur Jat, New Delhi,

Cost for 2- 800 (approx)

Contact no.- 01141612048, 9811122764

Posted on April 14, 2015

Pudding & Pie

A LITTLE BIT OF PUDDING AND LOADS OF PIE

By Shreya Chowdhury

Lurking around Malviya Nagar on a hungry afternoon, I stumbled upon Pudding & Pie. As the name suggests, it’s a haven for scrumptious desserts. Ratti Sharma, the owner of this quaint little shop started baking in 1997, when she would supply desserts and bread to other shops. About 5 years ago, she opened her own retail shop in C 60, Shivalik Road, Malviya Nagar.

A must-try here is the Arabian Honey Cake. With a generous helping of almonds and honey, it transports one to the stories of Arabian nights. It is soft and light, and not very sweet. The sweet honey smell just enhances the entire experience.

Another signature item is the German Chocolate Cake. It is a beautiful concoction of almond, walnuts, peanuts, butter and chocolate sauce. It is a treat for chocolate and nut lovers! It is dense and moist and very rich, but tastes heavenly.

A personal favourite is their Red Velvet Cake. Though the colour may be misleading, the taste is out of this world. The rich cake with the fresh cream in the mouth is pure ecstasy.

Pudding & Pie also has savory dishes. The mutton lasagna and spinach quiche are the most popular dishes. Their chilli cheese toast is also a good choice if one wants a light snack. It has a good balance of onion, chilli and spices and very good quality of bread. However, we expected a bit more cheese on the toast. Overall, it was a nice snack.

When one enters the shop, they are welcomed by the sweet smell of the baked goodies. The bright colours and the pretty lighting make it a charming place to spend evenings with friends over a cup of tea and cakes.

Ratti Sharma still takes orders. Her contact number is 9811021119.

Posted on April 13, 2015 June 7, 2015

THE EMBASSY RESTAURANT

By Anubhav Sapra

I seem to have grown interest in posting my food updates even more so on Instagram recently, and I did so the night I went for the review at The Embassy Restaurant. It received more than a hundred likes in less than an hour thanks to the truly delectable royal food that it serves. Before I start describing how delicious the dinner was, I think it is important to throw some light on its history.

In 1947, India got its independence. A year later in 1948, two gentlemen, P.N. Malhotra and G.K. Ghai who arrived to Lutyen’s Delhi from Karachi, decided to set up one of the most iconic restaurants in the heart of the capital. It happened to become the city’s iconic gastronomic and intellectual hotspot. The royalty of this place, however, is still apparent.

I have witnessed people bonding over food here. People bonded over love, some in the sphere of business, and some in politics. This place even had regulars who put “9.30 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. Embassy Restaurant” on their visiting cards. And the legacy continues even today. The restaurant is currently managed and run by the third generation – Kumar Savar Malhotra. In August 2014, there was a disastrous fire that gutted the interiors of the restaurant. After a short break, the restaurant was back again with its flaring new interiors blending effortlessly into the existing architecture of Connaught Place.

I have been there many times before, usually during the mornings to try different dishes on the menu, especially the king-sized chana and vegetable samosa. I was present there for dinner this time. There is no doubt that the menu is quite extensive and I, therefore, asked the chef to suggest some of their signature dishes. On the table, were three of their non-vegetarian signature starters – roasted chicken, bharwa tangri, and chicken malai tikka. All of them were excellent in taste. The roasted chicken was first marinated in hung curd and aromatic spices, and was later roasted to perfection. The chicken was juicy and tender. Marination seemed to be just right and spices evenly spread. Bharwa tangri kebab was stuffed with minced chicken, cheese, onion, garlic, spices and coriander leaves, later roasted in tandoor. This kebab was completely flavourful and I literally went drooling over it!

Next in line were the embassy’s specialties from the main course section. I was accompanied by a vegetarian friend who commented that the dal makhani was extremely delicious. She accorded the same to its strong clove flavour and yes, the chef’s recipe as well. Achari paneer was another dish that makes this place truly different from others. This dish was nicely flavored, quite spicy but the use of kalonji seeds seems to have given it a slightly bitter taste.

Chicken masala, dal meat, tomato fish and chicken steak were some of the other signature dishes here at the Embassy. Unlike the red gravy in which chicken is usually cooked, the chicken masala, here, was cooked in a rich cream and almond sauce tempered just right with red chillies. This dish also had a slight sweet taste. However, I was quite disappointed to taste dal meat – lamb chunks cooked with lentils. This dish is basically a mix of boiled yellow lentils (moong dhuli) and mutton rogan josh. I found the lamb chunks to be quite dry and a bit chewy for me. However, the gravy was absolutely delectable.

Yet another iconic dish of this place is tomato fish – sole fillet topped with their own tomato concasse sauce. It is said that when Savar took over the reins of the restaurant, he tried twisting the tomato fish slightly by serving it with French fries. The reaction they received from their clients was that of total rejection. The loyalists were equivocal in their view and the restaurant then had to come back to its original version.

I rounded off my meal with the Embassy Pudding – soft, creamy, and with a surprise cashew element was simply a treat! Tooti Fruittee was another delicious mix of refreshing fruits and nuts. May the legacy of good food continue!

Address: 11-D Connaught Place, New Delhi
Timings: 10 AM to 11 PM
Seat covers: 84
Average Meal for Two: Rs. 1,200 plus taxes (Without Alcohol)
Contact: 011 2341 6434, +91 9311085132

Posted on April 12, 2015 April 14, 2015

Flavours of Thailand

By Priyali Prakash

With the ever increasing exposure to different cuisines from all over the world, Indians are experimenting with their choices even more and Thai cuisine has definitely stood out as one of the favourites. Keeping this in mind, Blooms Restaurant of Eros International, Nehru Place has come up with a Thai Food Festival.

With an exotic buffet of colourful vegetables and succulent meats laid out on a boat-shaped table decorated with antiques inspired by Thai way of living, Blooms has gone out of their way to invite Chef Mhee from Chiang Mai restaurant, Gurgaon to showcase an authenticity of flavours in the food being served during this festival.

While the Naam Takrai, the lemongrass cooler served as the welcome drink comes across as a little too sweet, the following appetisers specially Som Tam, raw papaya salad with a fish sauce dressing and dry shrimp, garlic, chilli, lime and palm sugar is a delicious start to the meal. The mince chicken salad with spring onions is quite minty in flavour.

The Po Pai Thod, vegetable spring rolls can easily pass off as our regular spring rolls whereas Koong Pun Ooy, prawns with sugarcane is a sure shot winner among the snacks. The dish does not have the peculiar smell that goes with maximum prawn dishes and tastes amazing at the same time, which makes it stand out from the other dishes.

The chicken and tofu Satay comes with a tangy cucumber salad and choice of peanut butter and sweet chilli sauce as side dips. Other starters include Thod Man Plan, fish cakes and Thod Man Khao Phod, corn cakes.

The mains include the Thai favourite, Phad thai noodles which have a sweetish tinge to them. Also served for the mains is steamed rice infused with fresh herbs. The Pla Nueng Ma Nao, lemon steamed fish is the best of the lot. Conventionally a street food in Thailand, this steamed fish comes with a tangy lemon sauce and chillies- simple yet full of flavours. The fish is soft and steamed to perfection. Phad Phak Ruam Mitr, the stir fried mixed vegetables are a good option for vegetarians, considering that there aren’t really many vegetarian options. The Phad Nam Prik Pow Kae, lamb stir with Thai chilli paste tastes a lot like our desi lamb chilli.

Goong Samun Prai, sweet and sour tamarind prawns with crispy thai herbs makes a refreshing dish. The curries are a little somewhat coconutty in flavour- both the Soya chop Penang curry and the mixed vegetables in yellow curry.

In desserts, Tub Tim Krob (Sweetened crispy water chestnuts in sweet coconut milk with crushed ice) and Klauy Buad Chee (Banana in warm sweet coconut milk) were amazing to end the food journey.

Word of Caution: Most of the dishes have a dominating taste and aroma of ginger and lemongrass. Make sure that you don’t have a problem with too much of these very strong flavours.

The festival is on till April 19th at Eros Hotel, Nehru Place

Posted on April 8, 2015

Best Kebab Joints in Delhi

11 Best Kebab Joints in Delhi and What to Eat at these Spots

Published in Little Black Book, Delhi

We’re big on food trails. We like to have you spoilt for choice. But, as North Indians, and Delhi residents, we’re all too aware of the popularity of the Kebab and the places that serve them. So, we did this. We asked the expert- Anubhav Sapra behind Delhi Food Walks. Here, they weigh in on their top 11 picks, and exactly what to order.

Qureshi Kebab Corner

Another hole in the wall establishment, they churn out the best Mutton, Chicken and Buff Seekh Kebabs in the business.

Where: Urdu Bazar, Jama Masjid

Contact: 9717326041

Karim’s

An iconic establishment, rumour has it the Jama Masjid outlet offers the best version if its fare. What we recommend? The mutton Seekh Kebabs. For a more comfortable, convenient and clean experience, try the Karim’s at India Islamic Centre.

Where: House no 16, Gali Kababian, Jama Masjid

Contact: 011 23269880

Majeed’s

Another Kakori hot spot, Majeed’s is a takeaway joint, so you can enjoy their succulent, perfectly spiced, cotton soft, pudina flavoured and the city famous Kakori kebabs in the comfort of your car and/or home.

Where: Shop 8 & 9, B 7, LSP, Vasant Kunj

Contact: 011 33105705

Bhaijaan Kebabs

This one only opens its doors at 4.30pm, so don’t try and make lunch plans. Affectionately named after the owner’s fathers’s nick name, no one does a mean Shaami Kebab quite like Bhaijaan does. By which we mean, the restaurant.

Where: Shop No 2202, Bazar Chitli Qabar near Jama Masjid

Contact: 9899145777, 9873425298

Kale Baba ke Kebabs

For the uninitiated, they’re popular for their Sutli Kebabs, kebabs so soft, they have to be held together with a twine of thread. You actually have to hold the thread tied over the kebab from one end, and it spreads on your plate, when unfolded. Sutli Kebabs are served on a green leaf, with radish and mint chutney.

Where: Sui Walana, Chitli Qabar, Bazar Matia Mahal, Jama Masjid

Captain’s Kebab

Most definitely a no-frills eatery, it won’t matter after one taste of the Galouti Kebab paired with their Ulte Tawe ke Parantha. They also home deliver, in case hygiene {and the sight of it} is TMTH.

Where: 3778, Autar Bhawan, Netaji Subhash Marg, Kalan Mahal, Darya Ganj

Contact: 09871595054

Ustad Moinudin Kebabs

For melt in your mouth, buff seekh kebabs, Ustad Moinuddin has magic in his hands, evident by his perfectly spiced, fatted, minced meat. These kebabs are served with onion rings, lemon and chutney.

Where: At the mouth of Gali Qasimjan, Lal Kuan, Ballimaran. This place is also famous by the name Sangam Biryani as Ustad Moinuddin’s son sells biryani in the day time.

Contact: 9891197023

Talib Kebab

Buff seekh kebabs and buff tikka served with onions and chutney. Their tikkas are truly delectable, soft and succulent small pieces, grilled on charcoal wood.

Where: Near the mosque in Zakir Nagar market.

Contact: 9891648787

Al Kakori Al Kauser

Evergreen for their Kakoris, their outdoor seating, and the many imported liquor stores around it, Al Kauser will make it to any and every Kebab list. Blame it on the consistent melt-in-your-mouth feature of the kebab, the perfect amount of spice, and the choice of it as a roll.

Where: 30, Vasant Place Market, Amar Shaheed Premnath Dogra Marg, Near Malai Mandir

Contact: 9810057786

Al Rashida’s

Tucked away in the by-lanes of Zakir Nagar, famous for its North Indian fare, you won’t know a Galauti until you’ve sampled theirs. Expect it to be a heavy meal, and we suggest a visit on an empty stomach. Don’t be scared by the amount of oil they use; try and look the other way, and just focus on how the kebab will melt in your mouth.

Where: Shop no 2, Main Road, Gali No 12, Zakir Nagar-Jamia Nagar

Contact: 011 66889062

Ghalib Kebab Corner

Equipped to seat but ten people, seems like they utilize all their resources in perfecting the Mutton Shammi Kebab. So much so, that they seem to sell out early in the evening. Also, bear with the staff if they seem hurried and/or rude; we suggest not to rile them up too much. You probably won’t have the time, those Shammi Kebabs are solid.

Where: Shop 57, Ghalib Road, Near Lal Mahal, Nizamuddin

Contact: 9810786479

If you want to take a curated food walk with Delhi Food Walks, get in touch with them here.

Alternatively follow them on Facebook here, and on Instagram @delhifoodwalks

Posted on April 3, 2015 April 3, 2015

TAMRA- At Shangri-La Eros

By Shreya Chowdhury

Copper has always been a very essential part of Indian history and has played a major role in the evolution of the culinary art in India. This inspiration is evident in their design which has incorporated the concept of Tamra is a rustic yet elegant manner. Tamra is a multi-cuisine restaurant (European, Indian, Japanese, Chinese and Thai) in Shangri-La Eros Hotel, Ashoka Road, New Delhi, catering to taste buds from all over the world. Ranging from Japanese Teppanyaki and Sushi Bar to a salad bar with a variety of bread, from the grill section to dahibhalla, from dim-sums to ‘Ghar-ka-khana’, Tamra has got it all.

The ambience at Tamra, the décor and the hospitable staff live up to the essence of “Atithi Devo Bhava” and yet they have a very global appeal. The most unique aspect of Tamra is the scope for customization, where the chefs are ready to cook according to one’s mood and taste. One gets exactly what they are craving for cooked exactly in the manner they want. Thus, bringing a high level of creativity to casual dining along, withan assortment of cuisines from all across the globe, under one roof.

Delhi is known for its extreme weather, and with summer just round the corner, refreshing juices and mocktails become a very important part of our meal. Their Big-Wave is an absolute favourite. Though it is a combination of guava, pomegranate, litchi and cranberry juice, the guava is the hero of the drink. The Mango Scream and Asian Lemonade are also quite refreshing, but the best is the Garden of Eden. The pomegranate juice with a dash of raspberry and blueberry puree, lime juice and gingerale is an amazing combination to beat the heat and is absolutely delicious. The beautiful Hawaiian- themed mask mugs in which they are served is fascinating!

The Sushi Bar at Tamra has a great variety. The vegetarian and non-vegetarian sections are separate, keeping in mind the sentiments of the vegetarians. The sushi is good, but the opinion may vary from person to person. The wasabi, however, is a little too strong. The ginger pickle served with the wasabi and sushi is quite nice. For salmon lovers, the nigiri is quite a delight, where the fish is nice and fresh. The California roll is great. With delicious crab meat and masago, which gives it a great texture, it is a very flavorful mouthful.

Tamra has a great Chinese section as well. Their dim-sums are great. The translucent covering of the dim-sums gives it an aesthetic appeal, inviting one to go and taste the beauty that lies beneath it. The chicken and celery dim-sums are brilliant! The carrot and the celery give it a wonderful texture and compliment the chicken very well. The baby corn dim-sums also taste great. They are both very light and make good starters to a meal. The noodles, the stir-fried vegetable and the vegetables in yellow curry are also nice and worth trying.

The Thai chicken croquetta with peanut sauce and French fries is a killer dish! The beautiful lemon grass flavor and a crunchy texture make it an amazing dish and is definitely something one must try at Tamra. Their shredded lamb in black bean sauce is a treat for the taste buds. The fish in Thai herbs and the chicken in massaman curry transports one to the restaurants in Thailand. The perfectly cooked jasmine rice compliments all these dishes very well.

As the name suggests, Tamra specializes in Indian food. Beginning with the vegetarian platter, the kebabs are soft and spicy and very tasty. The paneertikka is also a big hit, in which very good quality paneer is cooked very well. The dal makhni is one of their best dishes and is a must-try. Thick, rich and creamy, it is heaven on earth. The kumbhpalak, harabharapaneer, and poriyan (made of cabbage and coconut) are some nice dishes that go well with the masala roti. A very different kind of roti sprinkled and cooked with a variety of indian spices, is an absolute stunner! The kulcha at Tamra is also very good. If one likes rice, the onion corn rice is a very good choice. For the non-vegetarian lovers, the Chicken Chooza is a must-try! Extremely well-marinated, with the correct balance of spices and cooked to perfection, one cannot miss this beauty at Tamra! Other non-vegetarian dishes such as dum chicken, fish curry and roganjosh are also good and worth a try. Something that caught our eye in the menu was the dahi-lahson chutney. Interesting combination of curd and garlic, it has a unique and fresh taste and would have a cooling effect in the hot summer days.

Ending on a sweet note, the Tamra chocolate is a must-try for all the chocolate lovers. A signature Tamra dish, it has chocolate ice cream, dark chocolate disk and brownie with chocolate syrup. The sesame biscuits and bits of tooty fruity give it a nice crunch and flavor. The overall combination is lethal! Their Pinacolada deconstructed is also another favourite. The slightly sour Teppan-seared pineapple in contrast to the sweet coconut ice cream together forms a perfect mouthful, ending the meal on a perfect note.

Posted on March 31, 2015 April 1, 2015

Sanjha Chulha Food Exhibition

By Anubhav Sapra

Years ago, Marshall McLuhan aptly remarked world as a ‘global village’. Quite evident, as it is today, the seamless exchanges of ideas, culture, people and of course food, across borders. People have migrated from one region to another for various reasons. With them, travelled the food culture. This has also lead to the heterogenisation of food culture. And offcourse, its evolution. There seems to be no such thing as local food now, the food being eaten in one part of the globe is easily available in another part. South Asia is one region where eating habits in most of the countries shares a lot of commonality.

To promote the cross cultural collaborations between nine South Asian Countries, a movement titled “Sasian Journey”, has been led by the Asian Heritage Foundation and Self Employed Women’s Association, in collaboration with prominent NGOs of the region in engagement with the Smithsonian Institution, USA. They are hosting Lotus Bazar, the flagship market development package conceived for deserving artists, artisans, cooperatives and cultural enterprises through design let interventions. The Lotus Bazar has also on offer- South Asia’s first food festival- Sanjha Chulha, which literally means Common Kitchen. The festival has been curated by food critic and scholar Dr. Pushpesh Pant to promote the incredible variety of local and regional cuisines of South Asia showcasing the diversity of culinary art. The dishes are cooked by the in-house team of The Ashok Hotel led by the Executive Chef, Mr. Lumba.

The Menu from different countries are-

India:

Murgh Rehana with Naan/Parantha
Gulnar Biryani with Raita/Salad
Dum Gosht Biryani with Raita/Salad
Stuffed Gulab Jamun

Sri Lanka:

Kukul Mas Curry (Chicken flavored with coconut milk, curry leaves, black pepper & Gigi paste) with Kaha Bhaat (Yellow Rice tempered with mustard seeds & curry leaves )
Kukul Mas Curry with Pol Roti(Coconut Flavoured grilled roti)

Pakistan:

Anda Keema Kaleji Naan/Parantha
Soya Keema Kaleji Naan/Parantha
Paneer Peshawari with Naan/Parantha

Afghanistan:

Afghani Shorva (Thin Mutton preparation) with Afgani Naan

Nepal / Bhutan:

Veg Thupka(Veg Stew topped with noodles)
Veg Momos with Dip(Chilli Garlic)
Chicken Momos with Dip(Chilli Garlic)

Bangladeshi:

Sarson Maach (Mustard Flavored fish curry)with steamed rice

Dessert Menu

Mishti Doi from Bangladesh
Stuffed Gulab Jamun from India
Tila Kufi from Indian Subcontinent
Phirni from Pakistan

In the Evening the festival has nice combination of snacks, from 3pm to 7pm

Samosa with Mint Chutney
Fried Vegetable Wontons
Chicken Momos with Dips
Vegetable Momos with Dips

The festival is on till 31^st March at The Lilly Pool Lawn at The Ashok, Chanakyapuri and entry is free.

Posted on March 26, 2015 March 26, 2015

Woodbox Cafe

A BOHEMIAN ADVENTURE

By Prakriti Bhat

One is spoilt for choice at Hudson lane in GTB Nagar. It caters to every mood with an array of eating joints. From Korean to Italian, you get it all here. Since it is very close to the north campus of Delhi University, this area frequently hosts students who come here to slake their taste buds. The only way for an eatery to survive here is to be different from the others in every possible way. And Woodbox Café has managed to endure this wild race successfully. With its avant garde interiors and economical prices, Woodbox Café is a hit with the college crowd.

Manika Pahwa, an interior designer along with her brother, a budding architect, came up with the idea of establishing a restaurant where they could combine their individual skills to provide a culinary cum artistic experience to their customers. And this is how Woodbox Café was born in August 2013 in GTB Nagar. After an overwhelming response, another branch was opened up in Satyaniketan in March 2014, near Venkateshwara College. “We are consciously targeting the college crowd. They need not go far from their colleges to have a wholesome meal. Quality food and ambience are our forte. We aim to bring an offbeat food experience closer to the masses. In fact not only students but also families have visited and appreciated our outlets.”

At a walking distance from the GTB Nagar Metro station, Woodbox Café has something which many other restaurants lack-space. It has a rooftop and underground seating arrangement as well. The walls are designed in a very non conformist manner using pieces of cloth, forks, spoons, nuts and bolts, pins, etc. They add vibrancy to the whole décor. The hanging lanterns are made from strings, straws, playing cards and artificial foliage. The rooftop area is equally well decorated with broken glass bottles embedded in the wall. The wash basin is fixed upon a bicycle and over it is an old fashioned, rustic yet interesting “Victoria station” wall clock. In the evening, fairy lights adorn the canopy-like seating arrangement. With such striking interiors, it scores high on concept and designing. Another advantage that Woodbox Café has is its location. It is situated a little away from the main road and thus has a peaceful environment.

Every dish on their menu is presented well with appropriate condiments like breads, etc. Kitkat shake and Ferrero Rocher shake are lip smacking beverages which are widely popular amongst the regulars here. Their black currant soda is something to look out for. Neither very sweet nor very salty or fizzy, it is the perfect drink to quench your thirst. All drinks are served in Heineken or Grey Goose vodka bottles neatly cut to make glasses; an exceptionally innovative idea widely welcomed by the visitors. The Chicken Caesar Salad has a generous amount of chicken shreds along with a delicious dressing. It is much better than the nearby rival, Ricos’ Caesar Salad. For vegetarians, the Grilled Mushroom Sandwich is a blessing from the heavens. Each bite has a sumptuous filling of juicy mushrooms and cheese. For non vegetarians, Cheesy Grilled Chicken Sandwich wins my vote. The chicken is grilled to perfection with the requisite spices mixed with garlic, thyme and cheese. Sandwiches are served with crispy salted wafers and a dip.

The crispy honey potatoes fall flat with their not-so-appetizing flavor. The Picante Pizza is a specialty of this place. Topped with jalapenos and bell peppers it tingles your taste buds with its piquant flavour. The Indiano Chicken Tikka Pizza is a delight for the eyes and mouth. Biting into these thin crust pizzas will transport you to Italy and its rich legacy of pizzas. Penne Arabiatta is the usual white sauce pasta; tasty but nothing exquisite. Their Spaghetti Aglio Olio is a personal favourite. Laced with seasonings and chilli flakes, it is the best spaghetti I have had so far. It’s better than their other entrée, Roman Spaghetti. The pastas too are served with buttered garlic bread. Also, their Chicken Lasagna tops my list of best lasagnas. It is baked exceedingly well with a liberal topping of cheese and spicy minced chicken filling. I guarantee that this dish will leave you asking for more!

Woodbox Café is a one of its kind food chain as it works towards not just providing classy dining experience but also promotes a healthy environment. They have erected a big junk collector outside their restaurants and provide attractive discounts to people who bring in junk like papers, magazines and similar dry waste. They also have thematic menus served according to different festivals. “We are constantly re-innovating our menus and interiors and for that purpose constructive criticism is always welcome. We plan on taking the brand to other towns like Chandigarh and Dehradun”, says Manika. They recently opened ‘The Vintage Avenue’ in GTB Nagar which is fast becoming a rage with the students owing to its floral and old world interiors.

Woodbox Café is definitely the place to go if you want to have a holistic foodie experience replete with good music and prompt service.

Location- 1, DDA Market, Hudson line, Delhi University-GTB Nagar, New Delhi

Cost for 2-600 (approx)

Contact no.- 011-43090454, 9350507004

Posted on March 20, 2015 March 20, 2015

Karim’s

A ROYAL AFFAIR

By Prakriti Bhat

Walking through the serpentine lanes of Old Delhi, one comes across the hustle and bustle of life with people setting up their shops and getting ready for the day. Butchers, hardware shops, stationary stores, etc open their shutters to the world keeping up their promises of quality products at wholesale prices. Cars, rickshaws, autos, scooters, e-rickshaws, all try to squeeze their way through the narrow streets. The shouts of shopkeepers, the jingling of rickshaw bells, the chatter of people; they all have a music of their own and add to the charm of Old Delhi. But a trip to the walled city is simply incomplete without a visit to the famous Karim’s. Known worldwide for its Mughlai food and amiable service, Karim’s boasts of a rich cultural and culinary history.

Rewind to the Mughal era. The Mughal emperors would constantly go out on wars to secure their position in the sultanate. Since years, the royal cook would prepare meals under the aegis of the Mughal queens and kings but with the onset of British rule, the Mughal Empire came to an end. When the last emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar was exiled, the royal cook (whose descendants are now running Karim’s) had to leave the durbar and look elsewhere for a job. In 1911, at the time of coronation of King George V, Haji Karimuddin moved to Delhi with an idea to open a small dhaba to cater to the guests coming from all over the world. He set up a little stall outside the towering Jama Masjid and his menu only consisted of a humble combination of aloo ghosht and daal served with roti. In 1913, Haji Karimuddin set up the Karim’s Hotel in Gali Kababian, right opposite to Jama Masjid and today it is a prominent eatery in the capital city.

Bringing royal food to the common man’s plate at a nominal rate has been the main objective of Karim’s. The family continues to conjure up delectable dishes, each with a closely guarded secret. It is a 5 minute rickshaw ride from the Chawri Bazaar Metro Station. The rickshaw drops you right in front of Jama Masjid from where you have to enter one of the many alleyways. Meandering through the narrow lane, a whole new world opens up in the form of Karim’s. It’s hard to imagine how such a big place can exist at the end of such a constricted gali. They have 3-4 sections to serve the heavy crowd that starts pouring in from morning itself. The staff is dedicated and affable and the service is quite efficient. Going against the popular notion of Old Delhi being an unhygienic place, the restaurant also scores high on hygiene.

I went to this place with some NRI relatives who had heard a lot about its culinary delights and rich history. The place works at its own rhythm as the cook stirs the steel pots at a steady pace over burning coal and not fire. We ordered Chicken Burra, Mutton Burrah, Chicken Biryani, Mutton Biryani, Mutton Kebabs, Sheermal and Mutton Korma. The Chicken and Mutton Burrah were well marinated and slightly charred on the surface. The Biryani was cooked in a typical Mughlai manner with less spice which worked well for my relatives. The meat was succulent. Mutton Korma was a dish of mutton served with a red curry which satiated our taste buds. This we ate with a flatbread called Sheermal which is a specialty here. The Mutton Kebabs were my favourites. Juicy and delicious, they took ‘yummy’ to another level altogether. Other popular dishes here are Badam Pasanda, Chicken Mughlai and an exclusive entrée called Tandoori Bakra which has to be ordered 24 hours in advance.

Zaeemuddin Ahmed is the restaurant’s director and a representative of the family to have worked here. Numerous generations have come and gone but the standard of their food remains unchanged. Karim’s may have opened numerous branches all over Delhi like Gurgaon, Noida, Nizamuddin and Saket, placed in swanky malls and modern markets. But for the most genuine, best and truest experience one must visit its original branch near Jama Masjid, where the saga began. It has definitely put Old Delhi on the world map by offering a satisfying meal to people from all across the globe. People can experience the richness of Mughal Durbar by digging into their food. At the end of Gali Kababian awaits a magical world of gastronomic delights.

Location- 16, Gali Kababian, Jama Masjid

Cost for two- 850 (approx)

Contact no. – 01123264981

Posted on March 19, 2015

Pizza Express

Real Italian comes to Gurgaon

By Priyali Prakash

It’s time for some authentic Italian food in Gurgaon. PizzaExpress is all set to open its second outlet of the Delhi- NCR region. Delhi Food Walks is offering you a sneak peek into what this restaurant has to offer. Read on to find out!

A word of caution: if you are too accustomed to the Indian palate with its generous share of spices, this might not be the best place for you. But, if you are adventurous enough to try some Italian food exactly the way how it should be, PizzaExpress is the place to be at!

Their signature starter dish, the Doughballs, is a personal favourite. Little balls of lightly seasoned dough, served with an assortment of dips including garlic butter, pesto and pesto rosso, are the best thing to start the meal with. The doughballs are light and fluffy and served hot- the perfect beginning for an Italian meal.

Other starters include Polpette, chicken meatballs in chicken Bolognese sauce and Ramiro Al Forno for the vegetarians, sweet red pepper stuffed with goat’s cheese, mushrooms and mozzarella.

The pizzas at PizzaExpress come with an extremely thin crust. The management puts it as, “Simple and authentic pizzas, always served in style. Just the way the Italians do.” While the Apollo pizza comes with Tandoori chicken, modified specially for Indians, the Padana Romana with spinach, goat’s cheese, mozzarella and red and caramelised onions, finished with a drizzle of garlic oil, might be the tastiest option for vegetarians.

Also on the menu is the Pomodoro Pesto Romana. As the name suggests, pesto sauce is the hero among the toppings here, accompanied by cherry tomatoes, fresh basil and baby mozzarella. Though, the final drizzle of garlic oil makes the pizza a little too oily.

The pastas in general seem to be a little undercooked, but according to one of the very sweet staff members, that’s how the Italians like it. The Tagliatelle Pollo Bolognese, classic chicken Bolognese sauce with a little twist stands out as the best pasta on the menu. The Penne Pollo Picante would have tasted a lot better had the sauce not been as dry.

As far as the desserts are concerned, Banoffee Pie wins hands down. The classic dessert, served with a dollop of mascarpone cheese on the side is a sure shot winner.

PizzaExpress is all beautified and lit up to welcome you. Pay them a visit to find out more about what they have to offer!