Month: February 2018

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South Indian with a Twist

Zambar, Gurgaon

When sushi burritos, ramen burgers and cronuts made an appearance on the food scene over the last few years, the sceptics and purists were appalled. But these eccentric dishes soon found their groove, primarily among Instagram hungry millennials. Food mashups are here to stay. And luckily, they’re tasty!

Zambar has swooped into a very traditional market to deliver a modern interpretation to south Indian food. It is upbeat and fun. There’s a colourful wheeled cart with alcohol and coconuts balanced on it at one end. Next to it, on the wall, a volley of pictures and videos depicting the backwaters of Kerala, traditional dances and markets are projected. The opposite wall is a window into Char Minar and other famous sites (paintings of course. If only Char Minar was actually visible from the 3rd floor of Ambience Mall). A little further is a well-stocked and pretty looking bar with a black board menu in the new Instagram font. The restaurant staff wore flowers in their hair and traditional sarees which was endearing.

Kaffir Lime Rasam was served first as a palate cleanser. The kaffir lime elevated the humble rasam dish, giving it a fresh and light citrus kick. I lapped up every bit of that hot concoction. I always want my rasam with kaffir lime in it now. The next dish, Zambar Net Dosai was stuffed with chicken and layered with delicious spices. The Goan Prawn Curry lived up to its name and heritage but the lamb in Achamma’s Lamb Curry was a bit chewy. Egg lovers will have a field day with Zambar’s rendition of utthapam and appam with a sunny side up perched on each of them. By the time we reached the dessert segment, I found myself loosening my belt, in a desperate bid to make more room. I tried the Coconut Jaggery Pudding which was their take on a mishti doi. It had a comfortable level of sweetness, with the coconut shavings adding a crunchy texture to the dish.

Zambar’s menu has cute drawings of lungi clad men playing tennis, women balancing pots on their heads and Super-Hot Man giving poses (his super power seems to be cooking hot food) along with historical excerpts and blurbs about southern Indian states – because education is important, wherever you may be! So go visit, for a tasty, playful and educational meal all packed in one.

 

Location: 3rd Floor, Ambience Mall, Gurgaon
Meal for two: Rs. 1400 (without alcohol)

Anjora Sarangi
Anjora cannot resist a good prawn preparation, finds home in Chinese food anywhere in the world but will eat almost anything if it looks appealing. She is a Potter head and has recently discovered pottery as a hobby (excuse the pun).
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Punjabi Khanna (Amritsari-Tawa)

Punjabi food with its unique and wide range of flavours has caught the fancy of many food lovers across the country. Delhi is lucky to have many eateries and restaurants lined across the city serving the most lipsmacking Punjabi delicacies which is mainly derived from Punjab and Pakistan. The passion for Punjabis have for their food is not just restricted within their community but they have also spreading the charm of their flavours across city, and particularly so in Old Delhi.

Punjabi Khanna is one such outlet which is offering some of the best non-veg food from past 30-35 years. The flavor of each of their food is rich and authentic, and the ultimate answer to your Punjabi food cravings.

This modest restaurant was set up by two brothers Manjeet Singh and Inderjeet Singh in the small and cramped  lanes of old Delhi.

Every item in their menu is bursting of authentic Punjabi flavours, be it tikkas or gravy based items.

The most outstanding dish from their menu was mutton chap which was a delight. The melt-in-mouth delicacy would stay back with you long after you have left the place.

Mutton was generously marinated with strong spices which resulted in a mouthwatering dish. The main highlight that distinguishes it from all other chaaps is the gravy which is not usually served with the dish.

The gravy deserves extra applause for its spicy and tangy essence which goes well with the chaap, both of the items do not overpower each other, they get their own moments to shine.

This single dish is served with some chopped onions and a lemon. And lastly it is garnished with some finely chopped mint leaves.

This chaap is so famous that it has to be pre-ordered to be booked beforehand so that the vendors don’t run out of their biggest-seller.

This chaap goes well with the tandoori roti which is also semi fried with the spicy gravy so that you don’t miss the flavor even for a second. The gravy helps keep the flatbread moist too.

Beside these dishes there are a lot of other items which are also worth trying like mutton biryani ,mutton seekh kabab which is processed by them only. Rajma chawal is another highlight of their restaurant but it is only available once a week on Tuesday.

This restaurant is mostly packed throughout the week. Weekdays are generally lighter than the weekends. If you for looking something hot, spicy and authentically Punjabi- this is where you head.

Location: 32-33 Main, Azad Market Rd, Azad Market

Timings: (Afternoon) : 1:30pm-4:30pm

(Evening) : 6:00pm-9:30pm

Cost for two: 500(approx.)

Contact number : 9999937132

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Ganesh Restaurant  

A mix of places old and new, Karol Bagh is a foodie’s dream come true. One such iconic eatery you must try out in these narrow lanes is Ganesh restaurant. Established 68 years ago by Sri Harishchand, Ganesh restaurant is famous for its delicious fried food.

Interestingly, every food at Ganesh restaurant is exclusively fried in mustard oil which kind of makes them special in their own way. Besides its flavoursome food, the restaurant is also famous or infamous for their skill of putting hand in boiling hot oil and taking out the fried delicacy with their bare hands. This technique was first started by late Sri Prem Kumar who would fry food while entertaining the customers. Now, it is his son Deepak who is following the legacy and keeping the customers enthralled with this unique talent.

Sri Prem Kumar

Their most outstanding dish is sira fish which is first marinated with besan, and then fried until it is crunchy and golden.

The coating of the fish is mild, so that the original flavor of the fish could be enjoyed. This mouthwatering dish is served with finely chopped onions, mint chutney and a slice of lemon.The fried fish melts in the mouth in no time.

According to the owner the coating is kept light so that the meat of the fish could be enjoyed by the people instead of a heavy layer of marination which may overpower the sira fish.

The type of fish changes according to the season. During the summers, people are treated with singara fish and when it comes to chilly days they are served the surmai fish. The owner claims with confidence that the fish is fresh and best because it comes from the best sources in India like the banks of Orissa and Gujarat.

Another winner of the wide range of menu is egg pakora , which is also marinated with various spices and the whole egg is deep fried until it is beautifully golden brown.

And if you are a fan of chicken then don’t forget to try their finger-licking Afghani chicken, keema naan and korma .

The iconic eatery is often too crowded in evenings especially in winters. When you are craving for some hot steamy food to strike out the hunger, Ganesh restaurant is the way to head.

Location : 2298, Chowk Gurudwara Road, Near Punjab National Bank,

Karol Bagh  (Arya Samaj Road )

Timings : 5:00pm-11:00pm

(closed on Tuesday)

Cost for two : Rs.300 (approx)

 

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Healthy Breakfast Call

Around the area of major educational institutions and many students waking up in the morning for their classes, Mangal Bazar can be located around Laxmi Nagar. Majorly students resides around the Bazar and their day starts with looking for something healthy (for the day) and filling (until class ends), where Poha comes as a rescue for them. Traditionally, Pohay or Pohe is an Indian dish prepared in the Indian states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Telengana, Karnataka and Gujarat. Pohe Originated from Maharashtra (Called Kanda Poha).

Running the cart since 12 years, Padam Singh Jain ji initiated his effort with rabri faluda stall. Following his earnings and savings, he opened a confectionary shop later, where he serves some morning tea and coffee. Since after that he started with the idea of Jain Poha Corner right in front of his shop to cater the major chunk of students for their healthy breakfast.

Serving to the early risers, Jain Poha Corner is open from 6:00 a.m. in the morning to 1:00 p.m. in the afternoon. However, the backend work starts from 4:30 a.m. itself. The claimed healthy poha is made out of boiled flattened rice, along with some sugar, turmeric and black mustard seeds.

Once, the basic ingredients are boiled together, then some roasted chillies and fried green peas are added on to the taste. But what is served on to your plate includes few tempering over. The made Poha then is topped with chopped onion, cut pieces of tomato (with scissors), namkeen, peanuts and some sprinkled corriander. And few drops of lime juice over delivers a kick.

Not only students but the nearby residents also savour it with joy and get them in packing sometimes.

As evening sets down, the cart is all set to offer variety of paneer chila and pav bhaji to savour.
The Poha costs for Rs25 per plate.

Address: F-142 Mangal Bazar, Laxmi Nagar
Landmark: in front of government school

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Bringing Italy to Your Plate

Artusi Ristorante glitters, quite literally, with a trail of lights that follow you inside. It is inviting, warm and luxurious. The walls are adorned with paintings and there’s an actual fireplace with a live fire in the centre of the room! How often do you see lit fireplaces in Delhi*?

For me, the watershed moment in my love for Italian food was when Julia Roberts ate a plate of spaghetti while Mozart played in the background in the movie Eat Pray Love. I wanted nothing more than to devour that plate of pasta. After many unsuccessful attempts to replicate the dish, I have been on a lifelong quest to find the perfect spaghetti.

Artusi represents food from Emilia Romagna in Northeast Italy where pasta is the hero. They leave no stone unturned to perfect the dish. The pasta is entirely made by hand so the noodle is noticeably rough as compared to the smooth spaghetti cut by the pasta machine. This lends well to the spaghetti being ensconced in the tomato sauce, covering every ridge. It was not by chance that my plate was accompanied by crab. I would happily eat this spaghetti in a movie.

One of the finest dishes on the menu is a simple cheese with mushrooms and bread. Tomino is a soft cheese sourced directly from its motherland, Italy. It melts magnificently over the bread, sticking to the mushrooms, garnished with white truffle oil. Seemingly modest, the flavours are intricate and delicious. Try this dish even if you don’t love mushrooms. You will be converted for life. For dessert, pick the Panna Cotta. It is fluffy and soft, wonderfully offset by the crunchy praline, almonds and fig.

Do attempt to hide your shock when you don’t see pizza on the menu. I assure you that you won’t miss it. Pizza is a southern Italian signature whereas the northern regions have influences from countries such as Germany. Ask the owner, Oscar Balcon about the food from his homeland and he will passionately and painstakingly explain the regional variations in food across Italy. He’ll throw in a joke or two, staying true to his Italian heritage. This restaurant, he says is his retirement project. I can only hope that my retirement project is half as majestic or delicious someday.

 

Location: One Horizon Centre, Golf Course Road, Gurgaon
Meal for two: Rs. 4000

*Alright, Gurgaon

Anjora Sarangi
Anjora cannot resist a good prawn preparation, finds home in Chinese food anywhere in the world but will eat almost anything if it looks appealing. She is a Potter head and has recently discovered pottery as a hobby (excuse the pun).