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Sunday, March 30, 2014

"Chakhna Menu" - bringing back yesteryears

Having heard much about the "Chakhna Menu" at Punjab Grill, my husband literally dragged me with him to try it. I am in a non alcoholic phase, and my focus was primarily on what this new menu offered.

We were lucky to meet Chef Gurpreet, the mastermind behind this innovative idea. Young men, just on the verge of adulthood, would have alcohol with street side snacks, sometimes its simple scrambled egg, or keema, or fish tikkas.
The food is served in innovative ways: the mutton comes in a charcoal press model for its cooked on coal. The alcohol is served with a desi flavour too: the Punjabi's love their whiskies in weddings, so a small horn is placed in your single malt: the staff shall blow it once before they serve it to you. :)
 There's more to discover waiting to be discovered by you... so check it out soon!
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Photos courtesy: Punjab Grill 

Thursday, March 13, 2014

South Indian Food beyond the Usual

"So you like Dosas?", I asked my friend when he said he loved South Indian Food. 
"Or Uttapams?", I offered, upon getting a frown.
"There's more to South Indian cuisine than those", said my friend and literally dragged me to Kausstubh in Saket District Centre, near DLF Place Mall. It was a peaceful place, with a simplistic design and wooden furniture.. it seemed peaceful and generated hunger pangs in my stomach.
We started with a traditional rasam and papad. That reminds me, do you know there are numerous varieties of rasam? And if you are interested, you may visit Kausstubh when they host the "Rasam Festival". 

Food from all states of South India was available - we had Fried Cocktail Idli, Cheese Kuzhipaniyaram, Keerai Kuttu and Butter Milk for starters. It was spicy, yummy and very innovative.
I wanted to have the traditional dosa, so the staff suggested we try Chettinad Plain Dosa and Garlic Dosa, along with the usual one. Note the unique presentation style?  

My friend was still hungry, so we ordered the Thali and Appams. With multiple dishes served in small bowls, came a Malabar Paratha and Idiyappam.
We finished our super heavy meal with "1 metre Coffee"... a coffee that is blended in two mugs held at a vertical distance of 1 metre. 

The restaurant serves North Indian food too, but I'd recommend you try their South Indian menu only. 
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Photocredits: Atul Tayade

Sunday, March 09, 2014

Hyderabadi Food Festival

 Window shopping at Ambience Mall, Gurgaon my friend and I stopped in front of a banner announcing the "Hyderabadi Food Festival" at Zambar, a restaurant on the 3rd Floor. Our stomachs and tongues yearning for a taste of the new menu, we dropped our shopping agenda almost immediately.

We were greeted by Chef Arun, a man with a broad smile who adds a personal touch in the food he serves to his guests. And tiny elements add to the ambience: banana leaf shaped plates, portrait of a Kathakali dancer on the wall, and more.

We are served with a small amount of Rasam, and traditional papads. But what is a hyderabadi food festival without kebabs and biriyani? The chef smiles at our query and serves his select few - aloo ke garlay (vegeterian), Shikampuri (mutton) and Chicken tikka (with a strong garlic flavour!). Served with a green chutney, the kebabs just melted in our mouths.

Moving on to the main course, he served us a delectable platter of achari chicken (yummy), nawabi kofta curry (meatballs), fish curry made in nuts and a vegeterian dish made with chillies.
Next came the biriyani, which is served only after the personal approval of Chef Arun. It was too good, and we had so much of it that we had to quickly proceed to the desserts. Needless to say, they were unique and superb too.
All you foodies out there, do remember to check out the Hyderabadi Food festival!