desicreative.com

As i wait for New Delhi-Mumbai flight I am pleasantly surprised to see a Nirula's Express outlet at the ND Airport. Their cappuccino is actually better than the more popular Cafe Coffee Day!
Nirulas has always been the under-reported, under-rated chain. I have always wondered why they havent been more aggressive on the national level. If you get a chance, do try their Mutton Maha Burger and Chocolate Milk Shake.

For the uninitiated, Nirula's is our desi challenge to McDonald's and has been here long before McDs came. Their burgers are very well targeted at the desi taste bud, though I feel the top prize in that category goes to A-1 Bakery in Bandra, Mumbai. But then, thats another post.

From delhi to Mumbai to pune to panchgani to Murud Janjira. Post written from Murud beach. its an ok-ok kind of place. I am told the local kids like to deflate tyres of unattended vehicles, so am sitting down at a joint which has a parking lot. The food isnt half as good as Panchgani.

FOOD IN MURUD JANJIRA

At Murud Janjia, avoid eating at Vinayak restaurant at all costs. The food is pathetic. The fesh lime tastes like sweat! AND they dont have change for Rs 500!

Theres this mail i got which had a list of the best places to eat in kolkata. I will post it soon as i can find it

love narulas.

Hasmukh wrote:Theres this mail i got which had a list of the best places to eat in kolkata. I will post it soon as i can find it

EATING OUT IN KOLKATA

Kabiraji Cutlet from Regent (S N Banerjee Road)
Moghlai Parota from Anadi Cabin (S N Banerjee Road)
Kosha Mangsho from Golbari (Shyambazar)
Phulkopir Singara from Mrityunjoy (Lansdowne)
Double Egg Chicken Roll from Kusum / Park
Steet)(Campari @ Gariahat & Nizam is a close contender!)
Chicken Rezala from Shabbir (off C R Avenue)
Steak at Oly pub (with beer!!)
Ujjala's Chanachur ( no comparison anywhere)
Telebhaja from Putiram (College Street)
Daab Chigri from Kewpies (Elgin Lane)
Chicken Cutlet from Baked & Fried/Mukherjee Sweets
(Ballygunge Place)
Bijoli Grill's Fish Roll
Mochar Chop Dhoka from Apanjan (Sadananda Road)
Boudir's Lebu Cha (Deshapriya Park)
Kochuri & Tarkari from Tasty Corner (Mandeville Gardens)
Phuchka/Churmur/ Dahi Phuchka from Bilas or Boudi
(Southern Avenue)
Chicken Cutlet near Samur (Bhowanipur)
Mishti Doi & Rosogolla from Mithai (Beckbagan)
Sandesh (all types) from Balaram (Bhowanipur) (Narampak & Ice cream
sandesh)
Pantua from Bancharam
Indrani from Ganguram
Rabri from Chittaranhan
Darbesh from Sen Mahasay
Amritti from Bhim Nag/Ganguram, Maniktala (Jalebis are no match)


I also add –
Skyroom's Prawn Cocktail &
Mixed Grill & Baked
Alaska or Blue Fox's Lobster Thermidor - NOT anymore.... even the
Mandarin Fish from Waldorf is no more available!!

These are unmatched:

Chelo Kabab from Peter Cat
Phulkopir Shingara: samosas don't stand a chance against these.
Phuchka: gol-gappas aren't a match on phuchkas.
Karaishutir Kochuri: a seasonal favourite, have it with alur dam.
Luchi: puri and phulkas - no comparison.
Alurdom: the world's best. Try the offering at Vivekananda Park.
Jhalmuri: a unique concoction, with nothing to equal it.
Telebhaaja: these and jhalmuri are like 'made for each other'.
Chanachur: many have tried unsuccesfully to steal the formula, MNCs
included!
Alukabli: where will you get something like this?
Ghugni: again, chana is not the same at all. (And mangshe'r ghugni is even
better)
Radhaballavi: try it with alurdom or cholar daal.
Chaanp: even Pakistani cricketers have sampled these, in Chitpur.
Rezala: out of this world, just out of this world!
Paradiser Sharbat: there is one which is green, and another, pink. No
college student from Presidency or the University has failed to sample
these!
Lere Biscut: needed to make the batter for chop-katlet. (Also phata-phati
with butter and/or cheese spread)
Chicken Kabiraji: an unbelievable variation on the chicken cutlet.
Moton Afghani: an equally innovative presentation of the mutton cutlet.
(Coffee House)
Dimer Kalia: again, where do you get something like this?
Kasha mangsho: it's become an institution now.
Roll: the ubiquitous mutton, chicken or egg roll.
Unquestionably superior to any variants in any other city of the world.

And also:
Coffee houser coffee: try the float with ice cream.
Bharer chaa: on the Maidan, from shining brass vessels on a rainy day.

And not to be missed in all this,
Pan unmatched, even in Benaras or Lucknow. Honestly!

The sweeter side
Roshomalai: a creamy, mouth-watering delight!
Jilipi: smaller than the jalebis and tastes quite different.
Lal(Misti) doi: is an experience by itself!
Kamala bhog: a pale yellow orb, delicately sweetened.
Notun gurer sondesh: a winter speciality available in no other city.
Rosogolla: simply needs no introduction.
Natun gurer Rosogolla: the latest innovation.
Shitabhog: pure white, sweetened to just the rightextent.
Mihi Dana: golden yellow, saffron scented.
Maalpoa: rich brown pancakes, dripping in sugar syrup.
Ranga alur pithey: another traditional favourite in winter.

Some special one's:
1. Aamer morobba - the best outside Gariahat market
2. Kuler achar - the best outside Gariahat market
3. Shukno mashla makha tetul - Available with the churanwalas outside all
schools, much to the delight of the students and dismay of the parents !!
4. Dulaler tal mishri
5. Dulaler hojmi - mind boggling and healthy too
6. Bikrampurer kashundi - Mustard just pales next to this
7. Machher kochuri - Where else can you have fish in such an innovative
form ????
8. Churmur - In my opinion this is slightly better than jhalmuri and
phuchka. The same thing of course is that it is unheard of in the rest of
the country.
9. Alukabli - Another must at Vivekananda Park or opposite Menoka Cinema
10. Muri ghonto - Defies description
11. moc-har chop - A delight even for the staunchest non vegetarians
12. Kumro phul bhaja - In tiny little food joints around Chittaranjan
Avenue
13. Kada paker sandesh - A sure winner, especially the jalbhara talshansh
with the liquid gur filling, which is sublime
14. Darbesh - Our own version of the laddoo
15. Bondey - How does one describe this sticky sweet delicacy ?
16. Patishapta - A delicate crepe with a filling of coconut and gur
17. Chhanar payesh - Better than rabdi anyday and does not weigh your

I would like to add here:

Shudhu bodh hoi Tangra key ignore koreche, r aami du ekta item add korte
chai list'e : amar personal obhigota theke -

1. The china bazar at poddar court in the breakfast market(closes by
6:30am) - bliv it or not, 5 taka diye chicken drumstick, 1 taka diye momo,
r onek variety)

2. Free school street / mirza ghalib street e ekta resturant ache - HOW
HUA, shekhane ekta dish paoya jai - chimney soup, it has chicken, fish,
prawn, eggs and pork.....but the way it is served is the USP; in a large
bowl, with a small "chimney" like structure jutting out...with coal in it.
it actually steams while u eat!!!!

3. Bhowanipur gurudwara tey kochuri; plus a weird invention - duudh thumbs
up........je na kheyeche shey jane na maal ki jinish

4. Amader gol park er cha mashi can also compete with the deshopriyo park
mashi (Bhanu wil whole heartedly agree)

Paramvir added

Try Squid Bolognese at Blue Potato (shakespeare sarani), my good friend, Naveen Pai's Joint
Also try the Mushroom Parathas at Coffee Pai, Camac Street
Coffee Pai used to have something called Sauteed Mushrooms on Toast. Dont knwo if they still server them, but they were divine!

Try the Pastries at Kookie Jar and Darjeeling tea at Flurys

Admin, can we have some translation please?

hmmmm. ek kanya, half of that would be bereft of flavour, if translated. you should make a Food Pilgrimage to Kolkata.

In
EATING OUT IN MUMBAI

For maharashtrain coastal cuisine : Highway Gomantak (Bandra East on Western Express Highway)

The lane that goes up from Carter Road towards Olive is full of some of my favourite joints. MaeB, Crepe Station, Kareems, Olive...

MID NIGHT SNACKING AT BADE MIAN'S in Colaba Causeway

bangalore flavour

EATING OUT IN BANGALORE

grilled chicken at Empire Hotel
appam and stew at Koshy’s
scrambled eggs and filter coffee at Indian Coffee House
beer and steak and Windsor Pub
diet rolls of Rolls that Rock
liichi and cream at Corner House
chicken piri-piri at Cafe Piripiri
mixed grill at Miller 69 steak house
lemon cake and tea at Java City
risottos at Casa Picolla
mojitos at 1912
bisibilla baat and kesri baat at Shanti Sagar
home made candies from Nilgiris
pork pickle from Bangalore Pork Shop
lamp chops at Spiega
thai curry at Cosmo Village
mark knopfler at palace grounds ...

EATING OUT IN MUMBAI

For maharashtrain coastal cuisine : Highway Gomantak (Bandra East on Western Express Highway)

The lane that goes up from Carter Road towards Olive is full of some of my favourite joints. MaeB, Crepe Station, Kareems, Olive...

MID NIGHT SNACKING AT BADE MIAN'S in Colaba Causeway

Steaks at Gondolas (Bandra, Pali Market)
Steaks and breakfast at Cafe Leopold (town)
Best Kebabs and pao in the suburbs at this small joint next to Five on SV Road called Tasty Food
Five (try their speciality. 5 items change every month or something like that)
For Bengali food, try Oh Calcutta! at Tardeo (somewhere near Crossroads)
also try Flavours of Kolkata at Vashi
Lemon Grass for Oriental food. They have a nice burmese dish called the Khao Swe (I must have spelt that wrong). Also try the Mango-Kiwi drink at Lemon Grass. (Bandra)

Anybody want to fill in on Delhi?

Nirula's i love it! i had my first pizza, burger and footlong over there. YUMMM.

Momos in Delhi
authentic : Tibetan Refugee Colony near Gurudwara Majnu Da Tila, behind DU Campus
best sadakchaap momos : theres this guy opposite the ticket counter at PVR Saket. Amazing stuff.
Second best sadakchaap momos : chanakyapuri market
okokmomos with fruit beer : the Naga Stall at Delhi Haat. If you like completely non-spicy stuff, do try their Naga Thali. All boiled stuff. Its nice.

THE BEST & MOST AUTHENTIC MOMOS IN THE ENTIRE WORLD
were made by an old Tibetan lady, who incidentally was known to us simply as MOMOWALI BOJYU(loosely tranlated as momo granma or granma who sells momos). She sold momos from her own house in the same Sambhunath Hospital lane in Calcutta where other momo joints have cropped up. It was much before the momo craze caught on, and the place was generally frequented by the local nepalese and their friends. The momos had the right combination of meat(and in those days there were just pork momos) and onion(the right combo is the most important thing) wrapped in the thinnest layer of dough. And when one would bite into one of them, juicy pork fat would ooze from it and the momo just melted in one's mouth. The momos were served with the most amazing home made chili chatni and soup, which made the whole experience legendary.

The legend, sadly, died with MOMOWALI BOJYU.

Best Jhunka Bhakri

at SinhaGarh fort near pune. Theres an old woman who has the best and most authentic little shack. Try the dahi as well.

Also try Pratapgarh Fort, on the way back from Mahanbaleshwar.

traveling in Mumbai? plan your route with this excellent software developed by IIT Bombay

http://www.cse.iitb.ac.in/navigator/index.html

or if you want to stick to Bus
http://www.bestundertaking.com/transport/index.htm