rajasthani delights in bengalooru

Almost every weekend we have a ‘Jashan’ (celebration). Usually not for any reason. This one was for my allocation to a project, which by the way is a BIG issue.

So Roomie Ayush suggested Buffet at Dal Tadka, a rajasthani-north Indian cuisine restaurant.

“Buffet eating is an art” quotes Roomie. True. Its an artistic whim which makes you to pay for one, unlike the ones we enjoy at weddings and such food fests. You have to make good every rupee that you shell out. The more you shell out, the more the vengeance with which you attack the food. It’s a task at hand, not a meal. It requires strategy. Most importantly you have to be hungry, very hungry. Considering Rs.150 to be made accounted for.

Dal tadka, is as Indian as it sounds and rajasthani to boot. Enter into a sort of rajasthani mehfil, with the expected fabrics, paintings and seating. Not very over the top rajasthani, just right. One glance at the higher than average prices a la’ carte, we headed for the Buffet, which was gloriously waiting for us.

I guess we were the first ones to tuck in. And the first ones to be subjected to the terrible tasting fluid served in a very very ‘chindi’ plastic glass called JalJeera. If I were a gujju, trust me I would have killed someone. Plus floating dead insects. Hurrah!

But that’s where torture ends.

Starter alu tikkis were superb(4.5/5), the accompanying sauces made them interesting, best we had had.
The Naans were superbly flaky and so were the Phulkas (4/5).
Paneer sabzi ,Alu Gobi and Peas Pulav were usual(3.5/5)
Raitha was just curd blended with Hajmola anar daan, lame (2.3/5)

Dal Fry, thumbs up (4/5)

Gulab Jamoon, tired and tasted (3.5/5)

Over all, I felt it was overpriced at 150. We felt we didn’t give a tough fight since we gave up in between. Man it takes some guts to fight a Buffet.

China Pearl. No shes not my GF..unfortunately :(

China pearl, koramangala:

The occasion was a casual dinner party thrown by my roomie and some common friends. If you might have read my previous blog post, company really matters.

I don’t really fancy fancy places like this one, obviously they are supposed to be good, given that people who were hosting the party had tried or had been reccommended about it. Hence the notch goes higher this time.

My first night time in Koramangala, enjoying the sights and more sights (I was wearing a helmet) of Bangalore, the glam city. Hey this is what I came for. My earliest memories of Bangalore were a place where you could enjoy ‘american’ style food way back when there was none in Bombay and a hi tech, clean and functional city. Seems it still has it!

On a road full of similar joints, China pearl strikes no amazement into you. Enter and the décor is a bit crowded and usual. The staff were crisp ( hey I havent started tasting yet!) and very much in the ‘theme’ ! Not bad. The crowd seemed upmarket, except for us J had a good sprinkling of youngsters although it didn’t seemed like a very hip place (considering the fact that at one point they told us to pipe down, but we had our usual kind of fun). All this points to some serious dining. And. It’s Indian Chinese, not authentic.

We were 11 hungry people all from the same company. 11 different points of view, 10 great companions,7 states represented on a table and for sure 5 different languages spoken in a span of roughly 2.15 hours. I love my country.

So let’s eat.

What? The menu was huge. The sea food section was also well populated, which surprised me. The vegetarians definitely don’t lose out in this restaurant.
Heres what we ate, with an attempt at pro star rating, mind you this rating was done by 3 guys, hence I can say , this rating does good justice. Tabloids, please contact my agent.

Shaolin sticks (veg seekh Chinese style) – * * * * .5
Crispy paneer – * * * *
Momos – * * *
Lung fung soup – * * * .5
Chicken manchow soup – * * .5
Red Dragon chicken – * * *.5
Veg balls in hot garlic sauce – * * * *.5
Veg Chowmein - * * * *
Veg Schezwan fried rice (peas!) - * *
Chilly fish - * * * *
Kum Fa lamb - * * * .5
Chocolate mousse - * * * .5
Sweet lime soda - * * * *

Overall I can give it a * * * *. Lack s a full 5 because it seems a bit on the expensive side.

A meal I shall remember, for the food and the people.

Hey, I just did what many foodie columnists do; impose their judgement on the readers in metrics like numbers and stars. That’s the last thing I want to do.

Go to this place. It’s good.

The 'Good Food Guide' guide

I like food. A lot. I like to write , moderately though. Hence you will find articles religiously dedicated to food.(aneeshksh.blogspot.com). I have been blogging for more than a year. Intermittently though, every time I wrote, I was left with a feeling of satisfaction for putting my thoughts into words and for the ability to express one of lifes pleasures into letters, that of taste. My inspiration, presenter of ‘The Cook’s tour’ –Anthony Bourdain. It’s a bad practise to get inspired by TV, but his curt style and his love of food made not in a 5 star hotel, but of the kind enjoyed daily by Billions around the world. I however started on a small scale, exploring food that was served in my home in Mumbai, Vile Parle – the home of Parle-G biscuits and I was hooked.

I never tasted food like I used to before. I tasted for my readers, whoever they may be. Every taste and flavor, no matter how subtle was noticed, appreciated or taunted. I realised that the texture of food, aroma and the ambience could make or break a meal. Probably this is what my mother wants of me. To eat, enjoy and share. And what better way than blogging.

So how do you start? Assuming you do know how to start a blog of your own, the following guidelines can start you off with your own foodie page.
1:Like food, all kinds: You have to be impartial, like in a cricket match, an umpire who allows the usual sporting sledges and watches out for the no balls. You should be able to appreciate not just one cuisince but must be eager to try exotic ones. At the end of the day, the umpire likes the game, or gets paid well.
2:Know food: here you need a bit of research. This is the case with acquired tastes and local varieties. Better ask someone who is from the region to give you their opinion which will matter more. And most of all, you will know what to look out for and appreciate.
3:Company matters: Sharing a meal adds to the experience immensely. Talking statistically, it normalises any imbalances in judgement and a conversation always completes a meal. Plus it benefits you monetarily, obviously. Parties are good. Especially when you are not paying :) .
4:Keep a note: what you had, where you had and how much did you pay. These factors are fast forgotten when you eat something else! Remember, you are using taste and experience as metrics, which are not standard and tend to be forgotten easily.
5:Have an iron stomach: Don’t go anywhere without it! It took me years of digestive condtioning to be ready to brace almost any kind of food. It dosent mean we compromise on hygiene, we never do. But someone, somewhere always forgets to follow procedure.

I guess with this bit, we could start appreciating food and writing about it. But I shall tell you the place to get the truly best food in the world: home.

Battle of Bangalore: hunting for food. Intro

Battle of Bangalore: hunting for food. Intro.

Leaving Bombay was like leaving a Nice juicy, crunchy bhelpuri on the table after taking a bit and digging into a fresh plate of karela salad. Its healthy for me, I don’t like it but I have to eat it.

So as before, I explore new gastronomical frontiers with my roomies, let me remind you this blog isn’t a food blog, I write what I like to.

Let me start of by saying I hate Bangalore, for now. I am part Kannadiga so I am acquainted with Kannadiga food ( if that’s what it is called). And things are not Ok for a hog like me as I have to hunt. For food which is not the same as the last meal and which you might not get bored with within 3 cycles of iterations. For places where you don’t have to consume food like horses, standing up.For a place that is not run like a military canteen cause there is no other fodder station for miles to come . For a decent functional and affordable meal.

It dosent end with Dosa and idly, it starts with it. Best so far will be MTR which I haven’t tried but with all my techie brethen swearing by it, I can give it thumbs up.
But who has time to go and eat at all these fancy places when subsitence is the matter of hour. So you eat what you get. But all along in Bangalore you will discover gems of Dosa and Idly all along. Be it the canteen of the office or some small darshini you happen to try the accompanying chutney and sambhar are unqiue and interesting. Northies and I personally like the dry chutney which they put in the parcels, be sure to get it when you eat there also. But these occasions are rare where you are delighted by the food. Far and Few. So eat the next as it might be your first.

Gobi Manchurian. How these natives like it. How the Chinese might consider this a blasphemy. These spheres of nutritionally deficient califlowers tortured with vinegar, sauces and heaps of MSG potentially cancerous, how good they are! Best place to eat, my auntys place. Commercially I can say so far I have had it best at SLV swadishta, Banshankari. Banashakari by the way is my stomping ground for my adventures. Look out for Gobi manchurian with gravy, it can just make this dish or break it completely. NOT RECCOMENDED FOR PEOPLE WITH BAD THROATS, STOMACHS, INTESTINES….

Good North indian food, dosent come cheap here. If it comes so tell my dear flatmate who happens to be such a harried Northie affected by acute deficiency of good northie food. Already angered by lack of the national language, the final straw was the ‘north indian’ meals. This is Chinese food all over again. Local versions of North Indian fare are deluding the locals, or probably easing the transition I guess. Hey who am I to say. I am from the land of cocktail foods.

So run along to Shree Sagar(jayanagar 4th block). Our new found haven for Bombayya style Northie Food which my aforesaid Punjabi flatmate gave his thumbs up. Trust me that finger dosent come up as easily as one of its neighbours when it comes to food joints. Observe- food joints. Cause there usually are no chairs to sit and the consumption happens in a standing position, not this place. Thank you.
The roti, kulcha, naan run along the expensive side (Rs12+ !!) , but are well turned out. Sabzi, yes sir. Palak Paneer and Makhanwala are better than many of the ones I tried in Bombay. Priced similarly. Great Pulav. The service was quite mentionably fast and good. The Mushroom gets a 4.5/5! Schezwan rice sucks :( Gobi MC :( North indian meal :):):):) hehe, they had ice cream in that meal :). Its in Jayanagar :) , next to Cool joint :)

Cool joint, :) I cant stop doing that. This place definitely takes the ice cream cake. Screw Baskin robins 52 times over man! Great prices, great dishes , sandwiches, sundaes, shakes , juices. Thank god for this piece of holy land. You have to experience this place. Try amazing ice cream combos like Honey crunch, my darling, spider man…… innovative, very delightful and cheap(25+) !! what more. I want my salary paid this way. Womenfolk, you will love this place, men escorting the lady, this is your lucky cheap break.

Finally for this article, the one thing that made us happy, kept our energy and morale up, juices. Omnipotent. Omnipresent. Mega size, Mini price. Max satisfaction. Since I stepped into bangalore I have been drinking like a fish, purely non alcoholic in nature. Man, water is for washing, juice is for drinking! All the prices are low and juice is made fresh. The water so far has always been clean and best way to get vitamins awfully low in bachelor food that we eat. I always ask for mice without sugar and filter. Which makes the juice dude wonder, why bother drink a juice? Just eat a fruit and drink water. But I am too lazy for that. Highly reccomended, bangalore reads fresh good cheap juice for me.

Further I invite my friends who are fighting valiantly the battle to conquer new tastes and experiences in food land. Together we shall make this world a better place to eat :) forgive my pjs :P.