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[LosingNow]

My vote.. Dum Pukht at the ITC Sheraton, Hyderabad.

The best Kababs in the "WHOLE WORLD"!!!

The Karkori kabab is the killer..succulent lamb meat, wonderfully spiced, cooked to perfection. The Dum Chicken Biryani (where the Chicken is cooked with the rice..in a small degchi type vessel sealed with moist atta.. so the juices remain inside) ...mmmm.

All this accompanied with "live" Ghazals sung by Riaz Mia - whose voice is absolutely haunting.

Perfect food .. great atmosphere.

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Go ahead .. add your picks. Make sure you mention the restaurant and the city.

[sgusa]

LS: You found a way to make sure i dont post on this thread ! 

 

[LosingNow]

LS: You found a way to make sure i dont post on this thread ! 

 

Why?

[sgusa]

I am a ovo-lacto vegetarian!

[LosingNow]

I am a ovo-lacto vegetarian!

OK. Start a Vegetarian thread.. I thought about it..but you will almost have to make it regional ..like south vs north; or by cuisine - there is so much wonderful variety in Indian food.. I think I may not be stretching it when I say that our cuisine/culture changes every 200+ KM you go from any point in the country in any direction. Amazing diversity..

[dhruvdeepak]

there is a Dum Pukht in Dubai, i believe it is a branch of what you have mentioned. only eaten there once, but it was great.

best I had was at some place in Bangalore. It was many years ago (at least 8-9) when i was really young, at a club (the name of which I dont recall). The dish was called Rajah Chicken, a type of chilli chicken. I can still taste it now.
ravi, if you are around, this place was near where the Fun World is/was (not sure if its still there?). Any ideas as to what this club was called? I will definitely try and locate it when I go to B'lore next month.

For steaks, the best I have had are at The Only Place (Museum rd I think) and Juke Box (Koramangala), both in Bangalore.

[sgusa]

I am a ovo-lacto vegetarian!

OK. Start a Vegetarian thread.. I thought about it..but you will almost have to make it regional ..like south vs north; or by cuisine - there is so much wonderful variety in Indian food.. I think I may not be stretching it when I say that our cuisine/culture changes every 200+ KM you go from any point in the country in any direction. Amazing diversity..

Oh my god. That is verbatim what i always say (to anyone who cares to listen  )

[k-slice]

bokdacha rassa or male goat curry from kolhapur. a restaurant called opel serves it. it is wicked good. also kolhapuri food is usually accompanied by tamda rassa(red curry) and pandhra rassa(white coconut based curry) irrespective of what you order. eaten with bhakri, a thick roti made out of jowar or bajra. ok thats it i am riding on my bike to kolhapur just to eat at opel.

[pieterSAN]

Maurya Sheraton in Delhi.

This story needs to be told properly. I was 12, my ma, my sister and I happened to be in Delhi cooped up in a hotel for 3 weeks. Soon became friendly with the hotel staff. Then one morning, I was goofing around with the receptionist ( no, not that way) when I saw that room number 50 is occupied by Mr. Naseerudin Shah. I thought WOW! and I turned to the receptionist and asked her if it was really him and she said she does not know. I told her I would call him and she goes " No! Don't do that".

Being the good boy that I was I told my ma  and asked her if it was okay to call him. She said " Sure it's fine". Soon afterwards I did (My ma did not really believe I was bold enough to do it) and with honest-to-god innocence I told Naseer that I thought the world of him and the kind of movies he was in and was wondering if I could meet him. To my surprise he said come on up and we'll chat.

That guy was out-of-this-world cool. He ended up taking us to a play called Kanjoos and he also took us to Maurya Sheraton where he ordered Sikandari Raan for us. It's the thigh of a baby lamb that is marinated and grilled Mughal style. Pure magic.

[LosingNow]

Maurya Sheraton in Delhi.

This story needs to be told properly. I was 12, my ma, my sister and I happened to be in Delhi cooped up in a hotel for 3 weeks. Soon became friendly with the hotel staff. Then one morning, I was goofing around with the receptionist ( no, not that way) when I saw that room number 50 is occupied by Mr. Naseerudin Shah. I thought WOW! and I turned to the receptionist and asked her if it was really him and she said she does not know. I told her I would call him and she goes " No! Don't do that".

Being the good boy that I was I told my ma  and asked her if it was okay to call him. She said " Sure it's fine". Soon afterwards I did (My ma did not really believe I was bold enough to do it) and with honest-to-god innocence I told Naseer that I thought the world of him and the kind of movies he was in and was wondering if I could meet him. To my surprise he said come on up and we'll chat.

That guy was out-of-this-world cool. He ended up taking us to a play called Kanjoos and he also took us to Maurya Sheraton where he ordered Sikandari Raan for us. It's the thigh of a baby lamb that is marinated and grilled Mughal style. Pure magic.

The restaurant must have been Bukhara. I have had the Raan there and also at Samarkand in B'lore. Yep, it is good.

[vincent]

I am a ovo-lacto vegetarian!

OK. Start a Vegetarian thread.. I thought about it..but you will almost have to make it regional ..like south vs north; or by cuisine - there is so much wonderful variety in Indian food.. I think I may not be stretching it when I say that our cuisine/culture changes every 200+ KM you go from any point in the country in any direction. Amazing diversity..

The amazing diversity ia also true for non-veg although most of the restaurants abroad (and also in India) specialize in Mughlai food only.Just in the south-west coast of India,you have following varieties at least:

- Goa (Christian)
- Goa Saraswat
- North Kanara Saraswat
- North Kanara Muslim
- South Kanara/Udupi Saraswat
- South Kanara/Udupi Christian
- South Kanara/Udupi Bunts
- North Kerala (Malabar)
- South Kerala
- Coorg

The diversity also includes all variety of fish and also focus on Porc (except for the Muslim part).

Then of course there is Andhra and Chettinadu in the south which have their own very good dishes,mostly chicken.

[dhruvdeepak]

For andhra biryani - Nandini Palace in Indiranagar, Bangalore (CMH road, I think)

[sgusa]

Chettinad has some very good mutton dishes. And they pretty much specialize in seafood too ( well i cant say first hand, being a veg head and all )

[Aloo Kashmiri Ul Haq]

nal bazaar mumbai 
just kidding

[LosingNow]

I am a ovo-lacto vegetarian!

OK. Start a Vegetarian thread.. I thought about it..but you will almost have to make it regional ..like south vs north; or by cuisine - there is so much wonderful variety in Indian food.. I think I may not be stretching it when I say that our cuisine/culture changes every 200+ KM you go from any point in the country in any direction. Amazing diversity..

The amazing diversity ia also true for non-veg although most of the restaurants abroad (and also in India) specialize in Mughlai food only.Just in the south-west coast of India,you have following varieties at least:

- Goa (Christian)
- Goa Saraswat
- North Kanara Saraswat
- North Kanara Muslim
- South Kanara/Udupi Saraswat
- South Kanara/Udupi Christian
- South Kanara/Udupi Bunts
- North Kerala (Malabar)
- South Kerala
- Coorg

The diversity also includes all variety of fish and also focus on Porc (except for the Muslim part).

Then of course there is Andhra and Chettinadu in the south which have their own very good dishes,mostly chicken.

Of course, one cannot beat some of the Kodi (chicken) prepared in coastal Andhra.

[LosingNow]

For andhra biryani - Nandini Palace in Indiranagar, Bangalore (CMH road, I think)

Cool. Will go there.
Now maybe Rams can help me out here..but for Hyderabadi Biriyani..would it not be Paradise in Secunderabad?

[sudzz]

Has anyone tried Bade Miya at Colaba- excellent chicken, raan, rogan ghosht etc. There was another place called Baghdadi also in Colaba but I dont think its around anymore.

Then for sea food lovers nothing to beat Mahesh Lunch home in fort area-excellent crabs/lobsters etc.

For all those that love biriyani there is Noorani at Haji Ali

Goan food at Gomantak or Goa Portugesa

Of course the sea food thali at Gazalee is unbelievable

Those that have sol curry/kadi have missed something

Then there is down market fish land and worli naka which is also very good

[LosingNow]

Has anyone tried Bade Miya at Colaba- excellent chicken, raan, rogan ghosht etc. There was another place called Baghdadi also in Colaba but I dont think its around anymore.

Then for sea food lovers nothing to beat Mahesh Lunch home in fort area-excellent crabs/lobsters etc.

For all those that love biriyani there is Noorani at Haji Ali

Goan food at Gomantak or Goa Portugesa

Of course the sea food thali at Gazalee is unbelievable

Those that have sol curry/kadi have missed something

Then there is down market fish land and worli naka which is also very good

Wow! Time to visit B'bay. Great list.

[sudzz]

nal bazaar mumbai 
just kidding

Not Nal Bazaar but biriyani and phirni at both Bhendi Bazar and Mohd.Ali road during ramadan is mind boggling

[sudzz]

Has anyone tried Bade Miya at Colaba- excellent chicken, raan, rogan ghosht etc. There was another place called Baghdadi also in Colaba but I dont think its around anymore.

Then for sea food lovers nothing to beat Mahesh Lunch home in fort area-excellent crabs/lobsters etc.

For all those that love biriyani there is Noorani at Haji Ali

Goan food at Gomantak or Goa Portugesa

Of course the sea food thali at Gazalee is unbelievable

Those that have sol curry/kadi have missed something

Then there is down market fish land and worli naka which is also very good

Wow! Time to visit B'bay. Great list.

You bet it is... I have been away from Bombay for over three years and out of India for some time now and really yearn to get back to these places not even for the food just the smell is enough

[sgusa]

If you guys go to the online version of The Hindu (www.hindu.com), so to the metro section, and choose Eating out ( or go to Delhi section, and look at the eating out section). Often, Rahul Varma has nice articles of some famous and/or forgotten piece of delhi culinary scene. Mostly non veg places. Very well written pieces on the place and its food.

[sudzz]

For andhra biryani - Nandini Palace in Indiranagar, Bangalore (CMH road, I think)

DD how come you missed Koshy's at Bangalore.

For all pork lovers the Panni Curry at Coconut Grove is lovely (you got to develope a taste for mallu cooking though)...their aapam's and Stew is also really good.

On the same street Church Street i think there is a small punju joint run by a old lady some amazin punju food (for some reason I have only had veg there) but their daal maakhni is yummy.

There is another one called Sammy/Jimmy something like that (named after a dog the owner had) off Mallaya road they serve some real good food (i think the menu includes meat loaf which is actually steak cant remember clearly)

[pieterSAN]

losing now:
YES, it was Bukhara that we went to. Spoke to my Ma about it.

Sudzz:
ever been to the Persian Gulf? In Abu Dhabi, I used to play cricket and football all afternoon, during the summers as a kid. On the walk home there would be often be a crowd (50+) gathered to break fast Iftaar at the nearby mosque and the Pathans would always invite me to sit down and join them for biryani. Eventually I did join them and ate with them. Amazing experience.

[LosingNow]

DD how come you missed Koshy's at Bangalore.

On the same street Church Street i think there is a small punju joint run by a old lady some amazin punju food (for some reason I have only had veg there) but their daal maakhni is yummy.

I know Koshy's is a Bangalore institution ..but I think it is overrated these days - even for Sunday Appams with Stew (SHHHTEW!)...just like another B'lore instituition - MTR - that has fallen dramatically. Just my opinions.
I think the Church street place is Queens. We discussed that earlier elsewhere.

[flute202020]

For andhra biryani - Nandini Palace in Indiranagar, Bangalore (CMH road, I think)

Cool. Will go there.
Now maybe Rams can help me out here..but for Hyderabadi Biriyani..would it not be Paradise in Secunderabad?

yep, paradise in secunderabad is just too good. Actually, I think its taste came down a lil bit in recent times.

[MockTurtle]

DD how come you missed Koshy's at Bangalore.

On the same street Church Street i think there is a small punju joint run by a old lady some amazin punju food (for some reason I have only had veg there) but their daal maakhni is yummy.

I know Koshy's is a Bangalore institution ..but I think it is overrated these days - even for Sunday Appams with Stew (SHHHTEW!)...just like another B'lore instituition - MTR - that has fallen dramatically. Just my opinions.
I think the Church street place is Queens. We discussed that earlier elsewhere.

thought the malayalam word for that is "ishtu" - wonder if it is just a mutilation of "stew".

[LosingNow]

DD how come you missed Koshy's at Bangalore.

On the same street Church Street i think there is a small punju joint run by a old lady some amazin punju food (for some reason I have only had veg there) but their daal maakhni is yummy.

I know Koshy's is a Bangalore institution ..but I think it is overrated these days - even for Sunday Appams with Stew (SHHHTEW!)...just like another B'lore instituition - MTR - that has fallen dramatically. Just my opinions.
I think the Church street place is Queens. We discussed that earlier elsewhere.

thought the malayalam word for that is "ishtu" - wonder if it is just a mutilation of "stew".

Hmm.. interesting. I did not know that malayalam word was "ishtu". The kept saying "ishtu" and I thought they were pronouncing "stew" as "SHHHTEW"...which I found unique. Now it is all coming together.

[MockTurtle]

Hmm.. interesting. I did not know that malayalam word was "ishtu". The kept saying "ishtu" and I thought they were pronouncing "stew" as "SHHHTEW"...which I found unique. Now it is all coming together.

yes - appam+ishtu is the standard combo or appam+meen moile. talking of kerala food, have you eaten puttu w kadala(black channa)?

(yes, am an idjet and i own a puttu making apparatus that i have never used)

[LosingNow]

No. What is puttu?

[sgusa]

Hmm.. interesting. I did not know that malayalam word was "ishtu". The kept saying "ishtu" and I thought they were pronouncing "stew" as "SHHHTEW"...which I found unique. Now it is all coming together.

yes - appam+ishtu is the standard combo or appam+meen moile. talking of kerala food, have you eaten puttu w kadala(black channa)?

(yes, am an idjet and i own a puttu making apparatus that i have never used)

Yummm. puttu w kadai !!!

(Big big idjet for not using the apparatus. As punishment make puttu this weekend and upload pics for us to enjoy!!)

[dhruvdeepak]

NON VEG THREAD. DO NOT RUIN THREAD

MODS WARN SGUSA AND MOCK, THEY HAVE BEGUN AGAIN

[MockTurtle]

No. What is puttu?

well, puttu is a typical b'fast item is kerala and is made by steaming alternate layers of rice flour and coconut in a unique puttu-making apparatus. since it is dry, it is often eaten with kadala curry or banana!

here's a picture of puttu and also that of a puttu maker. am not sure how they got that brown colour around it - it is usually white/mild brown coz of the coconut. this puttu maker looks rather battered but should give you an idea. the layers are packed in the long tube above and the bottom vessel has water used for steaming. there is a perforated disc between the two compartments. *phew* i need to start a thread on various cooking apparatuses!

[MockTurtle]

Hmm.. interesting. I did not know that malayalam word was "ishtu". The kept saying "ishtu" and I thought they were pronouncing "stew" as "SHHHTEW"...which I found unique. Now it is all coming together.

yes - appam+ishtu is the standard combo or appam+meen moile. talking of kerala food, have you eaten puttu w kadala(black channa)?

(yes, am an idjet and i own a puttu making apparatus that i have never used)

Yummm. puttu w kadai !!!

(Big big idjet for not using the apparatus. As punishment make puttu this weekend and upload pics for us to enjoy!!)

how does one upload pics? i am tempted to make puttu this weekend.

[sgusa]

Hmm.. interesting. I did not know that malayalam word was "ishtu". The kept saying "ishtu" and I thought they were pronouncing "stew" as "SHHHTEW"...which I found unique. Now it is all coming together.

yes - appam+ishtu is the standard combo or appam+meen moile. talking of kerala food, have you eaten puttu w kadala(black channa)?

(yes, am an idjet and i own a puttu making apparatus that i have never used)

Yummm. puttu w kadai !!!

(Big big idjet for not using the apparatus. As punishment make puttu this weekend and upload pics for us to enjoy!!)

how does one upload pics? i am tempted to make puttu this weekend.

There is an album section. All the "interesting" pics DD uploaded ( a few of mine) are there 

[MockTurtle]

NON VEG THREAD. DO NOT RUIN THREAD

MODS WARN SGUSA AND MOCK, THEY HAVE BEGUN AGAIN

okay okay was just trying to share information. bah! does no one appreciate "congeniality" any more?? 

[LosingNow]

Man, looks interesting...and also, appears like a lot effort goes into making it...with I assume multiple steaming rounds of alternate layers of rice and coconut.

This discussion belongs to FOOD THREAD. DD is right

[MockTurtle]

Man, looks interesting...and also, appears like a lot effort goes into making it...with I assume multiple steaming rounds of alternate layers of rice and coconut.

This discussion belongs to FOOD THREAD. DD is right

ok ok - here's the final say on this - not multiple rounds, the coconut and rice layers are alternatively packed into the tube in the same round. so depending on the quantity you need, u make as many rounds.

just to put it all in context, "Malabar", a fine NON-VEGETARIAN restaurant near Notting hill, London makes good puttu on some days. and the MEAT EATERS may have it and some PANNI ERACHI.

[saneguy]

These threads should be banned; I'm dying remembering all the dishes with no chance to even smell it in the near future.

its been years so the restaurants may not be there anymore but my list - not in any order.

Goa : Chiken Cafreal and Xacuti Vindaloo at O'Coqueiro
         Kingfish at Bogmalo beach

Delhi : Barra Kabab, Korma with Romali Roti at Kareem
          Kabobs from Kabob Factory or Bukhara
          Nihari at shoukat, balli maran
          Fish Fry at my fav thela near Gole Market.
          Butter Chicken from Pahlwan, Gaziabad
         and Tandorri chicken with Mcdowels no 1 at the Dhaba near Airport on Gurgaon Border

Calcutta : Rolls at Nizam and Biryani from Aminiya, Hilsa Mach with Baath from almost anywhere.

My Kalimpong! : Momos and Thupa from Krishna.

Banglore : Ceylon/Kerala Paratha and Chicken Kabab at City Market
               Biryani at Annapurna Galaxy
               Rolls and Kabab at Fanoos

Vijaywada : Chicken 65

Lucknow : Mutton Biryani, Tunde ka kabab and Sheermal at Tunday Kababi shop

[pieterSAN]

Momos are friggin terrific. Especially pork momos. I am still not sure where it is from - is it Tibetian? Friggin genius whoever thought that up.

Funny thing is, it appears in different forms in different parts of Asia. Modhak is pretty close to Momos. In Russia they have something called pelmeni. 

[toney]

thought the malayalam word for that is "ishtu" - wonder if it is just a mutilation of "stew".

It came from stew alright.

For andhra biryani - Nandini Palace in Indiranagar, Bangalore (CMH road, I think)

DD how come you missed Koshy's at Bangalore.

For all pork lovers the Panni Curry at Coconut Grove is lovely (you got to develope a taste for mallu cooking though)...their aapam's and Stew is also really good.

On the same street Church Street i think there is a small punju joint run by a old lady some amazin punju food (for some reason I have only had veg there) but their daal maakhni is yummy.

There is another one called Sammy/Jimmy something like that (named after a dog the owner had) off Mallaya road they serve some real good food (i think the menu includes meat loaf which is actually steak cant remember clearly)

I thought Paradise in Hyd and Koshy's in B'lore are both overrated. Koshy's has fish and chips which is nice for a change.
Old Hyderabad and the Muslim non veg dishes rock.
The Sammy/Jummy place is actually Sunny's and they serve good pasta and awesome desserts there. My cousin and I celebrated our birthdays (which come rather close by) once there.

I have been to Hypnos but Samarkhand opened up later. Thats one sure place to visit this year end. Any Bangaloreans willing to join me? There is a neat place (formal) on MG Road just past Brigade. Forgot the name.


I have heard a lot about Karim's in Delhi (actually they opened a new swankier one too), especially their stuffed goat which has to be ordered in advance (serves 15 people).

Kerala cuisine is very interesting. The Muslim style biriyani from Kozhikode stands out. There is the very traditional vegetarian feast with so many courses for sgusa. The Christian areas in central Kerala have excellent dishes (chicken, duck, pork and fish). The coastal areas have a very spicy preparation of fish.
To be frank, I am not very aware of what is in store in the south. Religion is a huge influence on cuisine, like in most places. The pickled fish and beef kept me alive during lean periods in college.

One of the most satisfying meals I have ever had was at a kallu shaap (local bar, thatched roof et al) where we had loads and loads of cheththu kallu (natural fermented drink, not the toddy/patta) with lots of duck, chicken, lamb, fish and prawns. Remember, this was in college, so imagine the cheapest yet tastiest food ever.

The traditional shaap is in vogue now and there are new ones cropping up all over the place and catering to families. Try Karimbinkaala in Kottayam.

If you are a fish lover, try karimeen fry.