Laziness in a Cup

Exam season, along with all the tension and lack of sleep/time it brings is the worst time of the year for my Tastebuds!And with the panicking, cooking doesn’t really happen. So I have to thank  my insistent friend for helping me shrug off my laziness and dawn my chef hat (since I still haven’t found one that would sit on my head rather than encase it, this is of course metaphorically speaking).

So the challenge for the day is to make a snack within 3 minutes. A task, anyone who’s seen me in the kitchen, would say is impossible. But I guess miracles do happen! So just thought I’d share this 3-minute (Cooking time) miracle with you!

What you need

1 Microwaveable Cup

2 Eggs

3 Tablespoons of milk

2 cubes of cheese – grated

Fresh basil (or any other herb you like and use dried oregano if there are no fresh herbs available) – 2 or 3 leaves chopped

Sugar – a pinch

Salt, Pepper – according to taste

Olive oil -1/2 tsp

Green Chili- 1 (cut in small pieces)

(pre- cooked and completely optional)

Mushrooms – cut in cubes 4-6

Chopped Onion- 1 tbsp

Garlic – 2 cloves, crushed

Anything edible that you feel like eating.

Method:

Heat the oil in a small pan. Add the onions, mushrooms, chilies and salt and stir it till the onions and mushrooms seem cooked (1 minute or less). Please note this is required if you opt to add in the mushrooms and onion.

While they get cooked, take the cup and break the eggs into it and whisk with a fork. Add the milk, sugar, salt, pepper, herbs, garlic and cheese (1/2 cube) while whisking. Add the mushroom-onion mix and stir.

Pop the cup in the microwave/oven for 45 seconds on HIGH Micro Power. Take it out, and add another ½ cube of grated cheese and stir the contents (i.e. scramble). Now cook it for 35-45 seconds until you can see the egg and cheese rise in the cup.

Grate a fresh layer of cheese on top (1 cube) and heat it till the cheese melts (15 seconds on HIGH). Garnish with a basil leaf or use a ketchup squeeze tube to draw a <3/write a message on it and serve.

Or just squeeze some more cheese and eat it before anyone else asks you to make them another.

PUNJAB GRILL

Punjab Grill is a Jiggs Kalra’s venture and is a very popular restaurant in Delhi. Having been to the one there earlier this year, it was all but a wonder that I irritated my dad till he agreed to take me there asap.

Walking into this place reminded me of Delhi all over again so please do excuse me if I make a lot of comparisons between the two outlets.

The ambience and decor were tasteful. I particularly like this one corner area perfect for a quiet evening for two with a miniature waterfront of sorts, as well as this family area that is secluded with a curtain and gives you privacy. The family area can be extended to accommodate larger groups as well.

As you sit, a small white coil of sorts that is served in a way that you might find it appetizing is worthy of a special mention. For one it’s NOT edible. In fact add some water to it and you have a wet towel at your disposal - Chic!

We ordered the kurkuri (of course) and the dahi Ke Kebabs for the vegetarians and a red tandoor boneless chicken starter (sorry I cannot remember the name). The Kurkuri’s presentation was noteworthy, each of the fried cheese stick being dipped in a shot glass full of a tomato-chili based vinaigrette. The texture of the Kurkuri was crisp yet crumbly and suited the contrasting melted cheese well. The dahi ke kebabs is a must have in Delhi, but here the dish completely missed any taste and was very doughy. The chicken was well cooked, spiced mildly, but I expected more from a place like this. But all in all was a good hit with the rest of the table.

For the main course we ordered only a paneer tikka lababdar, daal Punjab grill, dal panjratani, tarkari kesari biryani, and a chicken dum biryani. The lababdar was really good- right balance of the masala’s, not overly greasy but was still quite heavy and rich. The Punjab grill dal dint quite hit the right note with me, it’s a rich creamy black dal, creamier than I could handle, to the extent that I wasn’t sure if it was black dal gravy or cream gravy with dal in it. It was indeed tasty but that had more to do with the cream than anything. The dal panjratani on the other hand was brilliant. It was a mix of 5 dal’s but the yellow dal’s taste was predominant, well flavored with minced vegetables that you’ll only notice in taste. This too like all others items on this menu is heavy, especially for a dal but it’s the good kind of heavy. The tarkari kesari biryani was my favorite of the lot. Not too greasy, very well spiced and the flavors could be felt in its aroma- a must have! The dum biryani was, however, very disappointing. The meat was not done well- both in terms of the marinating and the cooking and for a Punjabi restaurant this really needs to be looked into.

To end a very heavy meal like this, instead of dessert you need a digestive and that’s exactly what they offer you - Paan. Except instead of the conventional bihari chew-till-your-mouth-is-red paan they have a classy and chic shot glass filled with a minced maghai meetha. Innovative and daring, not a hit with all but I insist one should at least taste a bit of it. I probably will not have it again but I’m glad I tried it.

To sum it up, do try the place not for the food but for the experience. On a special occasion when your looking for a good setting and privacy but for health reasons I’d say go there for lunch and not dinner because I have not been able to find a single item on the menu that is not rich and heavy (as your pocket probably was before you entered the place). Also if any of you’ll have been to the one in Delhi or Bombay please do not compare them or you may be disappointed.

Merry Christmas!!!

This is Christmas Season and Caroling and Zomato-ing (and general holiday laziness) is the reason, that I haven’t been blogging much. But for the lovers of Food and the people who do think my posts are worth a read, I do have 2 articles for you to read!!!

Anyone who loves Spoonful of Sugar and the lovely desserts they whip up, will love this article on the Mrs. Claus behind it all and the success story of Spoonful of Sugar.

Also, for those last-minute-Bangalorean-planners who are still undecided about where to go this Christmas, presenting 30 options for you to choose from!

There’s loads of wine at home so do expect a chronicle on my wine-sauce experiments!

Hope you love the articles and have a lovely Christmas!

Loads of Hugs,

TalkingTastebuds

 

Happy Thanksgiving!! :)

 

The Fourth Thursday of November is always awaited by all Turkey lovers and I know this blog post is a little too late But for all those in Bangalore who STILL haven’t had their Thanksgiving Turkey or just want some more, it isn’t too late just yet. There are a bunch of Bangalore Restaurants still celebrating Thanksgiving and this is Thanksgiving Season so there isn’t any reason you shouldn’t be on a Turkey diet!

Hope the article was of help and that you’ll liked it! Do drop a comment  Happy Belated Thanksgiving and Thank YOU for being the awesome subscribers that you’ll are!!

Sunsotto

With all the years feasts packed into the last 2 months, it’s all but a wonder that my jeans seem to be a few sizes smaller. But the problem is my taste-buds won’t let me have anything which is conventionally healthy. So in my pursuit of a health-meets-taste dish I finally invented the Sunsotto- Sunaina’s version of the Risotto.

Now traditionally the Risotto is a type of Italian dish. Its rice cooked with cheese, wine, butter or Stocks. But my version involves using a healthy white sauce made of good old healthy milk (simmered to be made creamy), olive oil and wheat and using broken wheat (Dalia) instead of rice.

Ingredients (Serves 2)

Olive oil

Salt, Pepper, Sugar, Dried Herbs and Chili flakes (according to taste)

All the vegetables can be put in any proportion as one may like. Feel free to add any other veggie’s and remove any of the one’s I’ve used. Preferably try cutting them into cubes for that crunchy texture.

Baby Eggplants

Zucchini (Yellow and Green) cut in cubes or round slices

Bell Peppers

Mushrooms

Sweet Corn

Broken Wheat (aka Dhalia) – a handful (approx.  ½ cups)

Whole Wheat Grounded – 3/4^th tablespoon

Milk – 1 cup (250-300 ml)

Garlic- 3 cloves

Onion- 2 slivers (just for the sourness)

Basil- 4 to 5 leaves

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Method

1.       The veggies:

In a pan heat about a table-spoon of olive oil, put in all the cut vegetables. Season it with salt and pepper and cover it with a lid. Keep it on a low flame until cooked properly. It can alternatively be grilled as well.

2.       For the Dalia (Broken Wheat):

In a pan put some olive oil and roast the Dalia until semi-dark. Add salt and remove.

3.       For the Sauce:

Put a tablespoon of Olive Oil in a pan and heat it a bit. Add a smaller portion of about 3/4^th spoon wheat to this and move the pan away from flame. Mix to form a paste of sorts and add the milk, little by little while mashing the paste with a spoon to remove any lumps, the whole time. Put the pan back on the flame (low). Add crushed Garlic, onions (a sliver), salt, sugar, chili flakes and dried herbs.

1. Add the roasted Dalia to the sauce and simmer until the Dalia is cooked and the sauce has thickened to a creamy consistency and is just enough to cover the Dalia without being seen. Add more milk if you find the dahlia is under cooked and simmer it with a closed lid some more.
2. Add the crunchy Veggies and mix.
3. Garnish with some fresh Basil or any other fresh herb of your choice.

The Sunsotto is ready to be served. This is a vegetarian version but feel free to add any meat or any other veggies of your choice. In fact, a chicken stock will add some great flavor. Also this is a healthier version. But the same can be cooked with rice instead of Dalia and the sauce can be made creamier by adding some fresh cream and cheese.

Ente Keralam

Mrs. Veggie wanted some good Malabar Paratha and I for one love Kerala and all Coastal Cuisines! So to the dismay of Mr. Opposite we took a turn from Benjarong and right into Ente Keralam. It’s a bungalow- turned- restaurant with ample of space and good lighting. The porch is very inviting and so is the staff.

To start with I had a Sambharam which was essentially buttermilk with a lot of spices and ginger (a little too much for my liking). We also called for a Cosmopolitan which was out right undrinkable and Whiskey for the Mr.!

While waiting for our order we were served 2 varieties of banana chips – a savory crispy chip and a fatter jaggery based sweet chip. The savory one was apt for the “No one can eat just one” tag, Kerala banana chips as authentic as it gets in Bangalore. The only problem being the serving are quite small and they take forever to get a refill.

We were looking forward to the Paratha’s so we just called for one starter- The Kohzi Kurumulakittathu. It was just a fancy-named pepper chicken except, mild to the extent where one wonders as to where did all the pepper go!

For the main course, we called for a prawn curry, a fish curry, a vegetarian curry, Malabar Paratha’s, Appams and Idiyappams. They all  arrived simultaneously with the starter, which was a little disappointing as by the time we had the starter the paratha’s were pretty cold.

The Alleppey Prawn curry, suggested by the waiter, was truly delicious. I was a little apprehensive as I’ve not liked it at many other places but I loved it here. A coconut milk and raw mango base gave it tanginess and spice without overwhelming the taste-buds. A definite must try.

The Thalassery Meen Curry was something I picked out to my disappointment. This in fact was very tangy for some reason (probably the tomatoes). It’s a tomato and onion based curry but it failed to deliver any flavor other than pure tanginess.

For Mrs. Veggie we called the Urula Kizhangu Curry which was a yellowish coconut milk based Potato curry. I found it too bland for my liking and I think it missed that punch of flavor, kerala cuisine is known for.

The much awaited Malabar Parathas were pretty good but most definitely not authentic and not even the best in town. The appams were also very so-so. On the other hand, the Iddiyappam was not only authentic but absolutely D-elicious! The Iddiyappam or String Hoppers is traditional Kerala Bread which is a cross between Idli and neer dosa (sort of like Mangalorean Shavige). A must try here!

VERDICT: We paid about 1800 Rs. for all the above which is reasonable but I’ve had better for the price. But since some of the items were really nice, I would say go there but choose wisely. Will definitely try going there again to try the stew which I hear is quite good.

AMBIENCE: 7/10

FOOD: 5.5/10

SERVICE: 6.5/10

COST-VALUE: 5/10

AUTHENTICITY: 5/10.

Zomato it- Take your pick!

Hey guys! I’ve been busy with family weddings, family outings and well checking out more places that you will soon know about. However, if you want me to tell you more about any place in particular, Zomato it and send me the link!

Zomato.com – India’s biggest online food & lifestyle guide

 

Amdo’s

Some of my juniors have the most daring stomachs and have tried, tested and absolutely take up for a restricted group of small eat-outs. These may fail to attract one, if judged by the looks of the place, but will most definitely make your taste buds and wallets happy, and your jean’s a little tighter too. One such place is Amdo’s. Located next to the Austin Town BDA, right next to this juice center (you can see this small blue board displayed on 1 of the electric poles), this small Tibetian place will make you want more each time (or at least their momo’s will).

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This is a completely no-frills place is a small square of a blue room. Each table has 1 menu on it along with a notepad and pen for you to write your own order down and someone will get it for you. Their menu is quite basic, offering you soups, noodles, rice, side dishes which can be called for as a dry starter or a main course gravy and of course the star attraction – Momo’s! All of the above are offered in a Beef, Chicken and Veg variation.

The Momo’s are easily the best on the menu and have converted a momo-hater, such as myself, into an I-can’t-get-enough-of-it person. The Fried Momo’s might be a little too oily on the out but once you take a bite you realize the fried crunchy exterior complements the hot steamy meat/vegetables just perfectly.  The Steamed Momo’s are very well made and the lack of oil did not make it any less tasty. As soon as you take a bite of it, a well-seasoned soup is left in your mouth. The Shapale can be described as a swan shaped big-sized momo. I have not tasted it but my friends say it is good but does not beat the normal momo as we all love the equal meat-crisp proportion of the latter. Each plate has 8 momo’s that makes a good meal by itself. On the vegetarian side of the menu, I have tried the Fried Veg Momo’s which were shaped differently and tasted a bit like wonton’s, nothing great but the best veg option. I do not eat beef but I quote “once you taste the beef momo’s, you just don’t order the chicken”.

Among the noodles I have tried 3. The chowmein here is just about your average oily noodles enough to feed two. The thukpa is a soupy noodles- normal noodles in an oily but well-spiced broth filled with chunks of meat and veggies, served in a huge bowl. The Thenthuk also is a soupy noodles but the noodles are flat and almost square-shaped. The thenthuk can be called for in a “dry” form such that you are served a well spiced, square-shaped, noodles. The Long Thenthuk is basically flat rice-noodles with chunks of meat and is very well-flavoured though a bit on the spicier side and is not meant for a person with low spice tolerance.

Among the dry/gravy items we have only called for the Beef Dry Shapta and the Chicken Gravy Shapta. The chicken gravy had nothing I would want to write about but the beef dry is like a chili-beef of sorts, it looked quite divine (a lot of onions, green chillies and capsicum strips in a spicy brown sauce) and apparently lives up to its appearance. Pingmo is round bread that is traditionally served with the gravy version of the dish. On most occasions it is not served here but feel free to ask for some.

No one I know has tried the rice. The soup is again a clear broth which is a little too oily for my liking but people enjoy it nevertheless.

The most expensive item on the menu is around 50 Rupees and you will even get yourself a beef soup for 5 Rs. As for the hygiene all I can say is no one I know has had an upset stomach. The ambience is not too inviting and I suggest you take the tables away from the kitchen but I assure you once you taste the momo’s, you WILL be back for more!

AMBIENCE: 1/5

SERVICE: 1/5. Interaction is minimal and they are not too informative about the foreign items.

FOOD: 3/5 (the momo’s are the sole reason for the extra rating)

COST-VALUE FACTOR: 4/5

PULL-ME-BACK FACTOR:  Any guesses? The Momo’s!

Pik & Wrap, Frazer Town

Wandering around Mosque Road in search of some good veg. food is a mighty task and that I know with experience. My sister being the picky vegetarian that she is wanted a veg. roll at 11 in the night! Thanks to my lucky stars, I literally stumbled upon this hole-in-the-wall place. It’s in the left before the SBI and Empire, while coming from Coffee Day. The place honestly wasn’t too inviting but it was open and ready to serve, and that was all I could ask.

The menu was quite extensive but going by its name and my sister’s cravings, we called for a Paneer Roll and a Chicken roll to go. The man at the counter was quite friendly. He made the whole thing in front of us, right from cutting up the veggies and rolling out the dough to wrapping it up. For the first time, a cook has obliged my sister’s request to hold it on the oil. The ingredients were fresh and the taste proved it. The onions were crunchy, the meat and paneer respectively tender and soft, and the seasoning & chutney perfect.

I must admit I had no expectations from the place but it was really good, especially for veg food on MM Road.
Pull-me-back factor: the fresh ingredients.
Ambience: 1.5/5
Cleanliness: 3/5
Preparation/taste of food: 3/5
Cost- value factor: 4/5
Service: 4/5

Crepe Connection, UB City

After sampling the Crepes in Delhi, I wanted more and since Subway (the only other affordable eatery for a college student in UB City) was too crowded, my friends agreed.

I called for a Mushroom Crepe for myself. The description promised zucchini and mushroom but I could not taste any zucchini in the dish served. The crêpe was not the authentic french version but was more of a dosa. It was a little thicker than needed and had a slightly sweetish tinge to it, which would have been okay for a sweet crêpe but dint fit the bill of “savoury”. The sauce however was well made and was served inside with the veggies which left the outer dough quite dry. The whole thing was cut in bite-sized pieces and was devoured before everyone realized.

My friends called for the Ratatouille Panini and the Veggie Panini. The Ratatouille Panini was like a veg sandwich with a light white sauce in it but had nothing too special about it. The Veggie Panini was easily the best item on the table and tasted real good. It had a generous serving of both mushrooms and mashed potatoes which were well made. The veggies were covered in a Bechamel Sauce which was made just right with distinct flavours of cheese and dried herbs. Both the sandwiches were very light.

Verdict: This place will not empty your wallet; however, the quantities you get will leave your stomach light, if not empty

Pull-me-back factor: the Veggie Panini.

Ambience: 2.75/5

Presentation of food: 2.75/5

Preparation/taste of food: 2/5

Cost- value factor: Our bill for all that came to Rs. 180 per head (approx).  The cost-value factor is maybe a 2/5 seeing how we practically only called for veg sandwiches and I’ve eaten better for the price.

Service: 2/5