via npr.org
An NPR story on haute indian cuisine making a splash in Washington, DC this month. Click on the link below the picture to read the NPR article.
Oberoi's Kitchen: The Art Of Indian Haute Cuisine : NPR
Category: Food
Food is love. Plus art. Oh, and it keeps you alive. That, too! You might not find a single recipe here, but you may find the inspiration to go create one. Unless, of course, you’re left speechless because you’re drooling so severely at the sight of these glorious images. Regardless, you are NOT always what you eat.
The Clarkston Union Woodshop: A Great Place to Eat!
So, where do you go to eat when you drive up an hour and a half to meet an old friend? You go downtown, of course. And head out to the most famous little restaurant on Main Street– the Clarkston Union. But then you realize there’s a 45 minute wait for a table, and so you decide to head down the road to the next best place: The Clarkston Union Woodshop.
And you’re pleasantly surprised. Because you find the place just as charming and hopping with the Sunday afternoon crowd of locals and others perhaps like me who’re visiting with friends and family in the area. The place is truly charming, and when the waitress brings out the menus, we learn that the restaurant has recently been christened a 2011 Restaurant of the Year as per the Detroit Free Press. Not bad at all!
And what do we order? A super-sized Burrito that comes with sweet potatoes, spinach, spanish rice, black beans, cheese, and a dollop of sour cream. And a Blackened Catfish Sandwich that comes with a Red Cabbage Slaw and Black Beans and Rice on the side. Mmmm!
Here’s what it all looked like. But the truly best part was catching up with my dear friend, Anu. There’s nothing like facetime. Facebook doesn’t even come close!
Traffic Jam & Snug: A Cozy Spot for Lunch
Last week some friends and I headed out to a local favorite restaurant, Traffic Jam & Snug for lunch. It was my first time there, and I wasn’t disappointed! The old-world charm of the bar and restaurant, and most certainly the food, made for a lovely luncheon experience. Not to mention the company of my friends that enhanced it even more so. See for yourself what I mean. That Shirley Temple wasn’t mine, but I was told it was very good. The entrees were: Grilled Chicken Greek-style Salad, A Lasagna, and mine was the Quiche. Other sides were a House Salad, A Lentil Soup, and Sweet Potato Fries. High marks for all!
Breakfast of Champions: Parathas with Poached Eggs in Tomato Chutney
Yes, this is a breakfast of and for champions. Champions on a Saturday. Because on a Saturday, one has the time to put together this winning breakfast. And what is it, you ask? It is the most heartiest Parathas served up with an inconceivably delicious dish of Poached Eggs in Tomato Chutney.
There’s a slideshow below that documents the preparation. The chutney is a classic one of tomatoes cooked down in a tempered seasoning of hing, mustard, cumin, kari patta, turmeric, and garlic. The unseen secret ingredient is a dollop of Gongura Pickle. Add canned petite diced tomatoes, cook it down on a low flame for a long time, then add your eggs, cover, and wait for the longest time for the steam to make them set beautifully into the chutney. Remove from flame when they’re cooked through but the yolks not firm all the way. Serve with the Parathas. And love.
Parippu Vada: Goes With Both Chai and Chianti
Well, if you are of South-Indian origin, you’ll recognize the name of this dish: Parripu Vada. If you’re not, but still simply of Indian origin (of any region), you’ll at least recognize the vada part of that. So, what these are, are fried lentil fritters. But these aren’t you’re ordinary vadas: they’re crunchy and chewy and crispy and spicy. Because they’re packed with all kinds of goodness: the dal (chana or even arhar) is soaked overnight and processed with ginger, onion, kari patta, and green chillies. Then, they’re fried until they pop up golden crisp like this.
And then here’s the thing: you thought you needed to serve them only with tea or coffee? Of course, you could do that, but then, if you’re in my house, you might very well find them paired with a glass of the finest Chianti. Like last evening. I suppose the Italians might say Buon Appetito, but around these parts, we say Yeh Hui Na Baat!
A Greener Salad, Greek-Style
Yesterday, I posted about a Salad that didn’t look too green, and a friend of mine was fast to point it out! Well, today, at a lunch meeting, I had a salad that was a lot greener, and thought I should post this for the record as well! This was a Greek-style Salad, and here’s what was exactly on this plate of mine: Iceberg Lettuce, Shredded Carrots, Sliced Red Beets, Sweet Banana Peppers, Red Onions, Black Olives, Feta Cheese, and a tangy Vinaigrette Dressing. SA-TIS-FY-ING!
Well, it would have been great if that was the only thing there, but they also had a big spread of Pizza, and I couldn’t resist a small square-slice that had Grilled-Chicken and Spinach on a Marinara Saucebase and a Mozarella topping. Oh, and that piece of Fried Chicken and three Fries— I couldn’t resist those either! Check it out:
Souper Salad! Yes, There's A Place Like That!
So, if you ever find yourself in the great state of Texas, and find yourself on I-35 northbound somewhere after Austin but before Dallas, you might want to check out this little restaurant called Souper Salad! in a strip-mall which is where you’ll find exactly that: soups, salads, and even some other not-so-bad things that hit the spot when you want to get in and out quick-and-easy. Oh, and did I mention it’s an all-you-can-eat bar– or a series of bars, I should say: for the salad, soup, nachos, and soft-serve icecream.
Comfort Foods, Cont…
It is my goal to document here as much of the ordinary as I do the extraordinary. And in line with this, I have, on and off, talked about the simplest of home-cooked meals and especially certain foods that hit the comfort spot right on and right away. This post is a tribute to that very same sentiment. Quite recently, having returned from a week-long vacation to exotic locales wherein I sampled everything from haute cuisine to street-food, at the end of the week, when I got home, what is it that I made to satisfy my longing for a “simple” meal? Mango Dal, White Rice, and a Red-Hot Chicken Curry. Yes, that’s a combo that hits the spot for me! See for yourself:
