PrincessInOz
Thanks for my avatar, Mary Jo!
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2010
- Messages
- 107,941
Indian Delights
I do consider myself a citizen of the world; a child of Asia, having 'worked' in Europe and choosing to live in Australia.
And as a child of Asia....Somewhere in my youth and childhood......my memories of food all stem back to the sound of a mortar and pestle at work, grinding down lemon grass, chillies, onions; with the wafty aroma of pungent spices to form the basis of curry paste tickling my nose, daring me to sneeze but not quite. The colours of chilli red, tumeric orange and saffron yellow tease the palette in my mind's eye.
This week, a cousin of mine suggested that we go for dinner on Saturday night. It was to be an early night as both sets of "olds"; his parents and mine decided to join in the familial catch-up.
The place of his recommendation? Somewhere new in the 'burps, purely word of mouth......Indian Delights to tempt us all!
I do not know how my cousin found out about this place as it was nearly the other side of town from where we live. But the food.....well.....it took me right back to the foods - sight, sounds, smell - from my childhood.
The kitchen would have huge woks stir frying constantly; and some of our party chose to try...
Special Fried Rice
Fried Rice Noodles, covered with various proteins, vegetables and smothered with an eggy sauce.
The rice and curries were good...
This plate has the mutton curry, with a brinjal pickle and vegetable curry.
This plate has the dry chicken curry, same condiments. The chicken curry was a little too dry for my liking and consequently, the chicken was overcooked.
DH and I shared in a plate of Samosas, filled with spicy lentils. The pastry was short and crumbly and the filling was perfectly balanced against it. Not too spicy, not too salty.
I ordered the Indian Rojak; a salad with the wonderful spicy sauce made from sweet potato. As with some of the Asian dishes, the sauce is a combination of sweet, salt and acidity. I had no complaints with my meal.
The open kitchen also afforded us a view of the cooks making Indian Roti. Some in our party ordered:
Dosai - a rice flour pancake, usually filled with black lentils served with various curries. They made it right in front of us.....and cooked the batter similar to how crepes are cooked.
Murtabak - Roti Chanai that is filled with various items in the middle. This one was filled with chicken and various vegetables. The curry sauce on the side was delicious!
My cousin did order just Roti Chanai with curry - the bread dough is rolled out flat and then folded over and cooked on a broiler. It comes out similar to a soft doughy version of puff pastry. Not for the faint-hearted....lots of oil involved during preparation and cooking!
Sadly, he sat at the opposite side of the table to me, so no picture.
In the heady smells and sounds that emanated from that kitchen, we were all transported back to being in Asia. And judging from the cacophony from the rest of the clientele of the night, we weren't the only ones tripping down memory lane!
All in all - a great familial, convival dinner night to remember.
I do consider myself a citizen of the world; a child of Asia, having 'worked' in Europe and choosing to live in Australia.
And as a child of Asia....Somewhere in my youth and childhood......my memories of food all stem back to the sound of a mortar and pestle at work, grinding down lemon grass, chillies, onions; with the wafty aroma of pungent spices to form the basis of curry paste tickling my nose, daring me to sneeze but not quite. The colours of chilli red, tumeric orange and saffron yellow tease the palette in my mind's eye.
This week, a cousin of mine suggested that we go for dinner on Saturday night. It was to be an early night as both sets of "olds"; his parents and mine decided to join in the familial catch-up.
The place of his recommendation? Somewhere new in the 'burps, purely word of mouth......Indian Delights to tempt us all!
I do not know how my cousin found out about this place as it was nearly the other side of town from where we live. But the food.....well.....it took me right back to the foods - sight, sounds, smell - from my childhood.
The kitchen would have huge woks stir frying constantly; and some of our party chose to try...
Special Fried Rice
Fried Rice Noodles, covered with various proteins, vegetables and smothered with an eggy sauce.
The rice and curries were good...
This plate has the mutton curry, with a brinjal pickle and vegetable curry.
This plate has the dry chicken curry, same condiments. The chicken curry was a little too dry for my liking and consequently, the chicken was overcooked.
DH and I shared in a plate of Samosas, filled with spicy lentils. The pastry was short and crumbly and the filling was perfectly balanced against it. Not too spicy, not too salty.
I ordered the Indian Rojak; a salad with the wonderful spicy sauce made from sweet potato. As with some of the Asian dishes, the sauce is a combination of sweet, salt and acidity. I had no complaints with my meal.
The open kitchen also afforded us a view of the cooks making Indian Roti. Some in our party ordered:
Dosai - a rice flour pancake, usually filled with black lentils served with various curries. They made it right in front of us.....and cooked the batter similar to how crepes are cooked.
Murtabak - Roti Chanai that is filled with various items in the middle. This one was filled with chicken and various vegetables. The curry sauce on the side was delicious!
My cousin did order just Roti Chanai with curry - the bread dough is rolled out flat and then folded over and cooked on a broiler. It comes out similar to a soft doughy version of puff pastry. Not for the faint-hearted....lots of oil involved during preparation and cooking!
Sadly, he sat at the opposite side of the table to me, so no picture.
In the heady smells and sounds that emanated from that kitchen, we were all transported back to being in Asia. And judging from the cacophony from the rest of the clientele of the night, we weren't the only ones tripping down memory lane!
All in all - a great familial, convival dinner night to remember.