London: Dishoom

It's never too late to talk about London, is it? I enjoyed a girls' trip last fall with my good friend LaShauna, a two-woman 'hen do' of sorts (aka mini-bachelorette party). Just the two of us traipsing around one of our favorite cities.

We met up one night with a former news colleague of mine who has lived there for almost a decade (and is on her way to becoming a British citizen)! She suggested meeting on the edge of Covent Garden at Dishoom, a mostly no-reservations restaurant that is one of the last remaining Bombay cafes in London. (They do take them for parties of 6 or more)

That no reservations thing is no joke. However, we didn't wait that long, maybe 40 minutes, and they brought out mini drinks and snacks to keep us from getting too hangry in line.
My drink was a lovely hot mint tea. Just sweet enough, and full of fresh mint.

They took us downstairs to a table in the middle of bustling room, and we started with cocktails. Mine was the Bombay Colada: a pina colada jazzed up with coriander (those seeds on top), chai syrup, lime juice, and rum. WOW. This was one of the best cocktails I've had the pleasure of sipping. The coriander made this drink sing from the tip of my tongue to the soles of my happy feet.

LaShauna ordered the Chaijito, a chai-infused take on the mojito. I tried a sip-- it is a refreshing spin on one of my favorite cocktails, but once LaShauna tasted MY drink, she made that her second cocktail (and so did I-- I had TWO Bombay coladas!)

We decided to share a bunch of dishes, including their sauteed green veggies, their red curry, black daal (lentils) and some naan bread.
Samosas to start-- flaky crust, surreally-spiced filling, YES YES YES.

That Black House daal (pictured above)-- holy shut your mouth richness. The menu says it's a signature dish, and I can understand why. Simmered for more than 24 hours, it is incredibly lush, aromatic, flavored in the most luscious of layers. I could have had just this dish and called it one of the best things I ever ate.

The chicken ruby was a gorgeous curry in what they call a 'makhani' sauce. Tender, juicy chicken pieces floating blissfully in that sacrilicious sauce. We had some naan, thankfully, to scrape up every last drop of this dish.
We ordered the succinctly-titled 'Bowl of Greens,' described as "grilled broccoli, snow peas and spinach tumbled with chilli and lime." This dish could easily have been a throwaway, but it was so incredibly flavorful that we nearly ordered another. Splitting this among three people left us all wanting more, but we were saving room for dessert.

And I doubled DOWN on dessert. I didn't just get the pineapple & black pepper crumble (which was good, but not great, a little dry).

I also ordered a dessert coffee, a Monsooned Cobbler. It is described as Malabar espresso, 'bamboozled' with spices, cognac, and cream. They served with with cream and EXTRA sugar on the side-- it does NOT need any more sweetness, but yeah, I splashed a bit more cream in there. It was super cold and super sweet. Normally I don't care for sweet coffee, but this was excellent. When I go back, I'm having just THIS for dessert!

Dishoom
12 Upper St Martin's Lane
London WC2H 9FB, United Kingdom
+44 20 7420 9320

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Dosas in SoHo: Hampton Chutney Company

I got caught up in commuting chaos yesterday, and once again, ABF came to my rescue. He met me halfway in SoHo as I went above ground (since the trains weren't going in OR out of Brooklyn anytime soon). He noticed that I was flagging a bit, so we walked a short block over to Hampton Chutney Company, right near the Prince street N/R subway stop. The 3-store company first started in Amangansett (in the Hamptons), and now has two locations in NYC, in Soho and the Upper West Side.

It had been years since I'd eaten here, but knowing ABF's penchant for Indian cuisine, I thought he'd get a kick out of it. HCC is famous for their dosas, a soft, crepe-like wrap made from rice (so it's gluten-free, FYI!) We snagged the bench seat in the front and I ordered 2 dosas, an iced chai for me, and a hot cardamom coffee for ABF.

I'd forgotten how big these things are-- we could easily have split one. Note for next time. I had the #10 dosa, with chicken, potato masala and spinach. Deeeelicious. I love those spicy potatoes!

Each one comes with a free chutney-- cilantro for ABF (we both love cilantro) and mango for me (I love mango, ABF not so much)

ABF had the #10 dosa with roasted peppers, onions & arugula. While he thought the sandwich was good, he loved the cilantro chutney most of all. The #10 was tasty, but we both much preferred the #8 (aka mine!) Has my order envy come to an end? Well, not completely. While I love the iced chai at HCC, ABF's cardamom coffee was out of this world. I'll have to try that on ice next time.

Those dosas can be tricky to handle, so I usually just go at them with a knife and fork. If you're wanting something more mainstream, you can also try their sandwiches and other entrées. Everything is fresh, light, won't weigh you down, and the extra-friendly, welcoming service is great, too! A big thank you again to my Awesome BoyFriend (ABF), for rescuing me from commuting chaos and helping me get back on track in mind, spirit, and stomach! I know this place won't replace his love for Chicken Korma and other heavier Indian dishes, but now we both have a new love for cardamom coffee, and I'm glad he's a good sport to try new things with me...and rescue me when the MTA seems bound & determined to make me cry. Yay, ABF, my hero! :)

Hampton Chutney Co

68 Prince Street

New York, NY

(212) 226-9996

(see their website for other locations/info)

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Street Eats: Biryani King

A new truck has been parked outside my office building for a while now, and on a cold, windy January day, I took the plunge and ordered some chicken tikka masala from the Desi Food Truck, aka Biryani King. While waiting for my $6.00 lunch (score!), I read their menu and realized that I'd have to come back and try just about everything else they have to offer.

Look at all that delicious goodness up for grabs! Nothing is over 10 bucks, and most items are 5 dollars or under!

It was a windy, freezing cold day out, so people would grab their food and go. I heard one British guy mutter "It's too bloody cold to wait" as he dashed off somewhere else. I only waited about 3 minutes--quite bearable. Where's that stiff upper lip??

The ad claims that the chicken is all white meat. I'm gonna have to say while the chicken was delicious, it was absolutely NOT all white meat. There was a lot of dark meat, which I am learning to appreciate, but still-that phrasing might need to be updated. However, it was saucy, spicy, and quite good. Best I ever had? No, but worth waiting a minute or 3 on 49th street.

I'm definitely going back to try the Kati rolls, the puri bhaji (2 for $41!) and a delicious looking lentil stew--all under 5 or 6 bucks! You can't miss the colorful truck--or follow them on Twitter (@DesiFoodTruck) to find out where they are each day!

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Jackson Diner in NYC

Kwame & I were on a quest one sunny Sunday for some Indian food. I took him to Cafe Spice, only to find it was now an outpost for Jackson Diner, one of the most-lauded Indian spots in Jackson Heights, Queens. Their new spot in NYC boasted a 9.95 all-you-can-eat buffet. Not a bad price! I pushed aside my disappointment that the amazing chicken Korma Carlota & I once shared was gone, and we stepped in for lunch.

The buffet offers a fair split of vegetarian and non-veggie items. The traditional lentil and veggie dishes are there, the ever-popular chicken tikka masala, a curried goat, and a fresh, vibrant salad at the end.

It was hot as Hades that day, so I opted for water, water, and more water, though I saw other people ordered Lassis, and they do still have a full bar. We were also happy to see a basket of naan bread arrive almost magically--no extra charge (even more magical)!!

I grabbed a bit of almost everything (not the goat): tandoori chicken, chicken tikka masala, some fried peppers, fluffy rice, lentils, and more. Not a bad spread! Everything was good, but the tandoori chicken was EXCELLENT--tender, juicy, and finger-licking-good (is that still copyrighted? Hope not)

I had some green salad with oil & vinegar as well. I grabbed a few too many cucumbers, but I did the best I could.

There was a serving dish full of rice pudding, and Kwame & I made a trip for some of that. He didn't care for the texture, but I loved it. It was almost more like a thickened rice soup instead of a more cohesive pudding. This had wonderful almond flavor to it, and plenty of cashews. I don't normally dig the desserts at Indian places, but I ate every bite of this!

This is definitely worth a trip back. All-you-can-eat is a rarity in NYC, and even more rare is tasty AYCE! I only made one trip, but I got to sample a little bit of everything. I would have even gone for a second bite of tandoori chicken if I hadn't consumed a pitcher's worth of water during my first plate! 9.95 for all that is more than a bargain! It's also a nice, roomy spot with lots of light and the staff doesn't rush you on your way. Two forks up for this spot!

Jackson Diner
72 University Place
New York, NY 10003
(212) 466-0820

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Fast & Spicy

I met ABF downtown for a quick lunch date and we felt like having Indian. We met at Bombay's Indian Cuisine(formerly a Baluchi's) and managed to snag a table in the middle of the FiDi (Financial District) lunch rush.

Bombay is set up in a cafeteria style--they have a small but varied menu, pre-made drinks (including lassis!), and trays. Grab a drink, grab a tray, order your food, and you're served in seconds. A plus when you only have a short time for lunch.

While I saved our table, ABF went up to the line and ordered our food. Such a gent, that guy. :)

Look at those prices! We couldn't NOT get samosas (they were a dollar!)

ABF had never had one before, so I was quite happy to bring that deliciousness into his life. So good!

We each got the chicken tikka masala combo, which came with rice and saag paneer (spinach with a cream-cheesy type blend). While fast is good, how it tastes is more important. This was quite possibly one of the most succulent CTMs I have ever had. I was shocked at how tender and tasty the meat was. Kabob chicken often comes to you all dry and tough and overcooked..but not there! This was just great, and for 8 bucks total? Top that! It was more than I could possibly finish, but that's okay.

So while this was ABF's first taste of samosas, I finally broke down and had some garlic naan. I may never go back to regular naan again. Soft, chewy, garlicky---carb heaven!

As seen above in the first photo, I did pick up a mango lassi. It was tart, not too sweet, and just creamy enough to cool off my tongue from the surprisingly spicy chicken tikka.

I am by no means an 'expert' in Indian food, but I do know a tasty chicken tikka masala when I have one. If you're in the Financial District and want a good, affordable lunch option--come here, and come hungry! (And if you have room after, you can take 10 steps to your right and get coffee at Fika!!)

Thanks again to ABF for a delicious, tasty lunch--as if getting to spend some extra time with ABF weren't delicious enough on its own!

Bombay's Indian Cuisine
60 Pearl Street
New York, NY 10004
(212) 742-2222

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Tabla: One Week Left!!!

My friend Carlota and I stopped at Danny Meyer's Tabla restaurant this week. You have ONE WEEK to go here before it closes for good, and you should absolutely stop in for a fantastic meal.

Delhi Palace

My trip to get Indian food with Carlota had me wanting it again, very soon, so we made plans to hit up Jackson Heights (a neighborhood in Queens, NY famous for its Indian food, among other things) on a chilly night, just days before Christmas. Jackson Heights is THE place for Indian food in NYC, according to a lot of people, and it had long been on my List, the ever-changing, ever-growing counting of places where this girl has gotta eat. One thing or another always came up and my previous plans to go fell through time and again. Not this time! I met Carlota in her hood and we hopped back on the 7 train one more stop to Jackson Heights. We walked the brightly-lit streets for a few chilly minutes until we found the place Carlota knew: Delhi palace.

It was a bit early for dinner, so most places were fairly empty. When we walked in, there were only two other tables occupied at the moment. We sat down, still shivering, and browsed through the menus. As a grammar geek, I enjoyed some of phonetic translations--check out the ingredients to the 'blady mary' (bloody mary): I believe 'watch ester' sauce is supposed to be "Worchestershire" sauce..I think "watch ester" might be more appropriate considering how we pronounce it!

We started with some vegetarian samosas (above) and some poori (seen a few paragraphs above, next to the rice photo), that fried, oh-so-delicious bread that I know is certainly not healthy, but yummy as all heck. I don't normally order it, but Carlota twisted my arm ;) and I went along with her. It was really tasty and went quickly...I even liked it better than the naan bread (and I love naan!)

I wasn't sure what to get, so I ended up going with the Chicken Tikka Masala, which is the baseline dish I compare at all Indian restaurants. This was just okay to me. The tomato sauce wasn't as spicy or flavorful as I'm used to--it reminded me of a thicker marinara, actually!

Carlota picked the lamb korma for her entree, and I was expecting a sauce along the lines of the cracktastic Chicken Korma sauce we had at Cafe Spice. However, this one was bright green, jam-packed with cilantro, and while different, still amazingly good. I instantly wished I'd picked this!

Despite the amazing amount of food we consumed, we still thought we'd try dessert, and we were DEFINITELY getting the masala chai, a spice-infused tea that is fragrant and delicious. We ordered the kulfi, which is Indian-style ice cream, and it came topped with some curious additions. There was some rose-petal infused sauce on top which I couldn't handle--anything rose-infused tastes like soap to me. The little beads on top, the manager later told us, are basil seeds that have been soaked in water. They are supposed to aid in digestion. After all that food we ate, we needed all the help we could get!

The manager and staff were quiet friendly and checked on us often, and at the end of our meal, brought us this dessert 'on the house.' However, we were so beyond stuffed at this point that all I could manage was a polite bite, and even that was pushing the limits of my stomach! It was very nice of them, and I felt bad that I couldn't eat more of it, but dear Lord, even I have limits!

Did I mention this was definitely Cheap Eats? Our bill, including a glass of wine each, apps, entrees, dessert, and tea, PLUS a very generous tip, came to about 40 bucks TOTAL!!! Sweet! Afterwards, we wandered the streets and shops, admiring the saris, checking out some music, and enjoying the holiday lights. I'm so glad I FINALLLLLLLY made it out to Jackson Heights, and I can't wait to go back and visit a new place!