When Devotion meets Passion for Food

 

 

Hungry in Ujjain

BY APURVA RAI

THE plan to visit Ujjain materialised at last. The divine feeling of getting the darshan of Lord Shiva had given us yet another chance to taste some good food in a new city.  Pilgrimage is fine, I take it as another opportunity to enjoy food and flavours in a city you are keen to explore.

We had booked Shipra Residency, operated by Madhya Pradesh Tourism. The stay came with a complimentary breakfast, but we also booked a buffet dinner for our family. This saved us from searching different places because at the end of the day nobody has the energy to run here and there for food. So you have to look for a place which is close to your hotel. Another factor was that when you are visiting a highly popular place you should be very careful about selecting a restaurant for quality and hygiene reasons. Our decision proved to be good in all ways. This was a nice, comfortable hotel, close to the railway station. The in-house restaurant dished out good food, delicious in taste and a variety of dishes to choose from. We enjoyed the two breakfasts and two dinners in the hotel. 

On the first day of our stay, we moved out of the hotel and looked around the nearby area within walking distance. A few yards away The Samsara drew our attention. There were several smaller restaurants or dhabas where the food was available at lower rates but, once again, it is the quality that you are not sure about. It was decided to visit The Samsara and give it a try. 

We were deeply impressed by the nicely done entrance and plush interiors of the restaurant. Quiet dining area, clean seating place, impressive décor, cutlery, and servings were enough to give us a happy feeling. No regrets.

SHIPRA RESIDENCY

We stayed here for two days. This entitled us to two breakfasts and two dinners in their restaurant.

The breakfast is complimentary but we had also booked a buffet dinner for our family. It was a well-thought-out decision because during the daytime we had plans to visit the Mahakal temple on one day, and Omkareshwar, the second day. We had a few hours on the third day which we utilised for some purchases after check-out. 

Looking back, I think the buffet breakfast was far better than the buffet dinner. We enjoyed it as it was rich, tasty and sumptuous. During those two days there were cutlets, some boiled potatoes tossed in herbs, idli-sambar, puri-subzi, poha, sliced fruits, bread/ butter and jam. Those who like a non-vegetarian breakfast can order for omelet. In the beverage we had tea, coffee, cornflakes and fruit juice. I liked the detox juice very much and it was unique. What else to start your day!

I looked for boiled eggs, which I think should have been a standard practice. I largely missed on popular Gujarati snacks like dhokla or fafda. 

The buffet dinner was tasty and sufficient but not elaborate. If I count, there was everything that completes the list. Both days we had very good dal (lentils), one paneer dish, one seasonal vegetable, salad, papad, sweet dish and all. For non-vegetarians there was  mutton curry one and egg curry the other. Hot rotis were served on your table according to your choice. I preferred lachcha paratha and missi roti which were served promptly on my table. The food tasted well and was not spicy either. Somehow, dal/roti/subzi didn’t go well for me; I looked for something more than this. There could be two vegetables or the Gujarati kadhi or something like that. Dal-bafla is very popular dish in Ujjain but during our two-day stay we couldn’t get it. 

We didn’t touch mutton curry since we had to visit Omkareshwar the next morning. The other day we wanted to relish some non-vegetarian food but the egg curry turned out to be a disappointment. So, it was dal/roti and a little bit of paneer once again. Not to forget that the dal tadka was very good. The paneer was in thick gravy, but was quite rich and heavy. Not very exciting dinner, I would say. I have stopped eating sweets, so it was conveniently spared. 

The fact is that when you are touring you don’t look forward to regular stuff like dal/ chawal/roti/subzi; you want something that pampers your taste buds. Some people like parathas for dinner which could be easily provided. I suggest they should add some regional dishes like sev bhaji, papad subzi and so on to bring uniqueness to the menu. This is one thing that will stay in your memories for a long time. One tandoori snack item would have enriched the dinner table. 

Despite missing out on a few things, we were happy with the food that was served. We were hungry after a day-long trip and enjoyed the food that was cooked and served with love. 

I saw that many people were ordering dinner from their a la carte menu. The menu card listed a wide variety of foodstuffs to choose from. Some people like to choose what they want to eat, unlike the buffet, where you don’t get a choice. The only advantage of a buffet is unlimited quantity.

THE SAMSARA

Our train from Delhi had reached Ujjain during the daytime. After checking in, it was time to move out for lunch as we had already missed our breakfast. Everyone was hungry by noon. We came out of our hotel, Shipra Residency, and took a short walk around the area to get a feel of the city besides looking for a decent restaurant. The priority was to taste some regional food. I had heard about dal-bafla and was keen to try it. There were a couple of roadside small outlets where this stuff was available. We ignored these places as they weren’t clean and we were not ready to compromise on quality or hygiene. We should not forget that when you are touring, make sure to eat only at such places that are good and maintain cleanliness; you cannot afford to fall ill.

 

Not far, an attractive, colourful, large vertical hoarding caught our attention. We decided to give it a try. The restaurant is on the fourth floor. We were guided by a young boy who took us to the fourth floor in a small elevator. We were happily surprised to see the plush interior. First look convinced us that our decision was right. A word with the executives and a glance across the place convinced us that the quality would be good, hygiene maintained, and the food would be fresh. This was of utmost importance as we were tourists and strangers to the city. 

We chose a corner seat and settled down. The table was extremely well organised and the sofa was extremely cosy. Since we were on a pilgrimage, we decided on all vegetarian food only. My first query was dal-bafla but unfortunately, it was not available. The executive attending to us told us that many dishes are yet to be introduced in this newly opened restaurant. I appreciated what he said. We turned over the pages of the menu card and decided to order a mix of regular dishes like tandoori aloo paratha, Chinese combo, a dal makhani combo and a vegetable biryani. I wanted to check on the taste and preparation. With my wide experience of eating at various places I can say with conviction that the same dish prepared at one place wouldn’t taste the same at another place. 

While our order was being readied, I took time to gaze through the attractive interiors of the dining hall. I appreciated the well-organised seating arrangement, tables, the lighting, comfortable seats and fine cutlery. Everything professional. 

Soon came our food. Very nicely served and prepared fresh. Tandoori paratha was served with curd. The kulchas were quite good and he curd was fresh. There were two reasons to order dal makhani; first, it is my favourite, and second, it does not taste the same everywhere. My experience proved true. Dal makhani carried a Gujarati flavour and tasted a little sweet. The Chinese combo with vegetable fried rice tasted authentic.

So far, so good! We didn’t feel happy about the quantity, which I notice has become a universal issue.  Except for the vegetable biryani all other dishes that we had ordered were good enough for a single person only. The biryani, I can say, would suffice for two. I also ordered a masala papad, but it was a disappointment. 

The Samsara also serves Jain food. This is of great help for vegetarians people who are worried about the purity of their diet.

BALRAJ RETREAT

The second day of our trip would take us to Omkareshwar, also known as Shivpuri, on the banks of the Narmada River in Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh. It is the fourth Jyotirlinga among the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. The road trip from Ujjain is long and tiring. 

We set out in the morning after having our buffet breakfast at the Shipra Residency. While going we didn’t feel hungry but on our return journey late in the afternoon we felt the need to have some food. We left it to the driver to guide us to a decent place where we could eat something. The driver stopped the car at Balraj Retreat.  

The large eating joint is very impressive from the outside where you can find a lot of vehicles halting and tourists stepping out for a bite. The exterior draws your attention. There are two eating places on the premises; one is a fine dining restaurant which is slightly expensive and the other is a large hall with different counters for food. This one is more of a snacks corner for a quick bite. You can get samosa, kachoris, jalebi, dhokla, fafada-kadhi, sweets, lassi/tea/coffee/ cold drinks, kulfi/ice cream and chaat etc. A large number of people in this area brought us too here. There was a self-service system where you have to take a token for the eatables of your choice. The dal kachori and dhokla that we bought was very good and had a bit of Gujarati flavour. We found Mawa Kachori and decided to taste it. I must say this was very unique and tasty. Diabetic people cannot eat this sweet but we shared one piece among us since we also do not have a stable sugar level. Good joint when you’re hungry for food en route to Omkareshwar. 

Our two-night an three-day trip to Ujjain concluded on a happy note. I was, at last, able to buy the namkeens and papad packets from the famous Jain Namkeen Bhandar in the Freegunj area. 

Paying obeisance at the Ujjain Mahakal Temple with my family.

Cygnet-- Food to enjoy; Place to relax

 

Hungry in Ayodhya

BY APURVA RAI

THE Ram Mandir in Ayodhya has become a major attraction for most people. My family too wanted to pay obeisance at the Mandir and visit the city of Ayodhya. I have passed through the highway ever since we started living in the Siddharth Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh, bordering Nepal.

With time our curiosity grew and one day we got the opportunity when my wife Prof. Prakriti Rai was invited to Awadh University to conduct a Ph.D. viva as an external examiner. Both of us drove to the city and she did her task at the university after which we had free time to go to the temple and have the darshan at the Ram Lala Mandir. In the evening this was also done without much hassle. 

This time I had a chance to have some good food in the city of Ayodhya. Bang opposite Awadh University is a hotel/ restaurant called Cygnet KK. Impressed by the quality of food and rich ambience I visited this place again along with my family. So, within one month, I visited Cygnet twice and enjoyed lunch both times.

The rooftop restaurant is called the Pavilion which overlooks a medium size swimming pool, normally occupied by the young ones splashing water on each other.

FIRST TRIP: During our first trip my wife and I came to the restaurant after she had finished her work at the university. Not willing to have anything heavy we decided to settle for Chinese food. So fried rice, noodles, paneer Manchurian and Kung Pao vegetables were our first choice. Before the food arrived we asked for Manchow soup too.

Cygnet makes big claims on Chinese food. When the food arrived on our tables I found the restaurant had lived up to its reputation.  I liked the Kung Pao vegetables. These were well-cooked and had a good combination of carrots, broccoli and other veggies. Piping hot, it made my day. Perfect for me. Nothing was too spicy and the taste was enjoyable. Overall, It was a good, sumptuous Chinese meal for all of us. Let me mention that we were accompanied by a group of other people too. 

SECOND TRIP: Impressed by their Chinese food, I visited the restaurant for a second time accompanied by my wife and son. This time it was a completely family affair.

Though we wanted to try Indian food this time, our second visit too kicked off with a Chinese Sizzler. Once again, it was superb. The presentation too was quite impressive. We liked the noodles, fried rice, Manchurian balls mixed with a few pieces of paneer (cottage cheese). This time we skipped the soup.

Next was vegetarian a Thali as we were keen to taste our own Indian food. The menu had many items and it became difficult for us to settle down on a couple of dishes. The Thali has an advantage as you get to savour a few dishes on one plate. With this thought, we ordered two.  

It didn’t take much time for the two Thalis to reach our table. It looked lovely. The presentation was superb as the sparkling stainless steel thalis and steel bowls grabbed our attention. A steel glass full of buttermilk (chach) stood tall in the Thali. Every dish was carefully placed. The chef had done his job quite well. We all were losing patience, so, lost no time to get started. We had a idea that two Thalis would suffice three people. It did, but, would have failed if there was no buttermilk.

The Thali contained one bowl of yellow dal (lentils), paneer dish and one dish of sliced potatoes. One bowl contained rice which was supported by one baby naan and one baby tandoori roti. How can I forget to mention that small piece of Hara-Bhara kebab. Of course there was a small potion of salad fitted within the Thali. We certainly missed the papad, pickle, chutney and raita/curd. All these are essential ingredients in our Indian food. We thought that Cygnet management gave them a skip to check growing cost. Anyway, the cost of each Thali was approx Rs. 550/-.

HIGH COST: I was slightly disappointed by the high cost of food that you get at Cygnet. The quantity that you get in return does not justify the price. Can you imagine getting one small bowl of potatoes or two baby chapatis in the Thali which would cost in excess of five hundred bucks? Even the steel bowls had deceptive appearance as they looked big but had a shallow base which would accommodate much less quantity that you think.

My opinion is that do not order a Thali if you are too hungry or you are a voracious eater like me. Not only Thali the food at Cygnet costs much. The Chinese food that we enjoyed was not reasonable by any means. The cost of lunch for two people would stand somewhere around ₹1500/- to ₹2000/- depending on your choice. Be ready to shell out more if you want to have hearty meals. Definitely yes to Cygnet if you don’t mind budget while dining, otherwise, you feel disappointed.

NICE AMBIENCE: The plus point of having lunch or dinner at Cygnet is their ambience. The entire restaurant is tastefully decorated, good lighting is done, the view is great as you sit facing the rooftop pool and so on. The service is good and people are polite. They will make you feel special as they offer to serve you food on your plate. Very professional job done. 

I have no regrets about visiting the place even though it affects my budget for the simple reason that I felt much more relaxed and enjoyed the food away from the noisy surroundings that you get at other places. I think I paid the price for a peaceful corner too !!

SOMETHING FROM SOUTH

Hungry  in  Delhi

 

BY APURVA RAI

South Indian is the most common choice for most of us when we are looking for something sumptuous yet light food. For me and my family too south Indian delicacies take the front seat as we all love the varieties and flavours it offers. Since childhood I have been visiting several South Indian outlets in Delhi and some of them, are quite famous as well. The restaurants that I review here only a select few though there are numerous little knows places besides street vendors where you can get some very tasty dosas and idlis.

 

 

SARVANNA BHAVAN

Janpath, Connaught Place, New Delhi

HAVE been to Sarvanaa Bhavan a couple of times earlier too. Every time I come here I decide that next time I will visit some other south Indian restaurant but somehow we come to this place, at last. What do you order first when in a South Indian restaurant? Obviously, dosa! The dosa at Sarvanaa Bhavan is tempting at first glance but you get disappointed when you find the filling too meagre. You get three types of chutneys and sambar. Remember, no refills. So be careful and manage with all the stuff that has been served to you. I am finding a strange trend coming up these days. Restaurants are becoming thrifty in servings while on price front they do not hesitate to increase it as and when they find it good. Has profitability become more important in food catering which too is part of the service sector? How much chutney can be served in that small groove of your plate and how much of sambar do you get in that tiny katori (steel bowl)! Indeed, food catering has become a good profitable business these days. I tried the south Indian Thali which came with several small katoris containing different vegetables; you get three pooris, a bowl of rice, papad and pickle. The vegetables were good and gave me authentic south Indian taste. Now my take on pooris. First, not the right idea to serve three pieces. In India three is not treated with respect so it makes no sense to serve three. It could be two large pieces or for relatively small pieces. Second, the pooris were so thin that when did they flew off my plate I myself could not understand. The vegetables in Thali were very very hot and I kept sipping water with each bite. Too many small pieces of round dry red chillies. Very hot. Not recommended for small children. We tried to have something different and ordered a plate of parotta with kurma. One plate consists of three small parottas with little kurma, or south Indian vegetable. The quantity of kurma was again small and I missed raita and pickle as well. The butter milk is good, chilled and filling. The ambience is decent with no background music. I found air-conditioning a little weak. Overall, good place for one or two visits. I think nobody would prefer to make repeated visits to Sarvanaa Bhavan.

ADYAR BHAVAN

Green Park, New Delhi

Yet another place in Delhi where you can savour some authentic south Indian food. I have been to this restaurant, located in the upmarket Green Park, south Delhi, several times earlier too. I like the food and it's preparations.

AMBIENCE: First impression is very important and this restaurant doesn't score much. It has a simple outlook that doesn't give you any impression of being in a south Indian outlet. There is no decor as such and no south Indian music playing. Yes, get to shelves filled with south Indian namkeen packets and pickle bottles. There are south Indian sweets on display and sale alongside north Indian counterparts.

FOOD & PRICES: When you do not get a hitting ambience you look for some good food that satisfies your taste buds as well as fills the tummy too. Talking of taste the Adyar Bhavan scores well.. in fact, four stars. When it comes to quantity it scores two points only. We had mix veg Uttappam. We got two small size pieces along with sambar, coconut chutney and gun powder chutney. It was soft by could not fill the stomach of my better half who already has an appetite that matches a small kid. Let us talk if south Indian fixed menu Thali. It comes with a wide variety of South Indian vegetables, a choice of either two puris or two chapatis, a bowl of rice and papad. The restaurant seems shy of giving good servings and that is why, perhaps, puts up small steel katoris (bowls) for the vegetables. Since it is fixed menu food you cannot expect refilling and therefore have to manage puris and rice with all the stuff that you have in front of you. This is the difference between Karnataka Sangh outlet in R K Puram and Adyar. In Karnataka Sangh, you are served vegetables in large katoris that fills the stomach and allow you to have a taste to your fill. Dosa, the most common food item on demand, is crispy and has a tasty potato filling.

NORTH INDIAN FOOD: The restaurant also offers all north Indian foodstuff and Chinese food to cater to the needs of the complete family. I have seen lots of children opting for regular chowmein and Manchurian. You also get all varieties of chaat minus aloo tikki. Since the servings are small or do not fill your stomach well, if have a good appetite or if you are very hungry, you cannot do away with a single dish. You have to order more and that inflates the bill. The prices match any other restaurant but it is quantity that makes the whole difference.

ONLY VEGETARIAN: Adyar Bhavan serves on vegetarian food. So don't expect those non-veg dishes with Chinese food etc.

DISLIKE: The restaurant serves food on yellow colour plastic plates which I didn't like at all. Another thing I disliked was the reluctance in giving a second serve of sambar or coconut chutney. We asked for sambar and it took more time than expected to reach the table. Then we had to ask for chutney again. Otherwise, what happens in other restaurants is just the opposite-- the waiter keeps an eye on you and serves the sambar/ chutney much before you could ask for it. A good place to taste South Indian food at the end. A good and safe place to sit with your family in a sober atmosphere.

 

UDUPI

ITO, BSZ Marg, New Delhi

I have been visiting Udupi Café at ITO, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi since childhood. Later when I started my career as journalist and started working in Patriot newspaper Udupi became regular.

Even today I visit Udupi along with my family decades after I left Patriot. My mother, wife and son too prefer not only for its delicious food but also because for its central location.

Udupi is a small, good for a bite while you somewhere around central Delhi and are not looking for a swanky, luxurious place for lunch or dinner. Small, reasonable and quite nice place with good south Indian taste within budget is what describes Udupi best.

You get good dosas-- well cooked and crispy, vadas, idlis, upma and a variety of rice dishes. In summer their buttermilk (chaach) is a great hit—mildly flavoured with a dash of fresh mint. The south Indian filter coffee is perfect to wind up. I really like the typical south Indian style of serving coffee, i.e. it comes in a small stainless steel tumbler and a small bowl or katori. The south Indian Thali is served only in the afternoons. The servings are sufficient but not unlimited. So, if you happen to like some vegetables and want more of it you have to order it separately.

Overall, it is great eating at Udupi in a modest environment and prices.

 

KARNATAKA SANGH

This is one my favourite restaurants to relish South Indian goodies, be it paper masala dosa, mix veg utthappam, or south Indian thali.

In fact, I started visiting this restaurant in my childhood days when my father would take me there for a plate of vada or dosa. Since then this outlet is one of my most preferred destination for south Indian food. Later I introduced this place to my wife and my son who equally appreciate the south Indian flavours of Karnataka Sangh. I should not hesitate to say that my family’s three generations have been visiting this south Indian outlet for the last about five decades.

The price is a pinch higher when compared to your local south Indian restaurant. Since this outlet is located on Rao Tula Ram Marg in Moti Bagh, New Delhi, you are not able to visit it as frequently as you would like to. This is one major reason why I am also not able to visit it as frequently as I would love to.

The food quality is uncompromisingly good and not match the original South Indian taste that you are looking for. I love their Thali for the simple reason that I get to savour some veggies cooked in typically south Indian style. Till a few years ago they served unlimited vegetables and rice in thali but not now. For me, personally, this is very discouraging.

On weekends this place is very crowded and the waiting time is very high. The main reason for the longer waiting time is the dining at Karnataka Sangh is not as large as it should be to accommodate a good number of guests at one time.

I cannot resist visiting Karnataka Sangh whenever I am in south Delhi. I prefer to be here during lunch or dinner time and nothing better to enjoy south Indian goodies whenever you are hungry in Delhi. Highly recommended for those who love South Indian vegetarian food.