I forgotto mention another of my favorite non-spicy appetizers: aloo papri.
I’ve had it in slightly different forms in different recipes, but my favorite comes from Cafe of India in Harvard Sq, Cambridge.
It is potato and cucumber served in a yogurt sauce, on a bed of lettuce, with things that look like itty bitty poori.
I think there is tamarind sauce swirled in the yogurt.
Yum yum yum.
Don’t forget the desserts! Gulab jaman, sweet cheese balls in rose water & honey; or gajar halwa, carrots, honey, spices. Now I’m gonna have to go for dinner tonight.
REPORT FROM THE FIELD
Mrs. Rastahomie and I went there today after church. She didn’t want to go, but today’s my birthday, so she came along. We were both impressed!
They had the buffet out, which was a good thing. Since it was buffet day, we got to try out a lot of different things. Most of the things mentioned so far in this thread didn’t seem to be available. Maybe they’re available on the regular menu; I don’t know.
I had lamb curry and found it so-so. The chicken curry was yummy! I tried some eggplant dish of some kind and also some vegetables-in-cream dish of some kind; both of them were horrible!
The biggest treat was the cabbage fagoo (sp?). Never in my life would I have believed that cocunut, garlic and cilantro could go together! The cabbag fagoo alone was worth the trip! As were the spring rolls dipped in cilantro chutney (the green stuff), the bismati rice, the bits of chicken brought out on a hot plate with yummy bread (pita?), and the mango ice cream!
The only real flaw was the rather lackadaisical service we had. Our waiter wasn’t rude, but he seemed not to care about much besides hanging out in the kitchen. I never got my Coke® refilled… I give the service a C-.
Oh, and there was no beef on the menu, and they served beer, so I’m guessing they were Hindu :D.
All-in-all, a great treat. Thanks for all the suggestions and advice!
I love Indian food. We just went out for it on Friday night, as a matter of fact.
I got something that was cheese and veggies compressed into these little rolls and served in a cream sauce, plus we got some garlic naan. Yum. Lots of basmati rice and a mango juice for the hubby. Hubby got eggplant something-or-other.
Very yummy. Just ate the last of it yesterday.
This is the case in most Indian restaurants I’ve eaten in. Less so at lunch, but definitely at dinner. I always budget a couple of hours at the least for dinner if we’re doing Indian food. I’ve noticed the waiters will usually not approach you if you’re having a lively conversation or look like you’re having fun.
A different philosophy about restaurant eating, I suspect. It used to drive me batty, but now that I know what to expect, it doesn’t.
Chicken Madras, plain naan; lager, rinse, repeat.
D**mit. 10:02 in the a.m. and I want curry!