Awesome flavors of Delhi

Hi, I am Prerna, Mumbai based resident. Recently, have got married and have shifted to Delhi.  Bing a resident of Mumbai, needless to confess, i am a bit biased about my place. No matter which corner of the nation I am in, i know, will end up always favoring my Mumbai. One, this place is special and subsequently, i have grown up here, which automatically makes this place beautiful to me.

No matter which place I’m or will be in, Mumbai will always hit my priority list. When I was in school, every single day, my mumma would give me ten rupee and I would religiously save that 10 rupee aside. Vada paw is my all-time favorite snack, which would cost a few bugs, and to be honest, i would somehow manage eating it from my friend’s pocket money. When I would collect good amount of around 80 or 100, some of the best restaurants were my one stop destination.

I confess being a big foodie, and just cannot live without spicy north indian food Delhi or Mumbai, be it anywhere I am in.

When i got married, I had no clue that would miss the spicy and homely flavors. I seriously craved for some ‘good’ food. For a few days, when i came to Delhi, felt as if would never get a simple vada paw here, forget the rest. But yes, I was wrong, for which I would accredited best restaurants in Delhi.

Though there’s a big time difference in the spice contents, and the preparation methodology, but who cares??? Something that remains almost the same is ‘taste’. The only thing that has to be taken into consideration is that you explore the fine eatery out of many. 

Special Navaratri Menu at Dhaba By Claridges

Were you going nuts, thinking you will have to be on a soul-less and colorless ‘diet’, to be at par on spiritual days of navratri? Well, to my understanding there’s certainly nothing wrong in fasting all the while, indeed i would say you can stretch a bit and delight your taste buds with wide array of scrumptious dishes. Sounds weird?? Yes, even i agree!  If i would have had come across something like this in navaratri, would have reacted in the same way! But …good is news that keeping all your hunger pangs satiated with delicious dishes, one of the best north indian restaurant in delhi, Dhaba by Claridges has come up with something special as always. 

This time, this remarkable delighter of north indian cuisine in delhi, have come up with a special menu, named as navaratri specials, and will be served to the diners here at Dhaba till 2nd of October. So those who just can’t resist without good food, but have dared to do things differently by fasting throughout navrtri, no worries!

The special menu at Dhaba entails Aloo sabut dane ki tikki, tawa arbi, dahi aloo, kache kele ka kofta, jeera sendha namak ka pulao, samak chawal, singhade aate ki puri, kheere ka raita, makhana sabiut dane ki kheer. 

My God! This is crazy menu and is attracting hordes to its shore! Why not! There’s so much so that anyone and everyone can get tempted to savor these lip smacking dishes. There’s a lot more to it so what all are you thinking and wasting your time over much? Rush to Dhaba by Claridges! Afterall it’s a no stone carved rule where God ask their followers to starve them. 

Overview of Flavors and Cuisines from North India

Geographical and Cultural Influence on the Food: North India is blessed with extreme climate conditions which is a summer is too hot and winter is too chilly. This weather offers an abundance of fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables. The richness owing to the geographical location with relation to the rest of the Sub-continent implies that the region has had a great influence of by Central Asia both in terms of culture and food. Mughlai and Kashmiri type of cooking form the most popular cuisine for the best restaurants in Delhi and across the globe.

Opulence of Food: North Indian curries are thick, creamy and spicy in texture. The use of dried fruits is common when preparing North Indian Food Delhi. Various dairy products like milk, yoghurt, cream, cottage cheese and ghee have a significant role when preparing this relishing palate. Also due to the availability of sumptuous variety of foods and vegetables an incredible kind of vegetarian dishes are cooked the entire year.

Staple Food: Unlike south Indians the North Indians prefer wheat bread over rice. North India is an abode to tandoori roti, naans and stuffed paranthas.  However you will also come across rice made into elaborate biryanis and pilafs in the region. This preference of wheat can be greatly observed in the menus of the best restaurants in Delhi.

Use of Cooking Oils: The oils which go into making these dishes include sunflower and canola. Mustard oil is used only in some regions of the state. Ghee goes into the preparation of special dishes and reserved for specific occasions.

Significant spices and Ingredients: Coriander, cumin, Dry red chilies, turmeric, chili powder, cinnamon, cloves, garam masala and fennel are some of the dominant ingredients and spices which go into the making of the best north Indian cuisines.

Best-Known Dishes: Mutter Paneer, Biryani, Dal Makhni, Dahi Gosht, Chicken Tikka, Fish Amritsari, Samosa, Chaat and Motichor Ladoo are some of the popular palates from North India. 

Satiate hunger pangs the right way

It’s no secret that that each one of us are so very hooked up in hectic schedule that an individual one hardly gets time for anything. Half the time we are concerned to finish the allotted tasks, which hovers on our head like anything. Well, we cannot certainly blame ourselves, weekends come and fly away and the only thing that we are left with is to again wait for the weekends. This is not the story of one or two individuals, indeed is common among all. In conjunction to combatting stress and tension, one hardly takes intuitive to pop-into the kitchen and cook what they have had been craving for. Consequentially, there’s no option left but to rely on jiffy meals. 

There’s undeniably a spiralling hike in manufacturing of ready to eat meals in the recent days, in comparison to a few years back, for which the increasing demand has to be accredited. Be it school going school child or an office going chap, prioritizes of pouncing upon ready to make food is same aid everyone. But alas this does not come with the surety that people do not wish to have butter infused naan, paratha, shahi paneer, kadhai paneer or butter chicken. Well, putting a full stop to mere-craving, north indian restaurants in Gurgaon comes as a happy call. No matter you’re vegetarian or a non-vegetarian enthusiast, restaurants like Dhaba by Claridges becomes a one stop destination for all. Flooded with range of vegetarian and non-vegetarian lip smacking cuisines, Dhaba by Claridges, restaurants in saket has it all to please the taste buds of every diner. Last but certainly not the least; the tharra menu comes as a happy call for all the cocktail lovers. So from next time onwards, whenever you happen to feel hunger pangs, instead of relying on those ready to eat food, it is presumed that you know what has to be done!!!

North Indian food-What makes this really flavoursome?

When in Delhi, won’t be wrong to say that it would be nothing less than a sin to miss out on delicious North Indian dishes which makes all the difference and creates a distinguishing Delhi’s flavour quotient. Restaurants in Saket stand on the clutches of the North Indians’ proclivity for the ultra-pure dairy products and cuisines that are cooked out here. Well, having least said, consider ghee dripping phulkas, without which our breakfast seems to be lifeless and so as our brunch. It’s true and might sound a little overblown to some of you, but the fact remains unchanged that majority of us just can’t resist without a heavy dose of ghee, milk, butter and honey.

Continuing about the North Indian families and their tryst with royal flavours, I would certainly add-in that I am one of those who no matter how unwell I am, just can’t resist without good food. Above all, north indian restaurants in Gurgaon give me ample reasons to pounce on tangy flavours as never before. Be it an avid vegetarian lover or a diehard non-vegetarian enthusiast, there’s something or the other special in every restaurant. Be it school, college office going or even homemakers, there are plenty of lip-smacking options to choose from. The hub-house of flavours, saket restaurants have many flavoursome dishes to choose from. 

On one hand wherein health is a priority for all, conversely lip smacking breads like pooris and kulchas for fuchaas and adults give them a reason to savour, without having to worry about anything and everything. So as a whole, those who have recently migrated to Delhi and are keen on delighting taste buds with some good-time food in Delhi, here you are, check out south Delhi and different restaurants here that are set to check out tangy flavours to choose from. 

So as a whole, what all you are thinking or worrying over much? There’s a lot more in which Delhi’s picturesque spots and lip smacking cuisines can delight you with, so just throw away the baggage full of strains behind and dive in deep the flavoursome world!!!

Looking Out for the Restaurant Faux Pas!

I can’t tell how it feels to be robbed at a place where nobody comes to your rescue, mainly because you make the plunge at your own peril. No, I am not talking about some deadly terrorist encounter. I am talking about setting a foot into a restaurant and setting the same foot out, robbed of all money and sadly, satisfaction, too.

One such encounter that I had at a restro, supposedly one of the best restaurants in Delhi, left me thinking about the authenticity of the word -‘best’. While some restaurants, like Dhaba By Claridges, Pind Baluchi, or Dawat live upto their names, others just come across as a terrible disappointment. While zeroing on a North Indian Restaurant in Delhi, here are the most common things NOT to look out for!

The old, boring food

Every North Indian Restaurant in Delhi will have the usual Dal Makhani and Shahi Paneer on its platter. How the restaurant reinvents it decides how things click with the customers. Nobody would splurge their hard earned money on a dish that can be as easily cooked at home too. New is the fad these days. Adopt it, and stick to it!

Candle lit Ambience and Non engaging Staff

Ask today’s youngsters or even elders for that matter, Candle lit ambience is a thing that has ceased to be a charmer. People these days hunt down places that could cater to their frolicky taste and enjoy their meals and drinks in a wacky manner. Quirky ambience punctuated with bizarre elements like cool feedback chits pasted on the walls strike a chord with the audience. Well that’s closely enough to leave a long lasting impression on the foodies.

A non engaging staff is a big turn off, too. Imagine an attendant who makes an unbothered expression at your orders and doesn’t nod or say yes as a token of affirmation? An engaging and a warm staff, hence, is imperative to a pleasant dining experience. 

How Planning Comes in Handy While you are Cooking

I remember waking up to my mother instructing me to have things in control at home while she was leaving for a holy trip for a few days. For days I was baffled to wake up and sleep back with a concern about what to cook buzzing all around and about the day. What to prepare is the only thing I was perturbed with. It wasn’t the case that I haven’t cooked before but planning a meal is going to haunt me for ages now. It is not solely about the taste which may decide a meal but there are a lot many considerations and thoughts which get into while preparing a meal. 

When I was preparing a meal I made it a point to make it with a right balance of taste and health. Though it was a lot of trouble I confess, to prepare an appetizing palate considering the health part of it but few tips which I learnt from a chef from the best restaurants in Delhi came to the rescue. Sticking on to the nutritious value I prepared a plan to make the supper delectable. After chalking out a strategy I decided to prepare the breakfast nutritious, lunch savouring and heavy and dinner mostly light with a dessert with some home-made snacks in between.

Here are a few tips I adhered to while I planned and prepared the meals-

-Avoid including processed and readymade food, since we don’t have any control over its make-up. When having salads do not include pickles and dips into it. Apart from adding unnecessary calories they are unhealthy.

- I learnt this from a chef of a North Indian restaurants in Gurgaon that you must revisit the list of your groceries before you actually go shopping. Generally we don’t have a fixed idea what we will be buying and therefore the unrequired fuss about what to prepare. This kind of planning becomes much important in a big set up like a restaurant where managing an inventory itself is a task complex enough. 

-Pick a leaner piece of meat for palates which cannot be cooked with a lot of oil. Choose for extra virgin olive oil to make it healthier. Pick the organic, non-polished variants of rice and  pulses. While stocking on essential herbs and exotic vegetable for extra flavours do remember to opt for whole grain bread and pasta. 

Conclusively a bit of planning and sticking to something healthy and tasty at the same time helps you sail through even through the toughest time you are having while cooking.