Since this is my last post that will be made to fulfill an assignment in Dr. Silverman's course, I decided to use this post to look back over all of the buffet visits we've made this semester, and pick out superlatives.
Most frequently seen dish: Chicken Tikka Masala. 6 out of 10 buffets had it. I'm not surprised by this, seeing how it is probably the best known dish in Indian Cuisine. It was the first one I had heard of prior to gaining interest for Indian cuisine.
Cheapest buffet: Rasoi of Albuquerque, NM. $9.45 on a weekday, tax included. The out-of-towner wins it! Perhaps it has to do with a relatively low cost of living in New Mexico, or perhaps it can be attributed to the relatively small buffet selection. The small selection didn't take away from my enjoyment at all, the offerings were high quality.
Most expensive buffet: Pongal of Billerica, MA. $11.66 on a weekday, including tax. Conversely, this buffet had a relatively large selection. I would've been sold on this price if I really like the selections, but that didn't happen.
Highest rating: It's a four way tie between Priya of Lowell MA, Rasoi of Albuqurque, NM, Bombay Mahal of Waltham, MA, and India Palace of Chelmsford, MA, all with 4.8's. I still can't decide which one I like the best. The three buffets in MA are what I'd recommend to the reader of this blog who hasn't been to an Indian buffer before. What made these the best (in my book), was that each had high quality dishes at relatively low costs.
Favorite dish and where: I'm going to pick two: The saag paneer at Rasoi and the Chicken Tikka Masala at both India Palaces. Take heed from my inclinations. This curry is GOOD. These dishes are not to thick or thin and are bursting with flavor.
Most items (not counting sauces, naan, plain basmati rice, and salad): Bombay Mahal with 18 items. Well, no wonder the buffet was so pricey. I just wished the food was more to my liking. It seems very South Indian-centric. Which is good for dosa, yet bad in my book when it comes to entrees.
Least items (not counting sauces, naan, plain basmati rice, and salad): Rasoi with 8. it must be no coincidence that these two buffets (Pongal and Rasoi) are, respectively, the most expensive, and cheapest. I'm pretty sure I'd rather have a small selection of delicious items, than a wide selection of "meh" items.
I hope one was able to deduct some useful conclusions about these buffet stats so far. As to that the future holds for endless spice, perhaps branching off into other cuisine, or showcasing the cooking of me and those I know. All I do know is that the possibilities are wide open from here...
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
India Palace, Chelmsford, MA
India Palace313 Littleton Rd., Chelmsford, MA
This week's buffet survey is unique in that we're visiting a restaurant that is part of a chain. We visited their Nashua location in my first review. Today, we get to see how a chain of Indian restaurants compare from one location to the next in their buffet quality...
The Offerings:
Chutneys/Sauces:
raitha: Once again, I could not decipher and distinct deviations in flavor from how this spiced yogurt always tastes.
onion: n/a. It looked like what they serve in Nashua.
mint: n/a
tamarind: I'm having a hard time recalling how the tamarind chutney tasted in Nashua. Their chutney was quite good, but a little on the sweet side. It must be similar because I mentioned the tamarind chutney having the same flavor characteristics.
(left to right: empty bowl of seaweed salad?, raitha, onion chutney, mint chutney, tamarind chutney, and salad fixings at top)
Salad: Their salad section, unlike their Nashua counterparts, had the fixings (iceberg lettuce, carrot, red onion, green chili, and lemon wedges, separated out, so that one could fix at their own risk. I find this arrangement optimal for concocting the perfect salad to begin my Indian feast. I would also like to note that there was an empty bowl (you can see it in the picture) that appeared to have contained seaweed salad. If it was, in fact, seaweed salad, I'm sad to have missed out.
Soup:
lentil soup: It appeared to be an assortment of lentils and mixed vegetables in a spicy broth. I didn't try it.
Bread:
naan/garlic naan: Just like their Nashua location, they make their naan bread available in a pan up at the buffet. I am therefore to take as much or little naan as I like, so long as they keep it adequately stocked. Also like the Nashua India Palace, they have both regular and garlic naan available. It did seem, though, that their naan was thinner then that of their Nashua location and, perhaps, the thinnest I've seen. This isn't too much of an issue, it still tasted pretty good.
Appetizer:
onion pakora: Their pakoras had an interesting batter. it was more orange and bready than what I'm used to for pakora batter. I prefer the crispier, flakier crust.
Entrees:
(clockwise from top left: malai kofta, aloo gobi, mushroom chicken, and saag chana)
(clockwise from top left: aloo gobi, tandoori chicken, chicken tikka masala, and mushroom chicken)
dal makhani: Their dal was simultaneously creamier, sweeter, and tangy-er than what I'm used to tasting.
saag chana: I'm happy to finally see this dish at a buffet. This dish combines my love for chickpeas with my love for creamy saag. This particular dish was so sweet and creamy, its flavor resembled malted milk. I was thrown off at first, but I found the more I tasted, the more I enjoyed it.
malai kofta: I've been wary of this dish in the past because it seemed so heavy: battered dumplings in a sweet, yellow cream sauce, similar to that of vegetable korma. Today I finally bit the bullet and gave it an honest try, and I was pleasantly surprised. The balls were lighter than I expected. They almost tasted like lighter matzah balls. Not bad.
aloo gobi: I am consistently only mildly enthused by this dish and this experience was no different. I think my lack of passion for aloo gobi can be attributed to the dish's dryness, and it's supposed to be dry. It's okay, it's my fault, not India Palace's, or the fault of anyplace else I've tried this dish.
mushroom chicken: What a treat! Juicy chicken in a tangy sauce with mushrooms! I've seen this dish with only mushrooms in the past. I think chicken was the missing link in my book. Either mushrooms alone don't cut the mustard, or this place knows how to properly flavor a mushroom curry. I'd say it's the latter.
chicken tikka masala: This was exactly the way I remember it being in Nashua: AMAZING. Bright red sauce that's both sweet and tangy at the same time. Juicy, pre-marinated chicken. India palace still is the best when it comes to this dish.
tandoori chicken: I've tasted moister tandoori chicken in my visits. That said, this tandoori chicken was good, but nothing to write home about.
Desserts:
laddu: This was my first time ever seeing this dessert. They looked and tasted like balls of sugar and dough. Their neon orange color made them more eye-catching than flavorful. As far as flavor goes, they just taste like...sweet. No real other flavor here.
mango pudding: This, I'm pretty sure, is the same dessert they serve at the Nashua location. It has a very sweet, creamy flavor. It reminds me of "champagne" flavored Jelly Bellys. I like the added touch of assorted fruit chunks.
paysam: Speaking of assorted fruit chunks, I was pleasantly stunned to find them in this dessert which I've never seen before. I love vermicelli in sweet cream. This dessert is a variation on the classic kheer. under this name, I usually witness it served warm and with noodles, instead of rice.
Price: $10.09 (weekday. including MA tax)
The Offerings:
Chutneys/Sauces:
raitha: Once again, I could not decipher and distinct deviations in flavor from how this spiced yogurt always tastes.
onion: n/a. It looked like what they serve in Nashua.
mint: n/a
tamarind: I'm having a hard time recalling how the tamarind chutney tasted in Nashua. Their chutney was quite good, but a little on the sweet side. It must be similar because I mentioned the tamarind chutney having the same flavor characteristics.
(left to right: empty bowl of seaweed salad?, raitha, onion chutney, mint chutney, tamarind chutney, and salad fixings at top)
Salad: Their salad section, unlike their Nashua counterparts, had the fixings (iceberg lettuce, carrot, red onion, green chili, and lemon wedges, separated out, so that one could fix at their own risk. I find this arrangement optimal for concocting the perfect salad to begin my Indian feast. I would also like to note that there was an empty bowl (you can see it in the picture) that appeared to have contained seaweed salad. If it was, in fact, seaweed salad, I'm sad to have missed out.
Soup:
lentil soup: It appeared to be an assortment of lentils and mixed vegetables in a spicy broth. I didn't try it.
Bread:
naan/garlic naan: Just like their Nashua location, they make their naan bread available in a pan up at the buffet. I am therefore to take as much or little naan as I like, so long as they keep it adequately stocked. Also like the Nashua India Palace, they have both regular and garlic naan available. It did seem, though, that their naan was thinner then that of their Nashua location and, perhaps, the thinnest I've seen. This isn't too much of an issue, it still tasted pretty good.
Appetizer:
onion pakora: Their pakoras had an interesting batter. it was more orange and bready than what I'm used to for pakora batter. I prefer the crispier, flakier crust.
Entrees:
(clockwise from top left: malai kofta, aloo gobi, mushroom chicken, and saag chana)
(clockwise from top left: aloo gobi, tandoori chicken, chicken tikka masala, and mushroom chicken)
dal makhani: Their dal was simultaneously creamier, sweeter, and tangy-er than what I'm used to tasting.
saag chana: I'm happy to finally see this dish at a buffet. This dish combines my love for chickpeas with my love for creamy saag. This particular dish was so sweet and creamy, its flavor resembled malted milk. I was thrown off at first, but I found the more I tasted, the more I enjoyed it.
malai kofta: I've been wary of this dish in the past because it seemed so heavy: battered dumplings in a sweet, yellow cream sauce, similar to that of vegetable korma. Today I finally bit the bullet and gave it an honest try, and I was pleasantly surprised. The balls were lighter than I expected. They almost tasted like lighter matzah balls. Not bad.
aloo gobi: I am consistently only mildly enthused by this dish and this experience was no different. I think my lack of passion for aloo gobi can be attributed to the dish's dryness, and it's supposed to be dry. It's okay, it's my fault, not India Palace's, or the fault of anyplace else I've tried this dish.
mushroom chicken: What a treat! Juicy chicken in a tangy sauce with mushrooms! I've seen this dish with only mushrooms in the past. I think chicken was the missing link in my book. Either mushrooms alone don't cut the mustard, or this place knows how to properly flavor a mushroom curry. I'd say it's the latter.
chicken tikka masala: This was exactly the way I remember it being in Nashua: AMAZING. Bright red sauce that's both sweet and tangy at the same time. Juicy, pre-marinated chicken. India palace still is the best when it comes to this dish.
tandoori chicken: I've tasted moister tandoori chicken in my visits. That said, this tandoori chicken was good, but nothing to write home about.
Desserts:
laddu: This was my first time ever seeing this dessert. They looked and tasted like balls of sugar and dough. Their neon orange color made them more eye-catching than flavorful. As far as flavor goes, they just taste like...sweet. No real other flavor here.
mango pudding: This, I'm pretty sure, is the same dessert they serve at the Nashua location. It has a very sweet, creamy flavor. It reminds me of "champagne" flavored Jelly Bellys. I like the added touch of assorted fruit chunks.
paysam: Speaking of assorted fruit chunks, I was pleasantly stunned to find them in this dessert which I've never seen before. I love vermicelli in sweet cream. This dessert is a variation on the classic kheer. under this name, I usually witness it served warm and with noodles, instead of rice.
Price: $10.09 (weekday. including MA tax)
Final Score: 4.8/5 (Better than Nashua)
I find it a pleasant coincidence that the past three buffets I've been to have all been excellent quality and worthy of "A" range scores (all 4.8's to be exact). Overall, this location surpasses that of Nashua in quality. They had a neater salad section. I liked their setup better too. In Nashua, one must walk into a separate room to access the buffet. At this location, the buffet line is alot closer to the dining room, which is also set up better. I hated having to squeeze in between tables on my way up to the Nashua buffet. They also had one more desert than did Nashua. The only questionable feature of Chelmsford was their naan quality. it seemed thinner and doughier than Nashua's naan, which was oily and crispy. Oh well, I declare Chelmsford the better location
Monday, May 3, 2010
Bombay Mahal, Waltham, MA
Bombay Mahal Restaurant458 Moody St., Waltham, MA
For this post, we're back to a good, ol' fashioned Boston area Indian Buffet review, no far away specials, no two-part specials, etc. On another note, I'm beginning to worry and become relieved at the same time that my cravings for Indian food are weakening. I'm worried because it could hinder the thoroughness of my perception of the flavor of the buffet offerings. I'm relieved because I think it's unhealthy (mentally) to consistantly crave the same type of food. While Indian food does contain a lot of zesty spices, variety is the true spice of life... On to our perusals!
The Offerings:
Chutneys/Sauces:
(top to bottom of row, then left to right: pickle, raitha, mango chutney, mint chutney, tamarind chutney, kheer, salad)
pickle: I didn't try it, but one of my friends did and it made him cringe, just as I have when trying this item in the past. I'm guessing it's from the salty/lemony flavor that attacks the taste buds.
raitha: I didn't notice anything different from the usual tangy, yogurty taste it always has, everywhere I go.
mango: n/a
mint: n/a
tamarind: I only got to try a little bit of this because there was no small cup or ramekin for me put it in for dipping purposes. They insisted that the small bowls were for desert ONLY. I remember it being sweet. Other than that, I didn't get much of the flavor because it started mixing with the other curries on my plate :( Partly my fault for being clumsy in the face of sauce-adversity, and partly theirs for putting me in the face of sauce-versity.
Salad: It was pre-mixed with lemon wedges, carrot, and green bell pepper slice over iceberg lettuce. It was much like my other encounters with this method of salad presentation, which make up the majority of what I've witnessed in my Indian buffet adventures. Nothing to discredit them for here, only good.
Bread:
naan: They made the naan available on the buffet line. I've missed this method of obtaining naan. I do love to "naan at my own risk". as far as the quality goes, it wasn't great but definitely didn't suck. It was soft and dry; definitely one of the less flavorful naans I've tasted.
Appetizer:
(clockwise from bottom left (green): saag paneer, chana kabuli, pakora, basmati rice, veg. basmati rice, naan)
pakora: This would be the second review in a row where I've experienced huge, spinachy pakoras and I couldn't be more happy. I think these ones were even larger than those at Rasoi. They had a good crisp and were savory as hell; nothing bad to say about these.
Entrees:
(clockwise from bottom left: chicken tikka masala, tandoori chicken, "best mushroom's", chicken chilli)
vegetable rice: Ah, a rare encounter with a buffet that has two types of rice, plain and augmented with a vegetable/fruit flavoring. The vegetable used in this rice was peas. This was especially interesting because the only rice offered in past buffet experiences contained peas. This rice just contained more than usual.
saag paneer: It was delicious. Perfect consistency: not to think or thin. It was significantly creamy, but unlike Diva, this saag paneer was still packed with sweet, sweet flavor.
chana kabuli: This was essentially chana masala/chole with bits of potato. It tasted notably buttery. It was also a good mix of sweet and spicy.
baignan bartha: As much as I don't care for eggplant, this dish was quite nice to my tastebuds. The sauce was sweet, tangy, and spicy all at the same time, which is why I fell in love with Indian cuisine in the first place.
veg. jalfrezi: n/a. I fucked up and got too full off of the saag paneer, chana kabuli, and chicken tikka masala. I never ended up trying this dish or the grammatically incorrect "best mushrooms".
"best mushroom's": n/a, though I've yet to be impressed with Indian mushroom dishes.
chicken chilli: This dish consisted of seemingly tandoori grilled boneless chicken in a sauce that included roasted peppers, onions, tomato, and Indian spices. It almost reminded me of kadai paneer, except with chicken, instead of Indian cheese cubes. I like it, but I think, in general, it's not my favorite dish. I'm more of a sucker for sweeter, creamier curries.
chicken tikka masala: It was delicious. The chicken was tender, juicy, and pre-marinated. The sauce was simultaneously creamy and tangy. One small criticism of this fine-tasting item was that the sauce was slightly thin for my liking. Something I might overlook depending on my mood.
tandoori chicken: This dish doesn't stand out in my mind as having any notably good or bad characteristics. I believe it was adequately spiced, juicy, and smokey.
Dessert:
kheer: It was on the thicker side and tasted of sweet cream. It was smooth and had a subtle sweetness that I enjoyed.
Price: $10.08 (weekday w/ MA meals tax) Average.
Final Score: 4.8/5
They did a damn goo djob on most of their offerings. Also contributing to their high score was the decent size of the buffet. I really wish they had bows that could've been used for salad chutney though. Basically we're looking at (mostly) North Indian cuisine done pretty damn well.
raitha: I didn't notice anything different from the usual tangy, yogurty taste it always has, everywhere I go.
mango: n/a
mint: n/a
tamarind: I only got to try a little bit of this because there was no small cup or ramekin for me put it in for dipping purposes. They insisted that the small bowls were for desert ONLY. I remember it being sweet. Other than that, I didn't get much of the flavor because it started mixing with the other curries on my plate :( Partly my fault for being clumsy in the face of sauce-adversity, and partly theirs for putting me in the face of sauce-versity.
Salad: It was pre-mixed with lemon wedges, carrot, and green bell pepper slice over iceberg lettuce. It was much like my other encounters with this method of salad presentation, which make up the majority of what I've witnessed in my Indian buffet adventures. Nothing to discredit them for here, only good.
Bread:
naan: They made the naan available on the buffet line. I've missed this method of obtaining naan. I do love to "naan at my own risk". as far as the quality goes, it wasn't great but definitely didn't suck. It was soft and dry; definitely one of the less flavorful naans I've tasted.
Appetizer:
(clockwise from bottom left (green): saag paneer, chana kabuli, pakora, basmati rice, veg. basmati rice, naan)
pakora: This would be the second review in a row where I've experienced huge, spinachy pakoras and I couldn't be more happy. I think these ones were even larger than those at Rasoi. They had a good crisp and were savory as hell; nothing bad to say about these.
Entrees:
(clockwise from bottom left: chicken tikka masala, tandoori chicken, "best mushroom's", chicken chilli)
vegetable rice: Ah, a rare encounter with a buffet that has two types of rice, plain and augmented with a vegetable/fruit flavoring. The vegetable used in this rice was peas. This was especially interesting because the only rice offered in past buffet experiences contained peas. This rice just contained more than usual.
saag paneer: It was delicious. Perfect consistency: not to think or thin. It was significantly creamy, but unlike Diva, this saag paneer was still packed with sweet, sweet flavor.
chana kabuli: This was essentially chana masala/chole with bits of potato. It tasted notably buttery. It was also a good mix of sweet and spicy.
baignan bartha: As much as I don't care for eggplant, this dish was quite nice to my tastebuds. The sauce was sweet, tangy, and spicy all at the same time, which is why I fell in love with Indian cuisine in the first place.
veg. jalfrezi: n/a. I fucked up and got too full off of the saag paneer, chana kabuli, and chicken tikka masala. I never ended up trying this dish or the grammatically incorrect "best mushrooms".
"best mushroom's": n/a, though I've yet to be impressed with Indian mushroom dishes.
chicken chilli: This dish consisted of seemingly tandoori grilled boneless chicken in a sauce that included roasted peppers, onions, tomato, and Indian spices. It almost reminded me of kadai paneer, except with chicken, instead of Indian cheese cubes. I like it, but I think, in general, it's not my favorite dish. I'm more of a sucker for sweeter, creamier curries.
chicken tikka masala: It was delicious. The chicken was tender, juicy, and pre-marinated. The sauce was simultaneously creamy and tangy. One small criticism of this fine-tasting item was that the sauce was slightly thin for my liking. Something I might overlook depending on my mood.
tandoori chicken: This dish doesn't stand out in my mind as having any notably good or bad characteristics. I believe it was adequately spiced, juicy, and smokey.
Dessert:
kheer: It was on the thicker side and tasted of sweet cream. It was smooth and had a subtle sweetness that I enjoyed.
Price: $10.08 (weekday w/ MA meals tax) Average.
Final Score: 4.8/5
They did a damn goo djob on most of their offerings. Also contributing to their high score was the decent size of the buffet. I really wish they had bows that could've been used for salad chutney though. Basically we're looking at (mostly) North Indian cuisine done pretty damn well.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Rasoi, Albequrque, NM
Rasoi
110 Yale Blvd. SE, Albequrque, NM
tamarind: I could never forget a tamarind chutney. This one delivered with plenty of that tangy flavor that I love. It was a little chunky as well.110 Yale Blvd. SE, Albequrque, NM
Even from simply looking at the red adobe building in the picture above, one can tell we're not in Kansas anymore, or New England for our sake. We're in New Mexico to be exact, known for its Mexican cuisine, adobe buildings, and landscapes that appear as if they're straight out of a Marlborough ad. I recently road tripped out to California for the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. I thought it would be neat to hit up a buffet on the way out there, and see how a buffet of the other side of this vast country would compare to those in the Boston area...
The Offerings:
note: I lost my photo of the salad/chutney section of the buffet. Seeing how looking over the photos is my method of recounting each item, I will do my best to recall this section purely from memory. I apologize ahead of time if it comes out a little vague or I miss an item.
Chutneys:
The Offerings:
note: I lost my photo of the salad/chutney section of the buffet. Seeing how looking over the photos is my method of recounting each item, I will do my best to recall this section purely from memory. I apologize ahead of time if it comes out a little vague or I miss an item.
Chutneys:
mint: n/a
pickle: n/a
raitha: Their raitha stood out to me. It was perhaps a bit more peppery than I'm used to, which I liked.
Salad: Alright, let me rack my brains here... If I remember correctly, the salad ingredients were separated, salad-bar style. There was lettuce (obviously) sliced green bell peppers, sliced carrot, sliced red onion, sliced cucumber, and more of the usual salad bar ingredients. I remember that the veggies seemed especially fresh.
Bread:
Appetizer:
(front to back: pakora, basmati rice, saag paneer, and veg. korma)
pakora: These pakoras were huge, not to mention delicious. I couldn't stop smothering these in they're delicious tamarind chutney. No surprise there.
Entrees:
(front to back: saag paneer, vegetable korma, and cabbage aloo)
(chicken curry on left, tandoori chicken on the right)
saag paneer: Jeez, this was amazing. It was not only thick and creamy, but nutty too. I swear I sensed hints of cinnamon. This could be the best saag paneer I've ever tasted.
veg. korma: They knocked this dish out of the park too! Sweet and creamy, and a perfect consistancy. There were even bits of cashew in the sauce as well as potato chunks. I'm a fan.
cabbage aloo: I don't know how I felt about this dish, mostly because I'm not a cabbage fan and the dish was sauceless. It was still well seasoned, relatively moist, and of a good consistancy; not to hard and not too mushy.
tandoori chicken: A friend who attended this buffet with us. He's a chef who'd never tried Indian food. He raved about this. Perhaps that could be because he's a sucker for smokey-flavored meats. This chicken was awesome; thoroughly spiced and juicy.
chicken curry: This particular dish tasked more like chicken tikka masala (which I wish they had) than the usual dishes called "chicken curry". Either way, the chicken was nice and moist, and the sauce was sweet, tangy, and creamy all at the same time.
Dessert:
(mango custard on left, "sugar candy" on right)
mango custard: It's not my top pick for an Indian desert, but it was still good anyhow. I believe I've seen this at India Palace in Nashua. It had a pudding consistency and bits of fruit mixed in.
jalebi: The waitress told us what the name was but I forgot! (5/12- found it) It was similar to rock candy, but smoothed-out, and chewier. I wasn't crazy about the flavor, but it was a nice touch.
Price: $9.45 (on a weekday includy New Mexico meals tax). Cheap!
Final Score: 4.8/5
This place does their dishes damn good. There was nothing that let me down. I just wish there was more of a selection. I didn't give them a perfect score for that reason and also because they aren't the magical place I have envisioned in my head that will serve both north and south Indian cuisine flawlessly. Maybe that place doesn't exist... It would be sad never to see an Indian Buffet that gets a 5.0, but I need to stick to my guns...
Thursday, April 8, 2010
No Review- The Magic of Ghee
As much as I love Indian food in the form of an all-you-can-eat buffet, I also like to attempt to recreate its spicy goodness in the comforts of my own home. Many recipes for Indian dishes call for either ghee or vegetable oil to fry up diced onion, ginger, garlic, green chilis, etc.. Since I rarely plan ahead, and there aren't any Indian groceries within roughly 30 miles of where I live, I would choose the latter, seeing how I could grab it at my local grocery store. The final product would come out much more bland. I still would find myself dumbstruck as to how to recreate the creaminess. Well, I finally picked up a jar of ghee at an Indian grocery in Lowell. This particular jar of ghee was made by Swad (they also make instant Indian meals). "What is ghee?" one may ask. Clicking the 'ghee' hypertext will bring you to Wikipedia's definition. In the English speaking world, we call it 'clarified butter'. Upon opening the jar out of my natural curiosity as a human being, my first observations of the product was that it reminded me of popcorn butter in both the way it looked and smelled. I took it home and proceeded to make this saag recipe that I had made before (sans ghee). I could already tell, during the cooking process, that this was gonna taste better. The smell was so much more savory. In the end, the saag paneer came out much smoother/creamier than when I used vegetable oil. The ghee made a world of difference. It is fattier than veg. oil, but we can't always align taste and health, look at Southern cooking.Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Namaskar, Somerville, MA (Battle of the Davis Square Indian Buffets, Part 2)
Namaskar234 Elm St., Somerville, MA
Now comes the long-anticipated conclusion in our quest to find out which is the better Davis Square Indian buffet. Let's get down to business...
The Offerings:
Chutneys:
tamarind: Weak. It tasted more like sweet and sour sauce. It was lighter in color too.
mint: n/a
onion: n/a
raitha: This stood out in my mind as tasting quite better than the usual. More tang to it.
hot chutney: While I didn't try it, I did observed that it looked almost identical to pickle.
(left to right, top to bottom): lettuce, green pepper, not sure, not sure, orange wedges, not sure, red onion, carrots, cucumber, hot chutney, kheer, raitha, tamarind chutney.
The Offerings:
Chutneys:
tamarind: Weak. It tasted more like sweet and sour sauce. It was lighter in color too.
mint: n/a
onion: n/a
raitha: This stood out in my mind as tasting quite better than the usual. More tang to it.
hot chutney: While I didn't try it, I did observed that it looked almost identical to pickle.
(left to right, top to bottom): lettuce, green pepper, not sure, not sure, orange wedges, not sure, red onion, carrots, cucumber, hot chutney, kheer, raitha, tamarind chutney.
Salad: First, I'm going to apologize, for I can't seem to remember, or make out in the picture what some of the items in the salad section were. This tells me that the salad section was quite expansive. Apparently the 'build you own salad' platform is popular in Davis Square. Overall this one was bigger, however, less fruit and more veggies.
Bread:
naan: It was delivered to my table. I liked how it was cut into strips. it saves me having to rip it on my own :). This naan was slightly on the thinner side and very flavorful> I kept wondering if it was garlic naan and then telling myself 'no'. I'm pretty sure what I was tasting was the oils and maybe a little seasoning.
Soup:
the hot and sour soup is in the bottom, left pan. (also pictured (top 3): mixed veg. pakora, saag, raswala bataka, and(next to soup) pindi chana)
hot and sour soup: I've had a soup called 'hot and sour soup' at Chinese restaurants, but this one is different. I would say I'd pick the Chinese version. It didn't have much flavor. There were carrots in it...not too exciting for me.
Appetizer:
mixed veg. pakora: These were of good size. They all seemed to be the same vegetable, despite the name. I think the vegetable was mushroom.
Entrees:
(clockwise from upper left:) raswala bataka, mushroom chicken, tandoori chicken, beef curry, and chicken tikka masala.
(above, clockwise from upper left :) raswala bataka, mushroom chicken, chicken tikka masala, and kadhai paneer.
saag: It was just spinach curry; no paneer, no vegetables, nothing. After I got past this, it was fine. It still scooped up nicely into the pieces of the rather tasty naan.
pindi chana: Essentially chole or chana masala. The sauce was a little thin though. It made up in flavor; tangy and spicy
raswala bataka: I'd never seen this before. Once again, a popato dish with a confusing name. It consisted of potatoes in a white, creamy, sauce. I enjoyed it though. I'm not sure how to descibe the flavor... almost lentily, definitely mild. I suppose one could say "savory".
kadai paneer: I enjoyed this kadai paneer alot more than that which I had at Cafe India. Less spicy and more all-around flavor.
mushroom chicken: It was boneless chicken pieces and mushroom in that classic brown curry sauce I always see when a dish has curry in the name. It's a tangy, cinnamony, taste that I enjoy. On a low note, the chicken was dry for my liking. That killed my buzz a skoatch.
chicken tikka masala: What I said about the chicken in the last dish, I'll ditto for this one. Which sucked because the tikka masala sauce was damn good.
tandoori chicken: This may be the worst tandoori chicken I've tasted. The chicken was pretty dry (no surprise there), and it just kinda tasted burnt.
beef curry: This was odd. I was sure that Indian food never used beef. I'm pretty sure this was the same curry sauce that was used in the mushroom chicken. It drove like goat curry, but the beef gave it something slightly heartier and milder in taste. i need to read up on Indian food and if it does or doesn't use beef.
Dessert:
kheer: This was right on. Perfectly seasoned with coriander, not too thick or thin, sweet but not too sweet. A win in my book.
Price: $9.62 weekday (MA sales tax included)
Final Score: 4.0/5
A TIE! There you have it. If you ever find yourself in Davis Square and can't decide which Indian Buffet to choose, in my opinion, flip a coin. As far as food quality goes, both places aren't bad. If you want fancier environment and more common Indian dishes, go to Diva, but beware the stange seemingly non-Indian offerings. For a slightly wider selection and more unusual dishes, than Namaskar is for you. Either way, I intern down the street and have a culinary goldmine (i.e. Davis Square) a stone's throw away. In the end, I win.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Diva, Somerville, MA (Battle of the Davis Square Indian Buffets, Part 1)
In Davis Square, (a goldmine for restaurants and bars in Somerville, MA) lie two Indian Buffets some 5 doors down from each other. This epicenter of good eats is just down the street from where I intern. The first time I set foot in Davis and witnessed the dual Indian Buffet situation, I felt as if I had dies and gone to heaven. Having already started this blog at that time, there seemed only one logical course of action: to have these two buffets battle to the death. This is a battle to the death that consists of me surveying both buffets, and deciding if there is one that reigns supreme in medium-spiced goodness. If they both deliver equally, then I suppose nobody dies or gets hurt. If you haven't been to either restaurants, and you find yourself in Davis Square craving all-you-can-eat Indian food, this two part series useful to you. And now begins the first installment of the series. The battle shall begin with the restaurant that is known as Diva Indian Bistro....
Diva Indian Bistro246 Elm St., Somerville, MA
This may be the most chic Indian Buffet I've been to. Click the link above. Their website will give you an idea, as well as show you photos, of the interior and subsequent vibe of this restaurant. The fancy, tall, copper pots in which the dishes were contained added even more to the posh, sophisticated, aura of this place.
The Offerings:
Chutneys/Sauces:
tamarind: This one was exceptionally sweet. I tend to lean towards the tangy chutneys. It wasn't bad, but not ideal for my tastebuds, which crave a tangy whipping.
mint: n/a. This is what I'll put for now if I didn't try it. Sue me.
onion: n/a
raitha: It tasted like it usually does, refer to post so I don;t have to sound like a broken record describing the flavor. I had it on my salad.
(Clockwise from top-left) sliced melon, sliced apple, tamarind chutney, raitha, onion chutney, mint chutney, orange wedges, tomato slices, red bell pepper slices, sliced cucumber, and iceberg lettuce.
Salad: Holy crap this was user friendly! Not only did they separate the ingerdients, letting you build your own. There was also an assortment of fruit. We've seen a model similar to this at Pongal.
Bread:
pictured below: garlic naan
garlic naan: It was basket to the table service. Upon my being seated however, I was given the option of regular or garlic naan. Smooth move. I chose garlic. It was crispy, full bodied, and oily. Thumbs up.
Soup:
also pictured: spicy chickpea salad (I couldn't discern if there was an actual name for it)
The Offerings:
Chutneys/Sauces:
tamarind: This one was exceptionally sweet. I tend to lean towards the tangy chutneys. It wasn't bad, but not ideal for my tastebuds, which crave a tangy whipping.
mint: n/a. This is what I'll put for now if I didn't try it. Sue me.
onion: n/a
raitha: It tasted like it usually does, refer to post so I don;t have to sound like a broken record describing the flavor. I had it on my salad.
(Clockwise from top-left) sliced melon, sliced apple, tamarind chutney, raitha, onion chutney, mint chutney, orange wedges, tomato slices, red bell pepper slices, sliced cucumber, and iceberg lettuce.
Salad: Holy crap this was user friendly! Not only did they separate the ingerdients, letting you build your own. There was also an assortment of fruit. We've seen a model similar to this at Pongal.
Bread:
pictured below: garlic naan
garlic naan: It was basket to the table service. Upon my being seated however, I was given the option of regular or garlic naan. Smooth move. I chose garlic. It was crispy, full bodied, and oily. Thumbs up.
Soup:
also pictured: spicy chickpea salad (I couldn't discern if there was an actual name for it)
minestrone? It was minestrone soup: shell pasta w/ vegetables, but with and Indian spiced broth. I still don't know how I feel about these Indian covers of other culture's food. I suppose it's because I love seeing food I've never heard of.
"spicy chick peas": I suppose I'll put this here because it was next to the soup. I'm guessing it's to be eaten like a salad. Most likely, in my knowledge of Indian food, this was some form of chaat. It was spicy and lightly sauced. The chick peas dominated the flavor, along with the spiciness.
Appetizers:
left: pappadum, right: aloo pakora
aloo pakora: What we have here, in essence are battered, fried potatoes, cut into sticks. Wait, this looks familiar. In America, I think we call them "french fries". I think I prefer the Indian variation. Instead of flour batter, they are battered with lentil, in true pakora fashion. I'm noticing a continuation in the subtle cross-cultural cuisine theme...
papadums: Here they are again (once again, see Pongal). This time, less on the Muncho flavor and more on the spicy flavor.
Entrees:
front to rear: tandoori chicken, chicken tikka masala, aloo samgar, saag paneer, aloo chole
above (same as previous, from opposite end): aloo chole, saag paneer, aloo samgar, chicken tikka masala, tandoori chicken.
aloo chole: I love it when I find potatoes tossed into a chickpea curry. More to love. This was nice n' spicy n' tangy.
saag paneer: This one gets more points on how promising it looked than how it actually tasted. It LOOKED thick and creamy, perhaps slightly on the lime-green side. However, its TASTE was probably the mildest, dare I say blandest, saag paneer I've tasted. That's not saying much though, because I still enjoyed it. I've tasted worse.
aloo samgar: The curried potato dishes always seem do have different, confusing names. I couldn't actually find one picture or recipe of this dish online. Either they made it up or I'm getting the name wrong. I do recall that the label noted that there was turnip in the dish too. It tasted alright to me. I didn't see much difference between this dish and the Kashmiri Dum Aloo that I had at Mehmaan. Lightly sauced, starchy, and spicy.
chicken tikka masala: Ahh it's time to asses the classic tikka masala bid. Well, it was good, but not great. The chicken pieces were rather large and slightly dry. The good part was that the sauce was creamy, very creamy.
tandoori chicken: n/a
chicken patties? This left me befuddled. A pan full of chicken patties garnished with cilantro. I tried them nonetheless. What I got was something with a completely unique flavor that tasted almost likea completely different meat. This was an interesting wa to pick up some points.
Dessert:
lemon-poppyseed mini muffins: FAIL. I don't want fucking mini muffins for dessert. What the hell are they trying to pull? They're neither Indian nor dessert food.
Price: $9.63 on a weekday (w/ MA tax). Nice n' cheap.
Final Score: 4.0/5
Well I don't know how much headroom a 4.0 is going to give you. It's one of the lower scores I've given out. I heard Namaskar's buffet is a nickel cheaper than Diva's. Speaking quality-wise, Namaskar only has to have slightly better food to win. Diva has a nice ambiance, but I don't take that much into account, I never was very sensitive to ambiance...
Stay tuned for part 2...
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