Quick Bytes: Special Hot Dog, Ghaziabad

In India, locating a cocktail sausage hotdog vendor is quite rare. The normal hotdogs being a gastronomic barrier for vegetarians, the concept of hotdog is quite nicely Indianised with the addition of green chutney, tomato chutney and veggies in place of the sausage. This is the version which is abundantly available all across here.

Special Hot Dog takes it an inch higher by calling their burgers  hotdogs but as they say in foodie lingo - name is temporary, taste is permanent. Located in Kavi Nagar near the Ram Leela Ground, Panchal Bhai’s Hot Dog is a must have for all the street food fanatics.

Spl. Hot Dog Stall, Kavi Nagar

The hot dog is basically a burger with the patty comprising of a thick paste of potato, beetroot, cauliflower etc. along with some secret spices which the guy behind the stove refused to tell me. He smothers both sides of the bun with Green Coriander Chutney and Red Tamarind Sauce which is more on the sweeter side than tangy. Then he adds some of that thick paste with some sliced onions and tomatoes along with topping of your choice which includes paneer, cheese, green chillies etc.

Hot Dogs in preparation

The assembled burgers are then shallow fried in loads of butter, and the guy doing this is a wizard as he cooks around 20-30 of these burgers in one go without burning even a single hot dog. The first bite will confuse you to the core as to what have you eaten but then it will grow on you and you will end up having one more.

It has a sweet and spicy taste with thick potato paste oozing out on each bite. The buns are crispy on the outside while the inside remains soft, and with the burst of flavours this dish is a roller coaster ride in itself. You have a lot of options from Simple Butter to Paneer and Cheese and you can also ask him to put everything double for a very minimal fare.

Burger Wizard

The burgers are soul satisfying; not to be compared with McDonalds or Burger King but is an excellent street food option. You will be able to find these stalls in mostly all places near Kavi Nagar and Sanjay Nagar, Ghaziabad.

Price: Rs 35/- to Rs 50/- per hot dog

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Quick Bytes: Bento Box Japanese Lunch at Mekong, Marigold

The word Bento in Japanese stands for a box shaped container which is used by housewives to pack meals for their spouses and children. The box has a number of compartments each holding a different item. Many Japanese quick service restaurants have borrowed the format to have food ready in Bento boxes for a quick dine.

The Bento Box Lunch at Mekong

Mekong, the Pan Asian restaurant of Marigold Hotel, Hyderabad has introduced an executive lunch which is served in such a Bento Box. This is a quick lunch to be served under ten minutes, so that on a busy office day, people can have a complete meal under 30-40 minutes. The restaurant has a special fixed menu with three different combinations for the Bento Box and one can choose any of them. The Bento Boxes are priced competitively at Rs 700 (all inclusive).

Chili Basil, Chili Coriander and Szechuan Dips

A friend hosted me for a Bento Box lunch here.  We quickly made our choices and as we waited for the food. A set of crackers (oriental papads) were served on the table along with three dips – Szechuan,  Chilli Basil and Chilli Coriander.  All the three dips tasted remarkably different but good and I overate the crackers just for these.  Flavorful Jasmine Tea was also served in small cups which was enjoyed standalone and used as a palate cleanser between courses.

My Bento Box with Salmon Teriyaki

My choice for a Bento Box had Crab Ura Maki and Chicken Gyoza as starters.  The Crab Ura Maki sushi had rice on the outside and soft crab meat in the inside. Gyoza is essentially a dumpling stuffed with chicken (akin to momos). A small compartment in the box had a soy based sauce which went well with the starters. I had tough time negotiating the Uramaki as the rice kept falling out, but the taste more than made up for it.

For the main course there were two medium sized pieces of Salmon Teriyaki. The teriyaki sauce on the fish tasted quite good along with Peas and Garlic Rice.  The rice was also gorged with the three dips which had to be refilled. The dessert was a piece of Malaysian Pudding.

My friend had another set -  with Chicken Momos and Shitake Mushroom based sushis as starters. The main course for him was Chicken Katsu Curry with Fried Rice.  Sticky Rice Pudding was the dessert in that platter.

Jaggery Ice Cream

I am a big fan of the Jaggery Ice Cream (Rs 350), so we finished our meal with the delightful preparation.

Apart from the concept of a quick meal, trying out the Bento Box is also a good way of trying out Japanese food in Mekong – you get two types of starters, one main course and a dessert for just Rs 700. A word about the quantity – while it may be sufficient for a light eater, a heavy meal may need another item to be ordered. An idea which came to my mind was taking all three versions of Bento Box and sharing among two people. This way you get to taste 6 types of starters, three main courses and three desserts albeit in a small quantity -  a very good and heavy lunch for two people at Rs 2100.

The Bento Boxes are available for lunch Monday to Friday. I am going back soon to try the other two combos.

Address:
Mekong
Marigold By Green Park
Greenlands Ameerpet Road
Hyderabad 500016

Telephone: 67363636

Also Read: Review of Mekong

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Quick Bytes: An Exquisite Mediterranean Experience at Prego Alfresco

Prego, the Italian restaurant at The Westin, Hyderabad has been a perennial favourite of the food lovers. The restaurant now brings to us Mediterranean cuisine through its new extension – the poolside Prego Al-Fresco. The outdoor restaurant boasts of a nice view of the blue water with comfortable open-air seating under canopies.

The menu here has been carefully curated based on popular dishes of different Mediterranean countries. To go with it, a poolside single malt and cigar lounge is available with a collection of excellent cigars, wine and whiskey.

A group of bloggers were invited to get a feel of this new place and to try out “Chef Selections” – selections from the new menu from Chef Steffan Dawson. The food was paired with sparkling wine from Sula, as well as Chardonnay and Cabernet Shiraz wine from Jacob’s Creek.

Mediterranean Platter

To start with, we were served Amuse Bouche, a goat cheese and roasted bell pepper pinwheel. The table also had a platter of three different dips – mushroom, tomato and olive. I loved both the tomato and mushroom dips, both of which went well with three types of exquisite Mediterranean breads served along with these.

Tuna Salad

I tried two non-vegetarian starters - Prosciutto Wrapped Bocconcini, a type of ham served with mozzarella cheese and methi like sprouts was very interesting with its subtle flavours. The Tuna Salad which followed stood out with slices of smoked tuna fish with lettuce and asparagus.

Mediterranean Lamb Pie

Grilled Lemon Chicken

For the main course, I had the Mediterranean Lamb Pie – a moussaka type lamb mince, parmesan cheese and eggplant based dish served in a gravy. This was clearly the star of the evening. I also had a taste of the Lemon Chicken – grilled chicken with potato and spinach in a lemon butter sauce. However I was not very excited by it, as the taste was dominated by the chicken, and the lemon butter flavor was not apparent to that extent.

Desserts

Desserts were Phyllo Wrap, which had chopped nuts and honey and was not very sweet, and Bougasta – a layered pastry with semolina custard and cheese.

We had a look at their planned menu – and it has many more interesting dishes from the different countries of the Mediterranean. Looking at the pricing, I felt a three course meal for two should cost around Rs 3000 without alcohol.

Prego Al Fresco is definitely an interesting addition to the restaurant scene in Hyderabad. It is a perfect fit for a casual discussion with a client or a quiet family dinner on an important day. One should not expect spicy food, and should only visit if occidental cuisines find favour with their palate.

Address: Prego Al-Fresco
The Westin
Mindspace IT Park
Hitech City, Hyderabad

Telephone: 33165304

Photos Courtesy: The Westin, Hyderabad

Also see: The Bubbalicious Brunch at the Prego

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The Ancient Barbeque, Gurgaon: A BBQ Joint for a Big Appetite

The Ancient Barbeque, popularly known as TAB, had established itself quite well in Noida before setting up shop in Gurgaon. Chef Nikhil Chopra, a Delhi-ite, knows how to surprise his customers with his exquisite culinary skills. Apart from the items listed on the menu, Chef Nikhil also prepares new innovative items to give variety in the barbeque menu to the regular customers.

Open Barbecue at TAB

Their Gurgaon restaurant is much bigger than their Noida, Sector 63 outlet, as is true for most of the other restaurants which set up shop in that part of Delhi NCR. There is ample space for you to move around if you feel stuffed and also has an outside seating which you can book for parties and function. The biggest difference, however lies in the fact that the Gurgaon outlet has a liquor license; a fantastic wish come true for all the office going crowd who can visit TAB for an evening hangout, for some beers and barbeque.

Outside Seating

First on the list was Murgh Tikka Karachi, which had extremely tender pieces of chicken marinated in a non-spicy masala making it a delightful option for kids. The highlight of the murgh tikka was the aroma of spices that comes from the barbeque after letting it roast for a minute or so. No matter how full I was, the fragrance of the marinating tikkas always pulled me back for another bite. Served with the customary mint chutney, the starter laid out the platform for the rest of the dishes to come.

The Murgh Tikka was served with the Jalandhari Fish Tikka, which literally melted in the mouth. The fish, like the chicken was tender and wasn't spicy. Of the array of sauces kept on the table, we found that it went best with the tartar sauce and the butter garlic sauce.

Murgh Tikka Karachi (middle) and Jalandhari Fish Tikka (rightmost and leftmost)

Next on the list is Keema Tart which isn't part of the menu, but if possible, is a must try for the carnivores. It is a sweet crispy tart filled with not so spicy keema, both going well with each other and confusing your taste buds.

Another dish which scintillated our palette was the Salsa Potato, deep fried potato discs in salsa mayo dip. Though the dish doesn't score points in innovation as there is a similar version of the dish in many restaurants, the TAB one just edges out on the quality. Unlike most other restaurants, it is not overloaded with mayo but has just the right amount of everything for customers to go nuts for it.

Salsa Potato, Mutton Seekh Kebab and Keema Tart (from left to right) 

Crispy Spinach was another dish which caught our tongue. The spinach, as with the other leaves, is very difficult to fry and if left for a little bit longer than necessary, can get burnt and thus has to be prepared with utmost diligence and expertise. The concept of the dish is very simple yet interesting; it has fried spinach with sesame seeds and paprika with a hint of sweetness enhancing the taste.

Crispy Spinach

After this we headed towards the buffet for the main course. The main course fare was quite decent with the exception of Dumpling in Hoy Garlic Sauce which I felt should have been more fluffy and easy to chew. The Chilli Garlic Noodles went very well with the Hoy Garlic Sauce which has a predominant flavor of garlic along with ketchup.

The Lipta Khumb, with just the right amount of spices, was the star of the fare. The mushroom is cooked to the core and the spiciness of the coating took it to another dimension. The pasta was also cooked evenly, but the Florentine sauce was less creamy than expected.

(Clockwise) Chilli Garlic Noodles, Herb Tossed Vegetables Lipta Khumb,
Corn Salad, Pasta in Florentine Sauce, Hummus and Dumpling in Hoy Garlic Sauce,

To end our lovely lunch, we went to the desserts sections and filled our plates with Beetroot Halwa, Death By Chocolate, Gulabi Kheer, Profiterole and some Vanilla Ice Cream Topped with Chocolate Syrup. Beetroot Halwa has somewhat become a trademark of TAB, and seldom disappoints the customers. It is not too sweet, and goes very well with the Vanilla Ice Cream.

The Death By Chocolate would be better renamed as a chocolate halwa as it doesn't truly emulate the pastry. However, for a chocolate lover, it is bliss, heaven, divine or whatever you want to name it. Profiterole, a french dessert, is an interesting addition, a choux pastry ball filled with cream and topped with chocolate and caramelized threads. The Gulabi Kheer has rose petals in it for the flavors and has a mild sweetness.

(clockwise) Beetroot Halwa, Death By Chocolate,  Profiterole,
Gulabi Kheer, and some Vanilla Ice Cream Topped with Chocolate Syrup

As with most of us, main course and desserts are often not the reason why people visit the barbeque joints as they are mostly stuffed due to the excellent choices and infinite supply of the kebabs. TAB is a great place for barbeque and with the addition of liquor license, can surely be a paradise for many bachelors looking to chill after a heavy day of work at the office.

Price:

Lunch: 499 + tax (Veg), 589 + tax (Non-Veg)
Dinner: 619 + tax (Veg), 699 + tax (Non-Veg)

The Ancient Barbeque
223 & 223 A,

Good Earth City Centre, 

Sector 50, Gurgaon

Also Read The Ancient Barbeque, Noida

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Kakatiya Deluxe: The Iconic Andhra mess of Ameerpet

Ameerpet is one of the busiest localities of Hyderabad. From students of computer courses to people from outside Hyderabad living in working people hostels, a large number of Hyderabadis congregate here every day. Ameerpet is also home to some of the best messes and takeaway joints serving Andhra food.

Kakatiya Deluxe Mess

The most popular destination for Andhra food which is famous all over Hyderabad is Kakatiya Deluxe Mess in Ameerpet. Located in the lane beside JC Brothers near Ameerpet X Roads, the mess also has a separate parcel centre across the road.

The Vegetarian Meal

The dining section, which is in the basement of a building, is open from 12 Noon, and from the word go there is a beeline of customers for their vegetarian meals (Rs 80). They have the familiar coupon system like many messes – you have to prepay all your meals.  The meal is quite a  spread with chutney, dal, sambar, two vegetables, papad and curd. The podi and pickles available there are not to be missed. Normally even the non-vegetarian will go for a veg meal, accompanied by omelet or egg curry (Rs 20). Some prefer their signature Chicken Fry (Rs 120) or Chicken Curry (Rs 110). A small point – if you want, you can exchange the curd from the meal for their butter milk which is one of the best.

Chutneys and Podis

The best part about the meals at Kakatiya Mess is the use of spices. Though chilli powder or paste is widely used in the preparations, the taste of chilli is never overpowering, it blends so well with the other masalas. This is the major differentiator between food at Kakatiya and some run of the mill messes.

However the food is still very spicy, so if you are finicky about drinking the water served there, remember to carry your packaged water as you go in – you will definitely need it.

Kakatiya Deluxe Mess ambience

Service is awfully fast, and you are expected to vacate the place as soon as you finish the meal. Also, be prepared to withstand long hard stares from waiting crowd during lunch if you delay in finishing your meal! During dinner, the crowd is much better.

For people particular about ambience, I would suggest their Veg/Non-veg Parcel Section across the road. As you go in, you get the aroma of Andhra spices and soon you are in front of the food counters. To the extremely right is the Biryani counter, which serves Chicken or Mutton Fry Biryani as well as the Special Prawn Biryani, which is one of their signature items.

Andhra Fry Piece Biryani

The biryani rice (which actually is Telugu pulao) is flavorful with lots of cinnamon pieces, bay leaves and jaitri. They keep the non-veg fry with masala separately and add the pulao rice on top of the pieces (aptly known as Fry Biryani). The masala has the typical flavor of Andhra cuisine and adds life to the biryani. The salan and the raita to go with the biryani was well prepared unlike what is prevalent in local joints which serve diluted curd water for raita.

The plain biryani rice is also very popular here. I often buy the biryani rice and combine it with my favorite curry.

The front counter has the Veg meals (carriage - Rs 100) lined up on top. Below you see many chicken, mutton, fish and crab dishes displayed. A few favorites of mine are the Leg Roast, Chicken Lollypop, Crab Fry, Natu Kodi Pulusu or country chicken curry, Kheema Curry and Mutton Roast. In each item the balance of the spices used is just perfect.

Boneless Chicken Fry

The leg roasts are marinated in local masala and fried. These are extremely well spiced and served with an accompaniment of curry leaves and sauteed green chillies. You need to have a penchant for hot food if you want to enjoy this, but the taste is really delicious. An ideal accompaniment with hard drinks.

Chicken Lollypop

The prawn  /crab / korameenu (fish) fry is served in a dry masala of onion, tomatoes, green chillies and curry leaves. The seafood is always fresh and the preparation spicy and perfect.

Next to the non-veg counter there is a veg counter which has a few varieties of pappu (daal), vegetables and chutneys. The chutneys here are delightful – I especially like their spicy cabbage chutney or a tomato and garlic chutney with diced carrot in it.

This is not the place for the ambience conscious, but in the same breath I say that it is a place not to be missed by any Andhra food lover as well as lovers of non-veg food.  The variety of fare that they offer is simply amazing.

Address: 
Kakatiya Deluxe Mess
Lane next to JC Brothers.
Near Ameerpet X Road

Telephone : 98850 66252

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Quick Bytes: Andhra Biryani in Noida

Though it is often confused as Hyderabadi Biryani, there is quite a bit of difference between the biryani made by the Nizams and those made by the residents of Telangana, Rayalaseema and Coastal Andhra. The latter is a totally different version as opposed to the traditional Nizami Dum Biryani to match the fiery hot local palate and has a chilli powder based cooking style which makes it so popular amongst the folks. Another major notable difference is the lesser usage of saffron which translates into a more ghee pulao rice bed with well spiced chicken or mutton. Many Telugu food lovers will maintain that the name biryani is a misnomer for this rice and meat dish, and it should only be called pulao.

Chicken Biryani with Mirchi ka Salan and Raita

Located in a small kiosk (more like the Andhra messes in Hyderabad) near Yatharth Hospital in Sector 110, Noida, Andhra Biryani Restaurant (no need to guess what they serve, it is there in the name itself ) serves delicacies from the South which is as authentic as it can get with cooks hailing from the districts of the southern state. Being a small shop, hygiene may not be their strong point but the aroma of biryani near their small single kitchen will just tantalize your senses.

The Andhra Biryani Kitchen

They serve both Mutton and Chicken Biryani accompanied by Mirchi ka Salan and Raita, with more than enough portions to fill a single stomach. The biryani made with long grains of non-basmati rice may anger the biryani fanatics but one taste of the delightful pakki biryani will cause a riot of flavours, leading to a sure shot second visit. Other specialties include the Chicken 65, marinated and fried with garlic, onion and curry leaves garnishing.

Chicken 65

While the addition of the Andhra cuisine in Noida is a cause for rejoice, the typical mess like atmosphere still yearns for more such similar non-vegetarian dishes mainly in Liver Fry, Gongurra Mutton Fry and Apollo Fish.

Cost for 2 – Rs 300/-
Address - Shop 13, Opposite Yatharth Hospital,
Gejha Road, Sector 110, Noida

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