Natkhat, as the name may sound is not a kids shop. Its also not a khaadi bhandaar type of clothes shop. It is a small restaurant situated in Vijaya Bank layout, near Bannerghatta road in Bangalore. For history sake, this was started around 4-5 months back by a software engineer from Allahabad, who was tired of sitting in front of the monitor and writing code. He got a few cooks from his native place and Viola!!! we have Natkhat.
The place is like a mess with seating available for 10-12 people and it is self service and self pay. You go to the counter and order and go to the till and pay. The menu has chaats (evening only), paranthas and roti subzi's. Recently launched is the chinese cuisine of gobi manchurian, paneer manchurian, veg noodles and fried rice. This is a no-frills place, with enough lighting but no decorations and this is a veggie joint, no meat (this coming from me, might surprise some people).
Last week me and my better half happen to go there on a Sunday afternoon as this was the nearest to home. Fairly decent crowd, mostly for takeaways. We ordered a plate of Pudina Parantha and meals (4 phulkas, 1 vegetable, 1 daal), butter milk and sweet lassi. The pudina parantha actually had pudina in it, unlike a few joints who serve stuffed parantha for namesake. Along with that came a tomato and potato curry which delicious. The meals had dry alu-gobi (potato & cauliflower) veggie and yellow daal. The taste was amazing. Very delicious yet not a trace of oil, masala or excessive decorations to enhance appeal. The quantity of the veggies and daal was very decent, enough for one person to eat with 4 phulkas, which were served hot, right off the pan. The butter milk was perfect. Just the right amount of salt and masala. The sweet lassi was absolute bliss. The waiter kept malai in a separate plate and added a spoonfull to my glass. Reminded me of the lassi in saddi dilli. Absolutely amazing lunch.
Now to the damages. All this cost us Rs.80/-. Good value for money, neat, clean place, no butter, oil or extra masalas. Just simply good food. Must-go place, especially for those who hail from North India and really miss good north Indian food in Bangalore or end up spending quite a bit to get it.
Thursday 29 July 2010
Thursday 22 July 2010
Sultans of Spice - Truly a Sultan
The last culinary experience was at the Sultans of Spice located in the culinary capital of India, Koramangala in Bengaluru. The restaurant has Punjabi, Afghani and Old Delhi cuisine. They call it old Dilli and that itself takes the cake.
As we entered, we were treated warmly and shown to our table. Plush sofa's and chairs made the seating very comfortable and the slightly more than dim lighting added to the ambience, and not mention Anup Jalota, Pankaj Udhaas and Jagjit Singh playing in the background. Nothing much to write about the drinks, as it were the usual beers, fruit punches, juices and cocktails, although the Bloody Mary looked made of only Cauvery water, but tasted like Bloody Mary, so no complaints. For starters, the veggies went for a veg platter, which had a bit of everything - mushrooms, potato, gobhi, paneer etc and some pakoda and chutey. For the meat eaters, we ordered a Murg Daftani. This was tender chicken marinated overnight in some afghani herbs and charcoal cooked to perfection. It lived upto its name and the the taste was awesome.
In between some chaats came and went by and before I realized that I need to have a bite, it was all gobbled down. For the main course, the veggies ordered mixed vegetables curry and dal makhni. The dal makhni was cooked to perfection. This is the second place in Bengaluru, where people understand what Dal Makhni is (first is Mast Kalandar). For the non-veg main course, we ordered Murg Makhni Makhan Singh Wala. For a layman, this was butter chicken. Small, boneless pieces of chicken in gravy. The spices had made their way through each small proton, neutron, electron particle of the chicken piece. The rotis and naans were the usual. Some of us ordered Chaas or butter milk. By far, the best "majge" (butter milk) in town. I can guarantee that.
Considering the damages, you would not want to go here as a regular, but be prepared to face 4000-4500 for 6-7 people with a couple of drinks each and food. This restaurant is located opposite Jyoti Nivas College (ask anyone in Bengaluru) in Koramangala.
Gluttney is a sin... but afterall we are all humans
As we entered, we were treated warmly and shown to our table. Plush sofa's and chairs made the seating very comfortable and the slightly more than dim lighting added to the ambience, and not mention Anup Jalota, Pankaj Udhaas and Jagjit Singh playing in the background. Nothing much to write about the drinks, as it were the usual beers, fruit punches, juices and cocktails, although the Bloody Mary looked made of only Cauvery water, but tasted like Bloody Mary, so no complaints. For starters, the veggies went for a veg platter, which had a bit of everything - mushrooms, potato, gobhi, paneer etc and some pakoda and chutey. For the meat eaters, we ordered a Murg Daftani. This was tender chicken marinated overnight in some afghani herbs and charcoal cooked to perfection. It lived upto its name and the the taste was awesome.
In between some chaats came and went by and before I realized that I need to have a bite, it was all gobbled down. For the main course, the veggies ordered mixed vegetables curry and dal makhni. The dal makhni was cooked to perfection. This is the second place in Bengaluru, where people understand what Dal Makhni is (first is Mast Kalandar). For the non-veg main course, we ordered Murg Makhni Makhan Singh Wala. For a layman, this was butter chicken. Small, boneless pieces of chicken in gravy. The spices had made their way through each small proton, neutron, electron particle of the chicken piece. The rotis and naans were the usual. Some of us ordered Chaas or butter milk. By far, the best "majge" (butter milk) in town. I can guarantee that.
Considering the damages, you would not want to go here as a regular, but be prepared to face 4000-4500 for 6-7 people with a couple of drinks each and food. This restaurant is located opposite Jyoti Nivas College (ask anyone in Bengaluru) in Koramangala.
Gluttney is a sin... but afterall we are all humans
Thursday 15 July 2010
Chennai - The City of ****
I happen to be in Chennai last month, for two days. I thank my star's that I booked tickets well in advance to travel in the air conditioned Shatabdi Express. As I walked from the platform to the main road, I could feel my shirt getting wet. By the time I got out of the station building, it was stuck to my body in such a way, that it could give some serious competition to FeviQuick.
There was I at 11:30 am, standing at the pre-paid taxi counter. Unfortunately, the gentleman at the counter said that there was no taxis available. It seems they were stuck in traffic in other parts of the city and were taking time to get to the station. Suddenly out of nowhere, a guy walks up to where we stood and started asking people where they wanted to go and some started negotiating as well. So taxis were available but people were made to stand in the heat, sweat and dirt, just to make some fast money. When some people asked at the counter as to what is happening, as the taxi drivers were offering their service, all we got in reply was "hmmm." A policeman was standing nearby looking at all of this and pretending to be ingorant. After suffering for 30 minutes, we walked further to a pre-paid auto stand, where we managed to get a trip to our destination. This is the welcome a tourist gets to one of the metropolitan cities in India.
I have known many people who come from Chennai and crib about the traffic and the pollution in Bangalore. Please guys, give us all a break !!!!. In Bangalore, you get to hear "20 Rs. more than meter". In Chennai, whats a meter. Why bother having them in autos. The traffic is killing and the weather adds fuel to fire and not to even mention the pollution. So I am sitting in an auto with the heat beating down on me, my shirt stuck to my body, profusely sweating and pollution all around me. For a moment, I thought how does life change in 6 hours. Only 24 hours back I went for a drive without switching on the AC and no need for even rolling down my windows and here I was getting roasted, baked and BBQed.
Despite knowing the language and having travelled to Chennai many times, I had no answer to any of this. I wonder what happens to tourists who come from Abroad. God help them or is Amma listening!!!
There was I at 11:30 am, standing at the pre-paid taxi counter. Unfortunately, the gentleman at the counter said that there was no taxis available. It seems they were stuck in traffic in other parts of the city and were taking time to get to the station. Suddenly out of nowhere, a guy walks up to where we stood and started asking people where they wanted to go and some started negotiating as well. So taxis were available but people were made to stand in the heat, sweat and dirt, just to make some fast money. When some people asked at the counter as to what is happening, as the taxi drivers were offering their service, all we got in reply was "hmmm." A policeman was standing nearby looking at all of this and pretending to be ingorant. After suffering for 30 minutes, we walked further to a pre-paid auto stand, where we managed to get a trip to our destination. This is the welcome a tourist gets to one of the metropolitan cities in India.
I have known many people who come from Chennai and crib about the traffic and the pollution in Bangalore. Please guys, give us all a break !!!!. In Bangalore, you get to hear "20 Rs. more than meter". In Chennai, whats a meter. Why bother having them in autos. The traffic is killing and the weather adds fuel to fire and not to even mention the pollution. So I am sitting in an auto with the heat beating down on me, my shirt stuck to my body, profusely sweating and pollution all around me. For a moment, I thought how does life change in 6 hours. Only 24 hours back I went for a drive without switching on the AC and no need for even rolling down my windows and here I was getting roasted, baked and BBQed.
Despite knowing the language and having travelled to Chennai many times, I had no answer to any of this. I wonder what happens to tourists who come from Abroad. God help them or is Amma listening!!!
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