Unofficial Curry Crawl
I didn't even think of it for a curry crawl "review" until buhrger asked about our lunch at Taj Palace of India. The restaurant is a reasonable distance from the Bellevue Sheraton, where the four PCGs I was meeting were attending Writer's Weekend. I had one other meet-up with adventurat and dctemo_13 months ago & missed a Los Angeles meet-up by a week last fall. I was happy to see them again and meet a couple of the others (the_mongrel and semioticwarrior).
Taj Palace is another one of those unfortunately named restaurants that nevertheless provides excellent fare. The $8 buffet was the best I have ever eaten. The food was hot and fresh (pakoras refilled upon our arrival)and available in a substantial variety of vegetarian, chicken, and lamb dishes. I filled my plate, but there were at least 4 things I didn't taste. The disadvantage of writing this about a buffet is that I don't know the names of most things. I know there were:
vegetable/plain pakoras -- good, if simple
tandoori chicken -- tender & tasty, a good assortment of chicken bits to choose from
several kinds of meatball shapes in sauce, some chicken, some lamb
plain rice as well as the kind with spices & vegetables mixed in
seasoned potatoes
fresh naan, brought to our table (twice) from the kitchen
fresh fruit, watermelon in chunks and oranges, salad, chutneys & sauces
ample dessert (Gulab Jamun are the orbs in syrup?)
The website lists: Samosa, Pakora, Chicken Tikka Masala, Tandoori Chicken, fresh naan, various meat curries, lamb, and a large selection of vegetarian dishes such as mattar paneer, kabli channa, punjabi kadhi, saag, & vegetable Korma. Dessert: gulab jamun, rice pudding (Kheer), carrot sweets, & mango pudding.
There wasn't anything that I thought was lackluster. It was an amazing spread for a buffet. It seemed to me that it was not so meat-dominated that the vegetarians had their choices limited. I would be willing to make a trip out again sometime.
Taj Palace is another one of those unfortunately named restaurants that nevertheless provides excellent fare. The $8 buffet was the best I have ever eaten. The food was hot and fresh (pakoras refilled upon our arrival)and available in a substantial variety of vegetarian, chicken, and lamb dishes. I filled my plate, but there were at least 4 things I didn't taste. The disadvantage of writing this about a buffet is that I don't know the names of most things. I know there were:
vegetable/plain pakoras -- good, if simple
tandoori chicken -- tender & tasty, a good assortment of chicken bits to choose from
several kinds of meatball shapes in sauce, some chicken, some lamb
plain rice as well as the kind with spices & vegetables mixed in
seasoned potatoes
fresh naan, brought to our table (twice) from the kitchen
fresh fruit, watermelon in chunks and oranges, salad, chutneys & sauces
ample dessert (Gulab Jamun are the orbs in syrup?)
The website lists: Samosa, Pakora, Chicken Tikka Masala, Tandoori Chicken, fresh naan, various meat curries, lamb, and a large selection of vegetarian dishes such as mattar paneer, kabli channa, punjabi kadhi, saag, & vegetable Korma. Dessert: gulab jamun, rice pudding (Kheer), carrot sweets, & mango pudding.
There wasn't anything that I thought was lackluster. It was an amazing spread for a buffet. It seemed to me that it was not so meat-dominated that the vegetarians had their choices limited. I would be willing to make a trip out again sometime.