New superstar dishes at Bollywood
Mention Bolly-wood and what comes to mind are handsome actors with dark soulful eyes that you can drown in, Indian music set to a catchy modern beat, elaborate dance sequences featuring gyrating women, and a kaleidoscope of vibrant colors as saris float and swirl throughout the course of the movie. In the local dining scene, however, Bollywood Bistro Bar is the Indian restaurant featuring savory Indian cuisine. Since it opened a couple of years ago, it has become a favorite dining destination for both the Indian community and others who are partial to the rich flavors and pungent aromas that the spices used in Indian cooking impart.
In keeping with its theme, the restaurant is now featuring selections that are purportedly favorites of
Aloo tikki is described in the restaurant menu as “potato cutlets with mint chutney.” Aloo is the Hindi word for potato, and this entrée consists simply of nicely browned fried mashed potato patties. The patties are not greasy while the mint chutney provides a fresh, clean kick to the taste buds, and vegetarians would surely enjoy the dish. It is easy to believe that this is purportedly a favorite of Abhishek Bachchan, the enormously famous offspring of Bollywood screen legend Amitabh Bachchan, since it is good, old- fashioned cooking at its best. When you are a famous actor like Abhishek, it is very likely that you have a surfeit of gourmet food and would yearn for home-style favorites, too.
Lamb galouti is lamb patties served with chapatti, the pancake-like unleavened bread that is cooked in a griddle. The use of lean meat in the pan-grilled patties may please the figure-conscious-ness, but I still say that aside from helping the meat stay tender when grilling, fat makes the meat tastier. Supposedly, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan likes lamb galouti, and if we really think about it, this isn’t too surprising. Shah Rukh Khan is 40 years old after all, the age when the metabolism of men and women starts slowing down. When you are in danger of middle torso obesity, it would be a good idea to lay off the fat and opt for lean. To remain a Bollywood heartthrob, you’ll have to watch your fat intake to be able to stay, a lean, mean, gorgeous machine. Also on Bollywood’s menu is momos, tasty lamb dumplings whose spicy sauce complements the lean meat used. This is a variation of the Tibetan momo — steamed dumplings filled with ground beef or lamb flavored with cumin, nutmeg and ginger. In the Bollywood Bistro version, however, the nutmeg isn’t as distinct.
I particularly enjoyed the vegetables: spicy fried beans and bhangare baigan that the Bollywood people say are favorites of glamorous actresses Shilpa Shetty and Shabana Azmi, respectively. In the former, the green beans were simply sautéed and sprinkled with black mustard seeds. The vegetables remained crunchy, and the tiny mustard seeds had a nice flavor when you bite into them. One word of caution though: The black seeds are wont to get imbedded between your teeth, so after eating, check that you don’t acquire a mustard seed smile. On the other hand, baingan/ baigan or eggplant was sautéed in olive oil with chili and various spices. The dish is one that usually accompanies various meats and biryanis (rice dishes) at Mughal banquets.
Highly recommended is Shoscher Machch Raul Bose (P385), lapu-lapu fillets in mustard and lemon sauce; Raan nawabi or spicy roast lamb (P775 good for two diners); and murgh masala or butter chicken simmered in cashew and
Of course, old favorites are still available: Vegetable samosa (P88) or pyramid-shaped pastry stuffed with green peas, carrots, and potato; prawn pakora (P225), battered, deep-fried prawns with fresh herbs and spices; rasam (P85), a spicy South Indian soup made of dhal (lentils); and tandoori (or barbecued) specialties.
For dessert, we had carrot halwa (P95), a vegetarian “fudge” made from carrots and nuts and served with vanilla ice cream. However, my favorite dish at Bollywood Bistro or in any Indian restaurant for that matter is still gulab jamun, the dessert consisting of a rich condensed milk cheese-like ball that is fried and brushed with syrup containing rosewater and cardamom. Yum! The dish is garnished with blood-red organic rose petals and is both a visual and gustatory treat. When in Bollywood, I always forget “fattening” and succumb to its sweet and decadent wiles.
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Bollywood Bistro Bar is at the third floor of
