Trying the myriad flavours of Kashmir at Caraway
Kashmiri food has a charm like no other regional cuisine. Firstly, it has still not got a chance to come in the limelight. Plus the beautiful melee of flavours remains hugely undiscovered due to the unrest in the Valley and the subsequent lack of funds for people to setup Kashmiri food outside the state. But the food is a gastronomical delight with a rich history behind each dish. The flavour to their special masalas and an abundant use of walnut truly makes Kashmiri food special.
Caraway at The Grand is hosting a special Kasmir food festival by collaborating with Saal by Sunil Tickoo who has got special Kashmiri Wazas to make the flavours perfect. The Kashmiri cuisine is mostly divided into two sects, Pandit and Wazwan. We tried a delightful mix last evening from famous dishes like Tabak Maza, Rista, to lesser known ones like Gaad Nadur (fish and lotus stem).
Price for two: Set Menu starting @INR 1495++ per person and A La Carte Meal (for two) is approx @2595++
What all to try: Everything that was presented to us was a gastronomical delight. Yes, I went expecting great meats and curries but the vegetarian food came as a winner here.
In the starters the Tabak Maas or the fried mutton is a must have, succulent, juicy and crispy. The Var or a khichdi with rice and loaded with walnuts, topped with heeng and the signature Kashmiri Var masala is a delight, almost a comfort food sort.
The chutneys too were special, from a radish and yogurt flavoured one to a fiery walnut one. It is the intricacy that makes this food festival a big hit.
In the main course, let’s first talk about the delectable vegetarian fare, the sukh wagun or the khatte baigan were the best eggplant dish I have tried with tamarind adding a different flavour to it. The Kashmiri Haaq is a traditional dish with green leafy begetables cooked in mustard oil for a unique kick of flavours. It is best eaten with rice.
Mutton Yakhni is essentially mutton cooked in curd and aromatic spices. The yakhni here is a must have dish. From the silkiness of the gravy to the subtle flavours and the gaminess of the mutton it is scrumptious. The Chicken rogan josh is the chicken variant if the popular mutton dish and tastes great. The Gaad Nadur is fish in gravy with lotus stem and it was a he hit.
In the desserts you must not miss the Shufta it a dryfruit, utter and cottage cheese flavoured dessert. Rich, sinful and wholesome!
What makes the Kashmiri cuisine popular is the intense yet subtle masalas and the air of mystery around this food!
Rating: 4.5/5
Festival is on till 30th January 2017
Where: Caraway, at The Grand, Vasant Kunj
Caraway named quirkly after the Caraway or jeera seed is the Indian specialty restaurant at The Grand.
