When Indian food merges with world cuisine
Published: Thu 1 Oct 2015, 12:00 AM
Last updated: Wed 28 Oct 2015, 1:42 PM
Chinese bhel, paneer-stuffed mushrooms are dishes you wouldn't think to find on a menu of an Indian restaurant, but lo and behold, it is an Indian eatery and you can't really predict what it has to offer.
Mostly a weekend spot, or on days you just want to eat a filling vegetarian meal, I'd say Kamat restaurant in Mankhool, Bur Dubai is a place you might like. I walked in for lunch on a Saturday, and the place was packed - couples, kids, families, friends catching up; it was the nice kind of bustle. They do not make reservations, so you can either show up well before lunch-time, or cross your fingers and hope there's a table vacant for you.
The temperature in Dubai might be dipping, but it still is pretty hot outdoors. I was craving something light and cool, and my mind kept hinting on pudina (mint, in Hindi).
Spanning across 14 pages, listing about 80 dishes (of appetizers, mains and desserts) I was as confused as you would be, trying to find your way without GPS. But the staff at Kamat did a good job of helping me navigate through the menu.
Straight from the kitchen
My eyes landed on the Pudina Paneer Tikka, which is a skewer of diced cottage cheese marinated in mint+curd chutney, with a few slices of capsicum in between. I had to have it. The Stuffed Mushrooms seemed appetizing too, so yes, I'd have that too. It was mushroom stuffed with a mixture of some more mushroom, cheese and light Indian spices.
The Pudina Paneer Tikka was disappointing, but the Stuffed Mushrooms were spot on - rich, creamy, with hints of spice.
Stuffed mushrooms
Chinese Bhel
And then the waiter suggested I try the Chinese bhel - a dish of fried noodles, mixed with cabbage, spring onions, and a hot and sweet sauce. The last time I ate Chinese bhel was on a tiny street in Bandra, Mumbai. It used to be my go-to snack back home and yay! I've found it in Dubai too. Life is sorted. (P.s. this is just a way more hygienic, cleaner version of Chinese bhel ever.)
While water quenched my thirst, I needed a more substantial drink. A glass of masala chaas (spiced buttermilk) was sure to cool me down. I fell in love with chaas even more after I found out that my favorite Indian warrior king in history, Shivaji, drank quite bit in his day. Next I had to try the lassi (drink made with sweetened curd), too. This time around I ordered for the Kesar Lassi (saffron lassi). While the chaas was mild, the lassi had that brilliant kick in every mouthful.
(L-R) Masala chaas, Kesar Lassi
For the main course, I decided on a garlic and cheese Kulcha (North Indian flat bread). It was the best thing I've eaten in a while. Cheese are garlic, hands down, is the safest, most delicious combination. The waiter then suggested I try the Vegetable Lahori (onions fried in a batter of gram flour, mixed in a bowl of curry). I could've skipped this one.
While I kept figuring out what was served, the waiter, Laxman, was the kindest, he knew what went into each of the dishes, and he explained the meal wonderfully.
I also wanted to try the Aloo Paratha, right, (bread stuffed with spiced mashed potato) because it's a dish you find in most Indian households and restaurants. I was curious to find out if Kamat prepared it any differently. To my delight, they did a pretty good job of it - did I mention it was doused in butter - and the heavens rejoiced!
It's a sweet life
To wrap it all up, for dessert, I asked for Malai Kulfi Falooda (ice cream, with flavored falooda noodles, topped with a sweet syrup). It is another favorite street food I've eaten in Bombay. Naturally, it was a must-try. It did have all the elements in place, but it made me miss the cold bowl of goodness back home.
Angoori Ras Malai
And lastly I tried the Angoori Ras Malai (tiny balls of cottage cheese, doused in a rich milk sauce of cardamom and saffron). Oh my! This one did justice to the entire meal.
Would I return to Kamat? Definitely. After all, I still have another 70 dishes to try...
Verdict: Don't be afraid to try anything on the menu