i commence my culinary sojourn from the much acclaimed restaurant - "dum pukht" by itc maratha, mumbai.
touted by many as one of the best indian restaurants in the city. dum pukht specialises in reinventing age old lucknowni and north indian recipes into new and modern dishes but yet manage encapsulates the regality and simplicity of traditional indian cooking.
one cannot help but marvel at the tastefully done up décor which very accurately portrays the indian architecture in all its splendor and enigma. the chairs could easily be passed of as thrones fit for kings! amazing eye for detail all-around.
beverages -
the "handmade organge juice" was lovely. freshly squeezed, right amount of pulp, adequately sweet. off to a great start! the "virgin mojito" was amazing! such an easy recipe yet so difficult to execute. correct amount of sweetness, right amount of fizz and most importantly, the distinct taste of the mint really stands out. super refreshing!
appetizers and mains -
"murgh chandi tikka", a staple in indian cuisine did not fail to live up to it's expectations. the meat itself was moist and succulent. but what i was most impressed by was the marination of the chicken itself. brimming with flavour it was hard to settle with just one piece. although the silver leaf didn't enhance the taste, it was visually appealing and i didn't mind it being there.
"gilafi seekh kebab", a dum pukht speciality, was my favorite appetizer of the night. melt-in-mouth meat coupled with an explosion of flavours is one deadly combination. a must have at this restaurant.
the "mahi dariya" completed my trio of appetizers. the batter was crispy and delicious. the fish was cooked to perfection. the hint of cumin seeds were a nice touch to the dish.
the "warqi paratha" was something which piqued my curiosity so i decided to order it. it was unbelievably fluffy and much to my surprise oil-free. "the koh-e-awadh", succulent braised lamb shanks curry complimented the warqi paranthas very well.
mains -
okay. as a hardcore carnivore it is hard to admit that the best dish of the night was hands down the "dal dum pukht". the richness of the dal was downright ridiculous (in a good..no very good way). the unbelievable flavour profile of this dish was so spot on that i didn't seem to mind the calories and kept going for more. you cannot come to dum pukht and not have the dal dum pukht. an unforgivable sin. i paired this up with flaky "garlic butter naans" which were expertly made and again, laden with butter (not that i mind)
by the time i arrived at my awadhi gosht biryani, i was ready to slip into my jammies and take a comfortable spot on the sofa, dreaming about the feast that i just indulged in. but the waiter insisted i give it a try and boy was i glad! best biryani i've ever had in my life. most establishments make the cardinal sin of adding too much masala in the biryani, in hopes of enhancing the flavour. but it was very evident that the chefs were expertly trained and their technique showed through and through. brilliant stuff!
dessert -
if you ever need a problem, it's how to have dessert on a full stomach. the homemade kulfi with falooda was delightful. very light and not overly sweet. all gobbled up!
and so, my meal ended on a high note as i proceeded to my home to continue my dream about this feast i devoured.
food fit for a king? you betcha'
also, i would like to mention that the service was excellent! in my opinion, full value for money.
bon appetit!