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EATING OUT

Biriyani experience Eating out

Photo: S. Mahinsha

Treat for the taste bud Hundi biriyani.

The small earthen pot was set on the table, its contents hidden from view like a closely guarded secret. When the lid opened, it did, to a deluge of aromas. The distinct smell of saffron and cardamom overpowers you. Thus was the magic of the hundi biriyani.

South Park’s hundi biriyani festival features nine varieties of biriyani, vegetarian and non-vegetarian.

“The hundi biriyani is a unique preparation,” explains Joginder Pal Singh, executive chef at the hotel, “It is a layered preparation. The ingredients are placed in layers inside the clay pot and the top is sealed. Once the dish is done, it is not opened until it is at the table in front of the guests.”

The biriyani menu has something to offer for everyone: vegetarians, non-vegetarians and seafood lovers.

Seafood lovers, however, are in for a treat as seafood-based biriyanis are prominent in the menu. Of the five non-vegetarian dishes, three are seafood varieties – Jhinga biriyani (Rs.225), mixed seafood biriyani (Rs. 200) and fish biriyani (Rs. 175).

The mixed seafood biriyani is the chef’s specialty. It has fish, prawns and calamari cooked with saffron, butter and an assortment of herbs. I tried their chicken biriyani (Rs. 150). Looking at the clay pot, you would never think that it would hold such generous portions of food.

It was an experience to wade through each layer of rice and meat and find that there was still more to go! Large pieces of chicken cooked with saffron, cardamom and basmati rice, the distinctive taste of each spice was extant in my senses with each bite I took.

The biriyani, accompanied by customary accompaniments such as raitha, pickle and pappad, required some time and patience to finish, given how big the serving was.

The ambience did not really thrill me. A drawing of a earthen pot on the wall does not exactly contribute to what one would expect for ambience.

The hundi biriyani festival is definitely worth a try for two reasons – the food is good and it won’t create a large dent in your wallet.

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