India House

I'm always eager to try an Indian restaurant wherever I travel, so when I was in Northampton, MA the other night, I ventured into this cozy little spot on State Street, right next to Fly by Night Furniture (which has been there over 20 years).  At 6:00, India House was packed, and they don't take reservations.  So, I gave my name and patiently stood shoulder to shoulder in the foyer for 20 minutes along with all the other hungry guests.  This gave me time to ponder the menu, which was not only extensive, but also noted that the kitchen caters to those with special diets, such as gluten-free and vegan.  I wondered excitedly, could this possibly be my first chance in years to eat bread with my meal?

It was.  Though slightly more dense and chewy, Alka's Punjab Paratha was a gluten-free vegan version loaded with flavor from the clay oven and crispy edges, and topped with a light chiffonade of fresh herbs.  It was nonetheless perfect for soaking up the sauce from my entree.

I always try to order something I can't find elsewhere for my main course, so this night I decided to try the Vegetable Kofta Saag, a twist on the usual Saag Paneer which is curried spinach with cheese cubes.  The kofta are light vegetable dumplings, made with a gluten-free batter of chickpea flour, then pan-fried until crisp.  They soaked up the pureed spinach sauce nicely, which was also happily vegan.

I was also pleased to find that I could sample a dessert here, as there was a warm coconut soup on the menu.  The coconut milk was pleasantly soothing on a crisp night, and the shredded coconut and chopped pistachios added even more richness along with their crunch.  As this was my first experience at India House, I'm already dreaming of a return visit, perhaps on a weeknight where the wait is not so long.

Thali, Too, I Missed You

It's been awhile since I've visited Thali, Too, the all-vegetarian Indian restaurant tucked behind the Yale Bookstore.  So today's lunch was a pleasant ending after a morning spent wandering around the Yale Art Gallery.

Thali, Too features chat and other Indian "street fare" not often found at most Indian restaurants, so we started off with the Masala Papad, a fried chickpea flour wafer topped with tomato, red onion and cilantro salsa.  While typically these flavors appeal to me, I kept wishing there was a little tamarind to cut the heat of this particularly spicy onion.

The second light dish was Aloo Bonda, a split pea batter fried dumpling filled with potatoes, mustard seed and curry leaf.  These were tasty on their own, though strangely paired with a ketchup-like dipping sauce.

For my entree I ordered a stewed eggplant, similar to Baigan Bhurtha, but with a richer flavor and creamier texture that took some getting used to, though I think the verdict is a "like."

My dining companion ordered a rice noodle dish which was described as a "coconut vegetable stew," which sounded like a comforting entree for a chilly winter afternoon.  Expecting it to arrive in a soup bowl, we were both surprised to see a plate of noodles arrive at the table.  But the roasted asparagus on the side made up for the bewilderment.

All in all, Thali, Too is an enjoyable experience for a vegan since the menu is clearly marked with non-vegan items, and everything else is "safe."  Service is always courteous and attentive, and it's even a great place to dine alone since there's seating with a window overlooking the kitchen, so it's almost like getting a free show with the meal.

Red Lentil Soup with Green Beans

I picked my first handful of stringbeans from my garden today, and that is what inspired tonight's dinner.  I was looking for something quick, easy, and of course made with ingredients I had on hand.  It was a day for relaxing, after all.

I decided on a Red Lentil and Jasmine Rice Soup similar to dal, but less complicated.  People always ask me for recipes and when I honestly tell them I generally don't use any, I think they must either think I'm lying or protective of some culinary secrets.  Neither is the case, at least when I'm cooking for myself.  So this soup is as simple as can be, just make up your own measurements:  rinse some red lentils and jasmine rice, then place in a pot with a chunk of fresh ginger, a little bit of turmeric, and a generous amount of water, bring to boil, cover, and lower the heat to simmer about 15 minutes.  When the lentils and rice are both soft, season with sea salt and fresh squeezed lemon juice.  That's it, really.  Oh, and maybe stir in some fresh cilantro leaves, too.  If you have some.

Then for the topping:  sautee a bunch of cut up green beans in about a tablespoon of coconut oil, pinch of turmeric and sea salt, and dried coconut.  Do this until the stringbeans start to "pop" and the coconut gets brown and toasty.  I also cut up a baby zucchini from my garden and threw that in, too.  This all got poured sizzling on top of the soup.  Simple, and delicious.

Thali, too - Now OPEN!!

Ever since moving to New Haven in November, 2006, I've made a point to sample all the chat, chana masala and saag I can find from the many fabulous Indian restaurants within minutes of my apartment. I was in heaven when I discovered Thali on Orange Street. Their delectable dahl and rich and delicious chat are enough for a full meal, but they'll also accommodate us vegans with an off-menu order of coconut curry (just ask). I couldn't believe my eyes when I read recently that the owner of Thali would be opening a vegetarian-only version of the restaurant down on Broadway, tucked into that little corridor next to the Yale Bookstore. You can't see it from the street, but it's there - trust me. As of May 7, Thali, too is now Officially OPEN!! Please go and support them!

It was a warm, breezy evening last night, the perfect weather for outdoor dining. We decided to take a stroll by Thali to see if they were open and were pleased to find a gorgeous and bustling little patio set up with tables and big red umbrellas, so we happily took a cozy table for two. We started the meal with a fantastic masala dosa appetizer; eaten alone, it would have been a hearty meal. We fought each other for the last crumb, it was so yummy. The huge rolled up crepe arrives on an elegant silver tray with 3 pretty little vessels of accompanying sauces. I wasn't sure about the coconut chutney which may have been made with yogurt, but the sambal was a delicious tomato based spiced stew that was hearty and warm. There was also an accompaniment of chili oil with fried Indian spices that was hot, but not too hot. They have an interesting little concept going here: rice and noodle bar. You start with a base of either basmati rice or rice vermicelli ($5), add on some vegetables of choice ($2 each), and any of 5 sauces. We tried the Manchurian (which I'd highly recommend) which had garlic, onion, chili pepper and cilantro, that was actually more subtle and flavorful than you'd imagine, and the Sesame Peanut, which was good, however I detected no sesame or peanut and I'm wondering if I got what I ordered. Considering this was only the second night they were open, I allowed some leeway in working out the kinks. Our server was not very familiar with the menu and needed to bring the general manager over to our table to answer a few questions about dairy in dishes. He assured us there was no dairy used in the rice, noodles or the accompanying sauces. The rest of the menu is filled with creative interpretations of standard northern and southern Indian cuisine and I'm already dying to make a return visit to give them a try. They also have Take Out!! This is a fantastic little addition to New Haven's already plentiful dining scene, but it stands out for its affordability, creativity and pleasant atmosphere. I know where I'll be spending my summer...