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Two of five Jewel of India{NYC} When it first opened in the same block as Harvard Club, Jewel of India was refreshing diversion and very close by to where I was - Grad Center. They had buffet lunch at approx $12.95. Good friends of ours, were looking to have their wedding lunch at an Indian restaurant - Since we were all from Graduate Center a.k.a Graduate School & University Center; it was easier to pick that place. The Lunch was on a weekend - guests were arriving from all over the world, and many from India - The things that I remember most vividly was the spicy paneer pakoras, mustard saag, kulchas and shahi-kurma. Why is it memorable: Probably because it was a special buffet lunch with apps. that are not normally served @ buffets. While there was tandoori naan, there was an alternative to it - Kulcha. {Three more to go }

One of five I'll limit it to the past few years experience. Leblon,GIG {Rio De-Janeiro} It had been quite some while since we had a semblence of indian food in what happens to be a very carnivorous country. We had been travelling the country with a hectic schedule. Through happenstance, we met a Scottish gentleman at GRU airportwho mentioned a new restaurant being opened in Rio by someone who was British and would feature indian cuisine. We got vague directions and a tel no: That evening, we asked the hotel to find the rest of the information. We arrived in the residential area of Leblon and barely found the place - It was their first week - and a formal opening was still some days away. The owner worked for years at the British High Commission in Rio, and for a decade or so, catered to special events and dinners at the HC. She was of Goan descent, raised in England and moved to Brazil - This restaurant was a family enterprise, with son,daughter and daughter-in-law. The menus were still being tinkered with, and after about half-an-hour chatting, we just told her to take over and serve whatever - Caiprihnia with sugarcane juice, bachalao in pudina-ki-chutney, fiery crabs with ground ginger,garlic and lemon - much like passariano. Since we were the only patrons that evening, at one point the whole family sat in the adjoining table and we just kept tasting. When time came to pay - They were still not setup for credit cards and had no way to exchange USD to fast falling Rias. SO we paid what was a favorable USD->BRS. So why does this stand out: They had been doing this catering thing for a long long time, and being served in the diplomatic setting, everything was top quality. The dishes were evolved based on the local ingredients and produce - Surprise was another factor - Finding a regional cuisine (Yeh! Right, portugese is the common language base for goan and brazilian dialects) which was not a hash of mughlai {though they would be on the menu along with the curries} fare seen in indian restaurants the world-over. {Four more to go }

You made all very good points - I whole heartedly agree with you. I have a similar problem with Chinese - I cannot convince folks that ini some of the really good restauants in HKG/SIN expect to drop a serious moola for a meal sin wine. On the other hand, talking to folks from france (mostly poor academics ) many agree that what the up-scale French restaurants serve is rarely prepared at homes, even on special occasions. So, should upscale indian restaurants just invent something, call it Punjabi,Malvani,Awadhi,Hydrabadi,Bengali entree and let the chips fall where they may ?

Not fair - The expanse, variety and occasions many times cloud one's judgement. You gonna tell a proud father that his only daughter's wedding feast was not the best ? Come on Many of my meals have been banquets, feasts, and special occasion dinners and lunches in honour of someone or some event. I'll have to think about the restaurant aspect a bit more - Maybe I'll have five different restaurant experiences.

The one's I remember visiting - Hyatt, Cambridge next door to Tang Hall, MIT Marriott Marquis, NYC Westin ? Atlanta Hyatt ? Atlanta Seattle TV Tower, Berlin

Di Nada The wealthy Indian-Americans arguement is a difficult one, that I have not been able to successfully deconstruct. The same reason that I do not take follow the cabbies as a mantra for finding good authentic indian fare. I shall some day, put down some of my concerns on the above - not this early morning

If the stereotype is about the Bangladeshi 6th St. restaurants, then I could not comment with any recent experience, since I visited them couple of times, when I first moved to E20s in the mid-80s. With respect to Kosher Indian places that I have been to, they are mainly South Indian fare and under go City as well as religious inspections regularly. There is no Glatt-Kosher Indian yet. Ambience - There used to be a beautiful bank building opposite Grand Central on 42nd. Classical interior, great marble, carvings etc. Few years back Ciprianis bought (or maybe leased) it and now is used for banquets - Excellent Indian and Asian fare is served when Asia Society holds its fundraisers at one grand a pop That is ambience. I'd love that As a non-restauranteur, I'll take good food over decor,service,and eye candy anyday. O.K. most of the days I have human failings.....

You are not in one of those modern high rises are ya ? I'm a bit disoriented

You'll go into business, I'll patronize the place

You crack me up - ROTFLMAO Maybe I'll ask Chez Suzzette to make some curried snails for the Food-Festival

I've been told by a respected FFlyer not to miss De Matelote , a small be excellent seafood restaurant in Antwerp. Has anybody here been there ? also any other place in Antwerp ? Will be there end of this month.

For you Ofcourse !! Whatever you say

Oh. I thought Chaat was the Hindi word for snack food and appetizer like things. Its specific to a region? You are right about the word and what it means. Chaat is also eaten in hawker-style stalls from North through Western India - But in South India, the appetisers are not chaat - Hawker type apps are popular in Hyderabad - with Mughlai kebabs and seekhs, and banana fritter savories in Trivandrum.

In our kitchen, I remember folks saying that Dalda just did not bring out the essense of the cooking - If oil was needed for some cooking, it would be locally available oil.

Very interesting - I cannot believe it that I actually spent time scrolling through their menu and found some things I'd not find in any restaurant (that I know of) in NYC. Gotta do a junket to yale.edu

At the onset of the weekend, I was a bit under the weather - So I headed to Fuleen on Division St. in Ctown,NYC. A Braised black chicken and Ginseng soup, folowed by Spicy Clams with vegetable greens in a broth. The former is a cultivated palate - so be forewarned - It did the job quite well - thankyou

I rarely care about openings or closings - I however had hopes about Coconut Grove, it tried to do something with south indian dishes - It had some very good British Draft ales, and space between tables were comfortable for conversations. I was disappointed when it closed without ever evolving or coming of its own

I have to tread a tad carefully - 1. It is a Lounge - I do not know what this lounge want's to be ...... What do you expect in a lounge ? Forget reference to indian for a moment ? What are your favourite lounges ? Will lots of cleavage make you ignore the quality of food ? The sorbet wih a hint of ginger and pistachio was yummy - Mind you, no dessert menu. Enough said

OK, here you go - Triple Eight (No longer called that) East Bwy Below the bridge (carts) Jin Fong (Elizabeth St - Between Canal & Bayard) (carts) Harmony Palace (Mott - North of Canal) (carts) But you really want -- Oriental Garden - Elizabeth (no cart) Sweet & Tart (no cart) Congee (Bowery South of Grand) (no cart) Mandarin Court - Mott (no cart ??)

If you happen by Ermoupolis, Syros; just hang ny any Ouseria (sp?) or outdoor taverna; and enjoy their catch of the day. Light battered smelts fried - Ymmmm, with lemon

Well Suvir, I had hoped this never came up It certainly ai'nt Taj Lounge

Syros and Naxos are both renouned for simple elegant aegean fare. Do avoid getting into arguments or fights with the hordes of tourists who decend during the summer

Bottled Kimchi - Are they any good ? How is this - Flat bread (pita) from Toufayian bakery (sp?) Spread of Tarragon Mustard, and Jar of Chutney picked up from Brooklyn Botanical Garden's gift shop, zapped for 25 sec in the microwave to form a post-midnight snack. Great thead by the way

?? You aren't thinking of this, are you? Terrace In the Sky 400 W 119th St, New York, NY 10027 (212) 666-9490 (212) 666-3471 (fax) It's much closer to Morningside than Riverside, though. I have a sort of vague notion that there's some eatery by the Marina, though. Is that right? Nope - I think it is seasonally open. Food is not that good - regular fare, but a good outdoor seat and look out on the Hudson River - You could get a hotdog and sit by the bench and get the same views too

I must admit I have not heard of Penang Curry - Due to my ignorance I thought it was Malay. Is it Thai ? A meat-with-gravy reference by Steven would make me believe that it's origin is indeed Malay with influences from the migrant South-Indian Muslim community in the late 19th, early 20th century. Just a hypothesis .........