Hasmi

Hi all, Just wondering of anyone had any info about places to eat and visit in Katmandu? Trekking is on the agenda and I am sure a hearty meal before the long slog ahead would be a fantastic start. Thanks Best Regards H

Hi, For the best black gulab jamuns try the ones in 'Ambala' ( there is shop on Ealing Rd in Wembley). Right on the end of Ealing Road near Alperton Station. Ambala Sweet Centre 6 Glenmore Parade, Ealing Rd Wembley Middlesex HA0 4PJ 020 8903 9740 They also do a really nice halwa - 'Hapsi Halwa' It is a mixture of almonds, pistachio in a nice chewy mixture. To my recognition they are the best I have ever bought over here. Pradip Sweet Mart Ltd 154, Kenton Rd Harrow Middlesex HA3 8AZ Tel: 020 8907 8399 Hasmi

Whats the name of the restaurant in Harrow ??? Living in that vicinity. It is mighty nice to know there is some where that Simon approves of that I can try locally. A hidden gem I have not discovered.Or maybe I have? Please try and get me the name. Hasmi P.S Harrow really isnt on the other side of the world guys. Plenty of cool and hip people live there ummmm...........

Hi No recipe on me. I will have to ask to get one. I have made gulab jamun once. When I made with potatoes - ummmm interesting! Anyhow just to say the best gulab jamuns I have had ever tend to be at the Taj Hotels in India. Where sometimes you break it open and inside you find a tiny pistachio and saffron filling in the centre. The other kind which I like are the black ones. They tend to be firmer in texture and apparently have paneer in them. They are yummy. Anyway will get back to you with a recipe. Cheers H

Eating with your hands............... I actually eat with my hands. Gujarti orgin - which is where I come from originally. It is a very common occurence. Chapatis and curry ( shakh) as we call it. Our staple diet. I for one find it the most convienent. You can scoop and mop things up quite easily. When we go to an Indian restaurant is it highly acceptable manner of eating. The only thing deterring one is the large amount of food colouring they use in the cooking. Staining your fingers yellow or red for several hours later. South Indians I think? Squash the rice and yoghurt together in a ball and then pop it in their mouths. I have to admit to not being able/wish to do this and rice for me is most daintily eaten with a spoon! Other foods easily eaten with your hands would be things like finger foods - pickles, bhajias(pokoras), breads, papad (popadoms), dry curries and salad ( kuchumber). Oh yes I forgot to mention the added bonus of less washing up after the meal! H

Can you add your work place cafeteria's to the list? God awful slop they serve us poor fellows. Have you ever stood in the queue - turned your nose up at the goo and then been told off by the Chef. Well I have. I know it is rude and normally I have an abundance of manners, but purrlease. Not over salted, over cooked and dried out from the lights ! My gripe....after having eaten at a number of client site's canteen! Ooooh I feel all better now its out of my system. Excuse me for my mad little rant! Oh yes and I am partial to the odd Fillet O' Fish From Ronnies However I have totally disallowed chicken nuggets to be eaten in my presence after i found out what crap was in them. YUK! H

How about spicy veggie burgers instead of hamburgers? Would they work? Would you par-boil the veggies With regards to the Sheekh Kebabs - what veggies do you think would be a good suggestion? Thanks H

Hi, I am looking to host a BBQ. For meat-lovers it doesnt seem all that complicated. Kebabs and Tandoori-style chicken seems to win the day. However alot of my friends also are vegetarians. This always seems to cause a big problem for me. They end up eating oven cooked Jacket potatoes ( which dont even originate from the BBQ). Paneer Masala. Again which isnt even cooked on the BBQ. The only dish I can envisage cooking is veggie kebabs ( paneer and other vegetables on skewers). There must be some other choices we ( I ) can offer these poor people. Dishes that are spicy and cookable on the BBQ Please could somebody help by giving me suggestions. I am stuck! Thanks so much Hasmi

Survir, For those of us that live in the UK etc. One of the reasons I come on this topic in the forum is because of your receipes and guidance. So please do not class it as giving in but as a wonderful chance to educate those not quite so sure of what they are doing. Keema is my husband's favourite dish. I for one shall try out your receipes at the earliest possible time. After I can definitely say the way to my man's heart is through his STOMACH. So thankyou Survir. Hasmi

Survir, I have always wanted to know exactly what was in Garam masala. Now I know Cheers Hasmi

Thanks for the suggestions, Youre a cherub!! Hasmi

Please can someone help me on this????

Was crap! A dark dark dark place! The members bar was tiny! Not happy! Not going again!

Please could some body give me their thoughts on Le Caprice. It is supposed to be good. I have a table booked for a special occasion and was wondering if it is worth the wait of a month! Any idea? H

Bizarre thing is I actually just put myself and couple of people on their list for wednesday. Though Simon's review has filled me trepidation. Nevermind it is free to get in to so theres only one way of finding out the truth and thats to go look for yourself. Keep you posted H

BLH, Do you remember a while back there was this whole Hoo Haa about where curry originated. Some said Scotland other said England? You dont have Haggis Curry by the way do you? Please dont think I am taking the mick - just wondering? Anyway where do you think the westernised curry originated Scotland or England? When is National Curry Day by the way? Suvir - did you know curry was voted the Nation's favourite food here? Hasmi

guys, Simon firstly Les Portes Des Indes - I have to say I went on an ordinary night of the week. Totally disliked it thought food was not worth the price etc. However trust me when I say Sunday Lunch there is great. I can understand how food poisoning puts you off so i can tell you wont be boing back there. However I have never had a bad lunch there and I have been there for the past 2/3 years at least 5 times a year. Chor Bazaar - I have been there three times now. The food is not brilliant. Gosh they charge a lot though. Awfully expensive for what you get. Veraswamy's again pretty mild on tantalising of tastebud scale. I have to say that for a decent curry central London bows to the more western commercialised pallete. Often end up paying through your nose for food that does not always perform on par. With regards to Indian Clubs what I was actually referring to was what they say are 'Private Members Clubs' However you do not need to be a member to eat there. They are informal places dotted around especially in North London. Where they normally have chefs from India that cook things like mogo, chicken wings, tandoor items ( chicken, lamb, fish ). They play hindi music , have screens for hindi film songs and the cricket etc. Basically the Indian rendition of a pub in a more plusher environment. I am not a huge fan of these kinds of places. The food can be tasty though. Keep an open mind. There used to be a persona that it was typically for men. However the image has changed now so females can enter without getting meaningful stares! Anyhow back to the point - the food in these kinds of places CAN BE good. Simon I recommend Sahib's In NorthWood. A bit on the expensive side but not bad food. There are zillions of them. The only thing being is not all of them are good. Like most things you have to pick out the best ones by trying them. Karahi King - East Lane Wembley. Another new one has opened by the same owners ( or ex-owner of Karahi King ) called 5 Hot Chilles. Sudbury. There was a massive queue out there on saturday just gone. Supposed to be good too. Hasmi

Hi Suvir, I agree with Simon on the majority of what he has said. There is a wide breadth of Indian cuisine available to sample over here. In comparison to North America - sadly I cannot comment on that. As I always seem to get trapped in to Fast Food over there - rarely leaving the Disney Parks ( whether it be Florida or California!) In London on the High end I have tried a few. Here are some I have been too...too many to go into all of them. Zaika - which I think is the only Michelin starred Indian restaurant, correct me if I am wrong). From Zaika there has been an off spring of bars serving snacky bits and bobs. Mela - I thought was ok but nothing to write home about. Chutney Marys - again food was ok. Le Portes Des Indes - now that is my favourite. If you go for Sunday Lunch they have a huge buffet with French - Indian flavours. Beautiful inside. Very enjoyable! Zaika - very good. The equivalent of gourmet for the Indian palette. Red Fort - I enjoyed thought the food was good. Nice bar ((AkBar) down stairs. Soho Spice - again ok but not excellent Quillon - Goan influence a Taj restaurant. Prawn dishes are very good here. Vama's - I enjoyed again it borders on the gourmet equivalent. Mala's - St Catherines Dock is a lovely. The food to be honest is not fabulous but it very easily eatable. If you do go there you will see what I mean by it being an memorable experience. It is in the most wonderful location. Trust me! These are but a few of Higher quality restaurants you will find in central London. They tend however to be over priced. Portions may be small for the amount you pay. On the other hand presentation and quality of Ingredients used are superb ( mostly! ). I strongly recommend Les Portes Des Indes for sunday lunch. My favourite! I have more insights however i do not wish to bore you any further. If you would like to know more then just say and I could go on with regards to Vegetarian/Gujarati/South Indian restaurants and Sweet Marts (in the Wembley, Ealing Rd area/North London vicinty ). Oh I also forgot there are a number of Indian Clubs that have opend and the food here tend to be quite good. Not the typical Bangladeshi food mainly punjabi style. East African Asian influences. Another fav I will just quickly add in is Madhu's Brilliant in Southall. Nice restaurant and good punjabi style food. Lovely Chole and Bhaturas. Cheers, Hasmi

Hi Guys, As I live in London and being a person who eats out at Indian restaurants here all the time. What is your opinion of them? Good, bad or plain nasty? Generally speaking of course. Just interested.... Hasmi

Hello All, Having read a post from last year.....for places to eat in Singapore. I was wondering if there is an updated version for those of us that are wondering across to Singapore and Bali this year May time. I am desperately seeking expert opinions on the places to eat in in Singapore primarily. Bali - well I will be in the Ubudh area if that means anything to you guys?! Thanks so much for help ( in advance ) Hasmi

Hi All, Having stumbled upon this section for the first time. I thought what better way is there to ask the 'experts' where the best places to eat are in Sydney and Cairns. It will be my first visit there. Going in May for my HoneyMoon ...ahhhh 5 days or so in each location. Need some really nice places. Do not mind paying the price as long as it is decent grub (by that I mean not parsley on a plate!) Any suggestions would be so very appreciated. Bye for now... H