Choolaah Indian BBQ: King of Prussia Review

The GF and I were recently invited to check out Choolaah, the sleek Indian BBQ fast-casual concept that opened in King of Prussia. Choolaah highlights ingredients with a pedigree, sourcing all of their ingredients from some of the cleanest and most abundant locations, including the Faroe Islands and Ohio Amish country. And with huge tandoor ovens in full display, they ensure that everything is authentically prepared. Recipes are from centuries-old Indian kitchens, but made fresh and with modern takes. 

What does Choolaah entail? Every day in ancient northern India, people gathered around a communal oven known as a "sanja chulha" to share stories and break fresh-baked bread. Choolaah is a fresh spin on this tradition, promoting communal and collective enjoyment of great food. 

Their custom-built tandoor clay ovens seek to cook the meats and cheeses at very high temps to seal in the juices and lock in that flavor. They're marinated in a variety of Indian spices, but don't expect to be taken aback. You can customize the spice level, with a variety of chutneys and sauces to cool or amp up your heat index. 

Pav Bhaji [$6.99]

Pav Bhaji was a clear winner in our book. The street snack's origins trace back to Mumbai textile mill workers who needed something quick and filling. Expect buttery, toasted sweet buns - perfect to house the accompanying mix of vegetables cooked down with tomatoes and spices.  

Topped with a bits of chopped pepper and onion, just hit it with a squeeze of citrus to allow for an explosion of savory and hearty flavors. Easily eats like a meal and clearly a standout menu item. 

Veggie Croquette BBQ Meal [$9.99]
Choice of BBQ, White or Brown Rice, Wheat or Regular Naan, Masala

The GF went the BBQ bowl route, choosing crisp veggie croquettes, with a nice blend of chickpeas and spice. This sat atop a bowl of rice, perfect to drench with the accompanying tikka masala. And the naan here is pretty perfect - crisp and slightly buttery on the outside, with enough give within so it was perfect to sop up any remaining masala. 

Chicken Biryani [$9.99]
Chicken or veggie, layers of basmati rice, herbs, and spices

For my main, I went with what Choolaah labels "biryani meets chicken pot pie." Housed in a crisp, thin, puffed shell that takes a whack or two to crack, layers of basmati rice are melded with a blend of spice that's nicely tempered by sweet raisins. I chose chicken as my protein - marinated and moist. 

It came with an accompanying yogurt sauce that I couldn't help but mix with some of their spicier sauces available on tap. Delicious and highly reminiscent of several of the delicious street carts I tend to frequent - just executed on a higher level. 

Mango Lassi [$3.49]

Overindulged in spice? No fear - be sure to pick up one of their mango lassi's. Tart, cooling, and subtly sweet, this is the perfect palate cleanser. 

So if you're shopping by KoP, seek out something better than your typical mall eats. Head over to Choolaah and prepare yourself for an explosion of flavors. A Center City location needs to open up - stat. 

Choolaah Indian BBQ
155 Main Street Ste. 120
King of Prussia, PA 19406
(800) 459-8860
www.choolaah.com

FTC Disclaimer: Thanks to Choolaah and Cashman Associates for arranging this visit. Regardless, my opinions are mine alone and, therefore, unbiased. 

Masala Kitchen Review

There aren't many issues I have with the Philly food scene. It's a large reason why I've stayed in Philly vs. moving back to NY or Chicago. But if there's an area where the city could improve is in the availability of late night eats. I often dream of the "street meat" halal carts where you can stop by to get what you crave when it's past 2AM, all for a reasonable price. Thanks to Marilyn from Philly Grub, I've recently stumbled upon the solution - Masala Kitchen. 

Proprieter Vai Sonu and Chef Arjun have partnered up to bring flavor bombs in the form of Calcutta-style Indian street food. With most wraps and rolls, you've often stuck with a dry, tough flour tortilla that lacks flavor on its own. With Masala Kitchen, every bite is seasoned and will tantalize your taste buds without going overboard. It's also extremely portable, affordable, and almost everything made in-house.

Rose | Mango Lassi [$3.25]

Traditional yogurt-based drink

Kala Khatta [$2.25]

Sweet, tangy blackberry fruit

Pick up a couple of their lassi's to go. The traditional Indian yogurt-based drink is flavored with either mango or rose syrup and appear to be the perfect breakfast or workout smoothie. The Kala Khatta less viscous and is subtly sweet with a nice blackberry flavor. The mint lemonade was easy drinking as well, with the herbaceous sweetness offering up the perfect palate cleansing drink to end your meal. 

Chicken Biryani [$9]

Marinated chicken, basmati rice

Note: Pricing listed is a la carte and this was a larger group portion

MK's basmati rice is cooked perfectly, with juicy chunks of marinated chicken strewn throughout. And yes, they have the white and red sauces you often associate with street food. Balance each bite with the cooling white or amp up your spice level with the red!  

Paneer Masala Roll [$5.50]

Homemade cottage cheese, creamy tomato gravy "Makhani"

Chicken Kheema Roll [$5.25]

Ground chicken, lentil, Indian spices

But for me, the rolls are where it's at. The light and gluttonous paratha bread is lightly griddled on a large cast-iron tawa, which MK then fills with a number of delicious options. I'm usually not a big fan of paneer as it doesn't have much flavor on its own, but when coupled with their Makhani gravy, it's a blast of flavor that had me coming back for more. The chicken kheema offers a more savory spiced route, but nothing a douse of the white sauce can't balance out for the less intrepid eaters out there. 

MK also has a number of healthy rolls including a beet root and crispy cabbage roll. They just recently released a Pepperwala roll that marries juicy marinated chicken and their fresh-made paneer with crisp, fried green peppers. Just as delicious and definitely filling! 

So if you're looking for the perfect lunch or dinner option on the run - Masala Kitchen has you covered. And if you're out late on Friday or Saturday night and seeking a bit more flavor than your 24 hour Wawa, head over to MK. They're open until 3:30AM and you'll go to bed happy! 

FTC Disclaimer: Thanks to Masala Kitchen, Sarah Doheny from YUB PR, & Marilyn from Philly Grub for inviting me to this media tasting. Regardless, my opinions are mine alone and, therefore, unbiased.

Veda Review

In the realm of Modern Indian cuisine, Center City could definitely do better. We lost a gem with Tashan. And though we've made delicious strides with IndeBlue, for a cuisine with such intricate layers of flavors and spices, there could be more options, especially in the finer dining scene. Enter Veda, a gorgeous Rittenhouse venue. 

Veteran Chef Vipul Bhasin boasts more than 25 years of experience and also runs Coriander and Indiya in Collingswood, NJ. And in partnership with owner Inder Singh, a former engineer-turned-restaurateur, they have a great space in Veda. The glass doors slide open to beckon you toward either the sleek bar or the spacious dining room, which features a large table in the back. Seeking a private dinner? The ceiling-height curtains can easily be drawn to make dinner a private affair. 

Veda G+T [$15]

Portobello gin, Fever Tree tonic water, juniper berries, grapefruit zest 

I started off with their gin and tonic, featuring Portobello Road gin. Without being too heavy on the juniper, this was light, floral, with a bit of peppery kick that went nicely with the grapefruit zest and twist. Gorgeously presented in the large wine goblet, with juniper berries floating around, this was perfect for the summer. 

Karishma [$12]

Chili-infused Hornitos tequila, fresh lime, agave, ginger beer

The GF really enjoyed the Karishma, which was essentially a tequila mule, with the chili-infusion working to great effect in coordination with the spice of the ginger beer. The fresh lime and agave helped to temper the drink with a bit of citrusy sweetness. 

Masala Crab Cakes [$12]

Goan crab cakes, coconut, fennel, chili balsamic, panch-poran tomato chutney 

Deftly fried, the masala crab cakes had a nice mix of sweet crab, coconut, and fennel. The panch-poran tomato chutney was a mix of sweet and cumin that should be easily palatable for those unfamiliar with Indian spices. 

Calcutta Pork Ribs [$9]

Baby back ribs, yellow chili powder, mango chutney glaze, lime, fresh coriander

Calcutta pork ribs are a must order in my mind. The sweet and sticky mango chutney glaze wasn't overpowering and there was plenty of tender pork falling off the ribs. White and black sesame helped to add texture to each bite. Get an order of these stat! 

Chicken Tikka [$16]

The chicken tikka offered two versions of breast meat marinated in green chili-mint-cilantro or a tangier marinade of yogurt-mustard-fennel. Moist and with a light char, they came with a tamarind chutney and a green-chili sauce. 

Seafood Bhel [$12]

Scallops, baby calamari, shrimp, crunchy sev, roasted peanuts, tangy green mango 

A healthy-portioned melange of seafood offered up snappy shrimp, baby scallops, and calamari, with a light and tangy green mango and peanut sauce. Roasted peanuts and the bite of grilled onions helped to offer texture to each bite, along with the crunchy bits of sev noodles. 

Lassoni Gobi [$9]

Tangy cauliflower, garlic, fresh cilantro, ginger, tomato

Quite possibly one of my favorite bites of the year and easily my favorite bar snack is the Lassoni Gobi. Forget about buffalo cauliflower, these are the way to go! Beautifully adorned with flowers, these tangy cauliflower are fried without any greasy overtones. Sweet, salty, sour, garlicky, and savory notes are all there. Easy to down a plate of these with a proper drink. 

Lamb Vindaloo [$22]

Red wine vinegar marinated boneless lamb, pearl onions, smoked chilies, cinnamon

Dal Makhani [$15]

Lentil, onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic, cream

Chicken Tikka Makhani [$19]

Chicken tikka, burnt ginger, tomatoes, honey, fenugreek greens

Pindi Channa Masala [$14]

Chickpeas, ajwain, cumin, pomegranate, green mango

Bread Basket [$12]

Regular, laccha, garlic, and onion-sage naan  

Clockwise from Top Right: Dal Makhani, Chicken Tikka Makhani, Basmati Rice, Pindi Channa Masala, Lamb Vindaloo, Bread Basket

For our mains, we were brought out basmati rice and plenty of naan to sop up the kaleidoscope of masala, tikkas, and dals. Let's talk proteins first. There were huge chunks of moist chicken throughout the tikka makhani, with tender, grassy lamb in the vindaloo. The dal and channa masala were hearty and flavorful. In terms of spice level - don't fear! If anything, they veer on sweet, with acidity coming from tomatoes in the case of the chicken tikka and cinnamon in the vindaloo. The spiciest of the quartert was the channa masala. But even then, the heartiness of the chickpeas along with the pomegranate and green mango helped to temper the back-burn. And don't forget - there's plenty of naan on offer at Veda. Crisply textured on the exterior, the barely-risen dough offers great chew and savoriness. Our favorites were the garlic as well as the onion-sage. There's also a goat-cheese iteration that's got to be killer as well - so get to sopping! 

Saffron Kheer [$6]

Indian rice pudding, saffron, cardamom

Asian cuisine isn't typically known for sweet desserts, but Veda has a variety on offer, often paired with house-made ice creams. We opted for the Saffron Kheer, which was a subtly sweet rice pudding, flavored with aromatic hints of saffron and cardamom and plenty of texture from the macerated basmati. 

So if you're intrigued or have never even had Indian flavors, definitely stop by Veda. They'll provide you with a great culinary introduction to Indian flavors, with a modern twist. And if you're seeking Indian flavors with a modern twist, you're also in luck. Those seeking spice, don't hesitate to ask them to bump up the heat! 

FTC Disclaimer: Thanks to Veda & Gloss PR for hosting us. Regardless, my opinions are mine alone and, therefore, unbiased. 

Veda

1920 Chestnut Street

Philadelphia, PA 19103

(267) 519-2001

www.vedaphilly.com

King of Tandoor Review

Living in the Fairmount area affords a random sampling of various cuisines. Case in point - King of Tandoor. They offer a decent foray into Indian cuisine with affordable prices, though in an 80's-esque atmosphere. Regardless, it's a great place for takeout - so recently, I indulged in a few of their dishes through Eat24, which seems to be a great new way to order delivery.

Garlic Naan [$2.75]

You can't help but get some naan. King of Tandoor's garlic naan was light, with hints of garlic. It was perfect for the variety of chutneys that they provide. 

From left to right, the plum chutney was subtly sweet, with hints of spice. A great cooling element for the other two chutneys. The onion chutney provided a sharp bite, with heat that starts on the tongue which eventually moves to the back of the throat. The lime chutney has a sweet heat that was definitely my favorite. 

Vegetable Samosa [$3.50]

Samosas are another must order and these didn't disappoint. The melange of potatoes, cumin, peas, and carrots offered a hearty bite which contrasted nicely with the crispy texture of the outer shell. 

They also offer a ground lamb samosa which I didn't get to try on this visit.

Poori Bhajee [$4.25]
Fried chickpeas, light fluffy bread
  

For less than $5, you can indulge in a delicious fried chutney, nicely stewed with tomatoes and and spice.

It comes accompanied with "fluffy" bread to dip in the chickpea stew. It's  a bit greasy and actually heavier than the naan.

Motor Paneer [$10.95]
Fried homemade cheese, peas
  

Paneer is a favorite of mine. The light homemade cheese came in huge chunks amidst the stewed peas which had a nice medium heat to it. The buttery rice was simply melt-in-your-mouth and completely light.

Ultimately, King of Tandoor offers a safe bet for comforting and affordable Indian cuisine. It's great to know that the Fairmount area has a wide variety of offerings on hand and for myself, it's just steps away.

New Delhi Restaurant Review

Recently, one of our friends told us that in a single week, she had ordered takeout three times from New Delhi restaurant. Sounded like my kind of addiction so I had to check New Delhi out! They're on GrubHub, but they also have their own online delivery platform as well! Pro Tip: Sign up for their mailing list and they often send out a 15% off coupon code when you order directly! 

Vegetable Samosa [$3]
Vegetable turnovers, green peas, potatoes

Had to start off with some samosa - there are two per order and surprisingly held up to delivery. Crisply fried, there was a smooth melange of potatoes and green peas within. A trio of chutneys were on offer including a sweet tamarind, herbaceous mint, and an onion chutney with some bite.

Paneer Pakora [$5.75]
Cottage cheese fritters, cumin seed, Oriental spices  

For me, paneer in general is a bit underseasoned for my liking. But I couldn't help but order the dish anyway - because fried cheese amirite? Unfortunately, the crispness of the samosas didn't extend to this batter, which was more of a spongy, underseasoned bite that was barely helped by the chutneys that accompanied the samosas. I'd skip these. 

Paneer Masal Biryani [$11.50]
Rice, cheese cubes, nuts, raisins 

On the other hand, the paneer featured in the masala biryana was spectacular as it soaked up the masala. The texture from the peanuts and the sweetness from the raisins brought it over the top. You can order your desired heat level from an entire spectrum of spice - we went with medium-plus and that had a perfect amount of kick that left you wanting some of the raita (whipped yogurt) on the side.

Chicken Tikka Masala [$11.25]
Chicken, onions, peppers, tomato and butter sauce

New Delhi offered a great rendition of chicken tikka, which the GF had to have. She ordered it at a medium spice level and it was still on the spicier side than the chicken tikka's she's used to. 

Regardless, the sauce was velvety and delicious on top of the accompanying basmati rice. Keep in mind the chicken features both white and dark for those of you that are particular about such things.

Garlic Naan [$3.50]

You've got to have some naan to sop up all of the tomato-butter sauce, right? The garlic permeated throughout the gluttonous bread - the perfect vessel to your Indian on! 

Keema Naan [$3.95]
Minced meat 
  

The Keema naan offered a different flavor profile, with the minced meat coming through to offer some nice savoriness to each bite.

So if you're aching for Indian food, New Delhi has definitely got you covered. It's now on my roster as one of the top Indian restaurants for takeout or delivery.

Tayyabs Review

This is for a series of posts related to a London 2014 trip including: 

The Ledbury, Founder's Arms, Fishcoteque, Borough Market, Fortnum & Mason Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon, Tayyabs, Giraffe: Heathrow, Park Plaza Westminster, & Wagamama: Heathrow.

For those in the know about the London food scene, it's not all about fish & chips and bangers & mash. Nay, it was actually chicken tikka masala that was declared Britain's national dish. Indian cuisine is oft enjoyed in London town and the Whitechapel area is the place to go.

After reaching out to a few local foodies and review sites, Tayyabs was highly recommended and we were not disappointed. The BYOB was bopping with the young crowd, dimly lit, bustling, yet somehow intimate. I appreciated that they brought out their branded water gratis. Perhaps they knew we'd need it for the curries to come.

Chutneys
 

A troika of chutneys were brought out including a spicy red chile with lasting heat, a white cucumber with slight chili heat on the finish, and a sweet, cooling mango chutney to save the day.

Papadum
 

Some papadum and a puffy rice cracker were on offer, featuring crisp, light textures. 

Salad
 

A salad of yellow and red onions, cucumbers, tomatoes, and lemon was also brought out.

Vegetable Samosa [0.80 Pounds = $1.31] 
 

We had to try a samosa, which was filled with savory potatoes and chickpeas, housed in a crisp shell.

Lamb Chops [6.50 Pounds = $10.64]
 

The lamb chops were definitely a showstopper and well-recommended. It's served smoky to your table thanks to the cast iron grill. In addition to the nicely developed char, the lamb was tender, moist, and delicious. Not at all gamey. The grilled onions added some sweet savoriness to each bite.  

Naan [1 Pound = $1.64]
 

In preparation for the curry, we ordered some naan, which was the perfect vessel to sop up all the impending goodness. 

Chana Meat Curry [7.25 Pounds = $11.87]
 

The chana meat curry was wonderfully fragrant and had great depth, with coriander and garlic permeating the roast lamb. The chana dal and the whole chickpeas made each bite even heartier and somewhat (only slightly) tempered the heat of this beast of a dish.

Karahi Chicken Tikka Masala Special [7.25 Pounds = $11.87]
Marinated chicken tikka, karahi masala, coriander, chopped tomato, sliced onions, chili 

The chicken tikka was moist and contained huge pieces of boneless chicken. The onions and potatoes mixed within were plentiful and the base of tomatoes helped to create a sweeter depth than that of the fiery chana meat curry.

And as an attempt to soothe the lingering heat, our meal ended with some creamy milk chocolates.

So, if you're ever in London, do pop on over to Whitehall and enjoy a proper curry. Tayyabs has got you covered on all fronts. It's also one of the better bargains you'll find.