I made my first recipe out of a new cook book that one of my friends bought me for my birthday called Vij's At Home. This is the second book Vikram and his wife Meeru Vij have done together...they also own one of our very favorite restaurants in town (or maybe anywhere) called ViJ's. This place rocks! And it's a true dining experience all around.
They don't take reservations, for ANYONE...even the stars have to wait (and believe me this is the place that you may see a few famous faces...last time I was there Danny Glover was sipping a glass of vino on the front patio waiting for a table just like us!). Expect an hour or two wait to be seated if you are going Tuesday-Saturday....but chillax. They have a great wine menu...and they price the glasses the exact same as if you were to buy the bottle. They have a list of fantastic wines all priced under $40bucks...so you can get the bottle if you want! We usually polish off one bottle while waiting for our table. Actually the entire menu is priced extremely well...you can dine here often without breaking the bank!
The time flies by, because it's set up like a little cocktail party atmosphere...so you wait outside on the front patio during the summer and in the winter, you pile into the back by the bar with the rest of the folks awaiting a table. Everyone is always joyful, as they have a beverage in hand and the best part is the the servers come around with gorgeous, hot little Indian appies!!!! So you sit/stand around chat, drink and nibble...it's fabulous!!!
When you have the privilege of being seated, let Vij or your server order for you! They are amazing at this task, and it enables you to try things that you normally wouldn't order. Indian food is meant to be shared...so don't order the lamb Popsicles to yourself (but please order them) because too much of any one dish would be a shame. You must taste all of the dishes...go with four people if you can so you can share the love ...and so you can order more!!(only go with foodies...non foodies will not like it here).
I regress, back to the cookbooks. So I own both of the cookbooks. Vij's-Indian cooking was their first publication, and it is a little intimidating....definitely for the more experienced cook...a lot of very different ingredients that I am not familiar with. Vij's at home is a little more user friendly...so I made a coconut vegetable curry last night and it was very good. I missed one spice that I have never heard of, but overall it was a very nice dish....extremely spicy, but I feel encouraged to make another dish. Not every day though...because they sure add a crap load of salt and oil to their curry. It didn't taste too salty or oily...but I knew it was in there!
Either way....grab a copy of their cookbooks and try your hand at Indian cooking...or if you are too lazy...then go to their lovely restaurant...Vij will most likely be there (he usually is...cant miss him...colorful outfit, sparkling bright eyes and warm smile) - call us up, and we will join you!! Enjoy.
No comments:
Post a Comment