WHERE INDIAN FOOD REIGNS SUPREME

If you are a traveller who craves for Indian food abroad, these cities will definitely make you feel at home

Talli Joe, London

LONDON

Nalli Nehari at Talli Joe London

Coming from a land of avid tea drinkers, we Indians love our ‘cutting chai’ from roadside stalls too, it is astounding to see that a product such as tea could be considered special and is treated with such reverence in London. Indian High tea could range from samosa, kachori, dhokla to Bengali sweets on the various plates of the Afternoon stand. Brick Lane, which is basically just a lane, a long lane of curry houses, and a lengthy permanent evidence of how multi-ethnic and distinctive London can get from one boulevard to the next.  

Also prominent is the Sunday market, at the end of Bacon Street, which attractions mass from all over London and then there is always Soho for the Dosas and Chaats. Then there are the ever popular restaurants such as Benares, the much loved Talli Joe and certainly Cinnamon club.

DURBAN

Predictably the Indian influence has added spicy curries and much more to the cuisine here. Interestingly nearly twenty percent of Durban’s residents are of Indian descent, and that is visible in the cuisine. On offer are exciting chutneys, buttermilk, curries and even Rotis.

Bunny Chow

The preferred local dish is ‘Bunny chow’ essentially partial loaf of bread scooped out and packed with curry which can be chicken or mutton and beans for the vegetarians. Indian stalls also govern the Victoria Street Market in Central Durban with shop owners selling a vast collection of curry powders; the utmost fascinating names being ‘razor blade’, ‘mother-in-law’ and ‘hellfire’ powder which are surely not for the faint-hearted.

DUBLIN

This city has several Indian speciality restaurants.

Interestingly at a restaurant called ‘Pickle’, celebrity chef Sunil Ghai does Indian dishes with carefully sourced Irish ingredients; Fancy an Irish lobster or a wild boar curry anyone? Then there are several offering Just Indian curries and grills and some specialising in Vegetarian. Indian cab drivers swear by the curries on Mary Street and believe it or not Dublin has over twenty curry houses in the city. Rasam is another favourite restaurant for Dubliners.

KUALA LUMPUR

A feel of nostalgia comes over your my senses as you stroll along the jam-packed street, stopping at stalls in little India. Getting Indian food in this town should be the least of our worries. A range of Dosa and chapattis, homemade Vadais or idlis are available, everything from sweat inducing, spicy dishes to sweet condiments will tempt one’s taste buds. Quell that Indian rumbling tummy by opting for specialty Biryani, banana leaf rice, fried Mamak noodles and even vegetarian rice. Leave a bit of room before you finish for some colourful sweets too. You can even buy churan or eat a meal during your stay at the glitzy Kuala Lumpur.

my story first published in ET Panache Travel