Search This Blog

Jan 30, 2007

Magadh Restaurant

I had talked about Bhaiyaji who had opened a small North Indian joint called Magadh. I had visited it for the first time last week, one month after it had opened. And I made 2 repeat visits in the following 2 days.

The first day was spent in getting a taste of the thalis. It seemed the cooks were nervous. The food was a bit coldish. The chicken a tard undercooked and did not pass my red marrow test. However the taste was immensely good and that encouraged me to take another foody next day.

Bhaiyaji personally takes feedback about the food and I told him exactly what I wrote here.

Next day we were knocked off our feet. The chicken clear soup was a bit shorbaish but it tasted very good. We ordered Chicken Dehati. It was worth the wait and very different, a little earthy and lived up to its name. The chicken spring roll was muscular and fullsome. Nargisi Kofta was as big as Nargis herself. Very typical of a new restaurant.

The third day we tried the chicken fried rice and I quite liked it. It is not as subtle as a Mainland China's and it is not meant to be. Infact if it was I wouldnt have liked it. It was spicy and excellently damdar. The chilli soya was innovative and I have never found this in any other menu. The chef's recommendation, Chicken Patiyala, was a visual delight. The entire chicken wrapped up like a blanket by a double egg omelet. What more could Mun ask for.

On all three days the parathas were stupendous. Infact its worth a visit just for the parathas. We promised to be back next weekend.

Statutory Warning

Magadh is not for those who
..are not used to eating outside the Ebonys, Samarkands and 6 Ballyguange Places
..cannot differentiate between sambar & rasam or fried rice & pulao
..dont mind a speck of curry leave in their tarka dal
..care more about the ambience than the food
..looking for a consistent of taste
..use their nose to maintain their aristrocracy and not smell food
..are more concerned about what they are wearing when they are eating out

Magadh is actually for those who miss the North Indian Dhaba food in muddled South Indian Bangalore. If you miss your parathas and have been to Calcutta and tasted the litti and sattu you must visit Magadh atleast once.

Important Note:
Magadh is just beside Innovative Multiplex right next to its muddy open air car park. If you still cannot find it call Bhaiyaji at 9980228385. He speaks straight from his heart and serves with his hand.

Jan 22, 2007

Do we write like Males?

While me and Scout were exchanging some friendly banter I realised that men and women can be distinguished from their writing. And how can I say that? Dont ask me. Rather you are free to test me out. I think 90% of the time if I read someone I can tell whether she is male or female. I will also not have any shame in being proven wrong.

And this besides the point that I have raised whether Scout is male? Thats between me and her/him.

Jan 17, 2007

I am the SUN


You are The Sun


Happiness, Content, Joy.


The meanings for the Sun are fairly simple and consistent.


Young, healthy, new, fresh. The brain is working, things that were muddled come clear, everything falls into place, and everything seems to go your way.


The Sun is ruled by the Sun, of course. This is the light that comes after the long dark night, Apollo to the Moon's Diana. A positive card, it promises you your day in the sun. Glory, gain, triumph, pleasure, truth, success. As the moon symbolized inspiration from the unconscious, from dreams, this card symbolizes discoveries made fully consciousness and wide awake. You have an understanding and enjoyment of science and math, beautifully constructed music, carefully reasoned philosophy. It is a card of intellect, clarity of mind, and feelings of youthful energy.


What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Winter Pilgrimage

My usual winter homage to Kolkata came to a nice end.

Unlike my last two visits this one took a negative sheen. All the politics around the industrialisation is the main reason for that. I also see a undercurrent of support for those who are doing the antics against industrialisation. There is too much politics in the average Bengali. So while Bengal and Kolkata decays and bleeds the Bengalees continue to be blissfuly ignorant in their agitative mould.

But I will not ponder on the negatives like the ugly dirty taxis, the uneven roads with manhole sprouting like pimples. I would also not talk much about the stagnating bylanes where life has not moved an inch and income has come down. I will also not talk about rounds of bargaining that I witnessed around a 2 rupee cup of tea. Niether will I dwell on the unsophistication that is the becoming the bane of Calcutta/Bengalis.

I also had to face the wrath of the Bandhwagon. I had to cancel my railways tickets and take a flight back "home". Good for me because that helped me to slow down and catch up with many of my old favourites.

Here is a checklist of what I could and could not
  1. Routine drive around Salt Lake to survey how my beloved place moving
  2. Phuchkas around swimming pool and the phuchkawalah could remember the lovebirds from yesteryears
  3. Roll, Chop, Cutlet, Mughlai, Momo from the street side stall
  4. Tangra's chinese food
  5. Walk around Park Street and Peter Cats's chelo kabab
  6. Alipore Zoo
  7. Shriraz's Biriyani, Aminia's Chap & Sabir's Rezala
  8. Dakshineswar Temple
Besides all this there were routine visits to the relatives and in laws and lots of food. Slowly I am feeling like a "Probasi". But do I still qualify?