I must admit that we have misordered off menus in India too many times to count. Our own stupidity and here’s a MAJOR TIP: Print off a list of Indian food before you come to India the describe the ingredients. I’m going to list some of the most popular dishes that we’ve ordered and enjoyed. One laughable example was ordering chicken Sheek-Kabob (or Seekh Kebab) thinking that it would be chunks of chicken on a skewer. Not so. Sheek-kabob is minced chicken. Another was stir-fried vegetable rice. (We envisioned rice with big chunks of vegetables). What came was rice with itsy-bitsy, miniscule pieces of chopped vegetables. One waiter described Chicken Pakora as chunks of fried chicken. Yes, they were chunks of fried chicken that resembled Chicken McNuggets, albeit with a spicier coating.

We did much better in the local “truck stops/restaurants” where you can walk back, see what’s available and watch the cooks. One lunch was at the Rajput Line Hotel…View image… with typical Orissan food. If Bibbu hadn’t taken us, we would have taken one look and kept on going. Rough wooden tables, not a speck of ambiance but the best, most delicious food. Everything is made fresh daily and is located about 7 kms/4 miles north of Taptapani.

How can you go wrong when it costs a grand total of 50 Rupees for two Sprite, one liter of water and rice with fried vegetables? Eat there if you get a chance.

pots of freshly cooked vegetables at a local stop, India
On a sidenote…remember those leaves the Bonda women were carrying and selling on their heads? They are sewn together and used as dinner plates. When the meal is over, they are tossed. The Orissa version of “paper plates.”

Bonda women carrying leaves used as plates, India
I hope some of our favorite menu items will help wipe looks of astonishment off your face when your food is served and looks nothing like what you imagined it to be. It’s a continual exploration into the realm of truly excellent Indian food and these are some of our favorites. Fish is completely eliminated since I get the heebie-jeebies if there are bones. What can I tell you, I’m a wimp:

local cook, India
Biryani – Basmati rice cooked with something. Subz Biryani fresh vegetables and fried cottage cheese. Murg with pieces of chicken.

Paneer – Indian cheese, similar to cottage cheese.

Lassi -A drink made by blending yogurt with water or fruit drinks. Just watch what they blend it with. You don’t want unpurified water.

Curds – What yogurt is commonly called in India. After blank looks whenever I asked for “yogurt”, finally learned to say “curds.”

Tandoori – Prawns, chicken, anything, marinated in yogurt and spices then cooked in a clay Tandoor oven over extremely high heat.

Tikka – Chicken or whatever cooked in a Tandoor oven but boneless. (You’ll get more bang for your buck if you order this.)

local food for sale at Konark, India
Dal – Lentils prepared in different styles.

Breads – Naan, round flatbread similar to pita; Poori/Puri, fried flatbread; Chapati, thin, unleavened flat bread not fried; and so many more.

Dum Alu – spicy potatoes in a gravy (Alu usually means “potatoes”)

Curry – Don’t think this needs any explanation.

Desserts – Kheer (Indian Rice Pudding; and my favorite Gulab jamun, deep fried dough balls left overnight in a warm sugar syrup. Very sweet. Very yummy.

Rogan Josh – a Kashmiri spicy, lamb stew

The list is endless and the food, wonderful. You’ll love the different tastes of India…

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