JiyoHappy's Profile
Moong dal, tiny and shiny
I am ISO some real tasty moong dal. I am looking for the smooth shiny very small grain skinless dal.
I have looked for it in every store in ElCamino Real, Univ Av in Berkeley, Santos warehouse and most chinese/vietnamese grocery stores in San Jose. I've even searched online and called some stores in the east coast.
All I have found is thick dull leathery looking coarse grains coated with metanil-yellow dye , which taste nothing like what I have actually used for the last 2 years
( brought a big pack from India ;-) )
The dal I am looking for cooks in less than 5 min in a pressure cooker and never ever lumps up, even if overcooked.
This is my fav dal , cooked with just some salt and turmeric and topped with ghee. And the taste is super divine.
Is there any store which has a pound or two or five of this dal ? I know no Indian restaurant cooks with this variety of moong dal, they all use the cheap big-grain variety .
Potato Latke Without Flour?
Agreed on potato starch. Gives a better crisp than flour or arrowroot and smells potato-ey too!
OMG WTF - $10 Pizzas @ Papa Johns NOW!
I found this offer today while ordering online from my neighborhood Papa John's.
I ordered a large thin-crust, half veggie, half meat for delivery. I have ordered from this place before but this one was a stunner !
The pizza arrived after an hour and was cold. Not warm but cold.
We had to send it back, but paid for it anyway.
The manager was pretty rude when he was made aware of it.
Naaaasty.
I think this $ 10 deal is not appreciated by their workers. Maybe this branch was sending us a message...you get what you pay for you cheapskates !!
Message received, loud and clear Papa
Where did all the Karahi/Indian Woks go?
There are some stores in Santa Clara on ElCamino Real, which have heavy bottom thick karahis. I do not like the stainless-steel ones but dig iron ( actually high carbon steel) which are usually black in color.Try Bharat Bazaar and New India Bazaar . If you need something for shallow frying / sauteing only, go for a deep , very heavy iron tava.
Where did all the Karahi/Indian Woks go?
Indian grocery stores have non-coated aluminum or steel karahis. I personally prefer brass with Ni plating . The best karahis ( & handis) I have are the ones I brought back from India.
Where are you located ?
Is this what we need ?
I hate wasting food.
http://wcbstv.com/seenon/food.waste.charge.2.882636.html
Yelpers making threats to get comped?
AAAHHHH Yelp
The gift that keeps on giving
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/7_on_your_side&id=6495030
Real Biryani in the Bay Area
Biryanis sold in the bay area are all "assembled" biryanis, so the rice has not infused but coated flavors.
OTOH yakhni biryanis are the bomb
http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/video/video.aspx?id=41956
enjoy
fun starts @ 4:35 mark
When to Censor Your Dinner Conversation?
I am reminded of something taught by my mom, looonnng time ago
If you want your discussion to stay between 2 ppl , make sure only 2 ppl can hear it
If someoe can hear your conversation, he/she is already a part of the conversation , whether you want it or not .
I do not go out for meals very much , due to my dietery restrictions. But lately with the political climate we are in , I am finding it increasingly difficult to have a quiet meal anywhere. And I always find that the loudest and most obnoxious ppl in any restaurant are the ones in whose opinion Americans are racists and bigots , and should learn how to live / eat /dress /talk from europeans .
Followed by ppl who think their kids have a right to ruin other ppl's meals
Anyway , the person who gave his opinion to you and your friend was not censoring anyone, he was just joining the conversation !
This waiter is the best
This is so cool, had to share
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeSQ5Rv7eH8&NR=1
Uh....."lamb balls".....honest.....!
Katakat ..the right sound effect for lamb eggs !!
Precooked Indian Entrees
If you like biryanis, checkout Kitchen of India brand's noornahal and other biryanis, you'll be amazed at the depth and autheticity of taste of mace and ginger. Their biryanis taste like biryanis. They use very superior quality rice which give their biryanis another dimension of flavor.
I also like their dal-bukhara ( you might need some lime juice and cilantro for garnish )
I know on good authority that their Chettinad chicken and methi chicken taste very non-commercial and yummy, are not overwhelmed by garam-masala , and do not smell like a bad agarbatti ( incense-stick)
I dream of Rangoli Sweets
here are the links
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Milan Sweet Center
296 S Abel St, Milpitas, CA
New India Chaat Cafe
454 S Main St, Milpitas, CA 95035
I dream of Rangoli Sweets
Bengali sweets like rasmalai, rosogulla and chamcham are made of "chaina" aka paneer. Gulabjamuns are made of mawa.
If you are looking for chaat , which tastes like the chaat @ Rasraj or Surati farsan, try Milan in Milpitas . All these have a gujarati twist to their chaat, very sweet, not spicy and lacking in salt. If you like khandvi, Milan is the place .
For a good punjabi-style chaat, try New India chaat cafe, also in Milpitas.
I dream of Rangoli Sweets
Have you tried Spice Hut for south-indian food?
As for sweets, there are a few sweet-makers like rangoli, raja sweets, passage to india , etc which supply to sweet-shops all over the bay-area, even upto sacramento. That is the reason sweets have a similar taste , and also taste stale at all the places that sell them. There are very few sweetshops that make good quality sweets for their limited consumption.
My personal fav for fresh sweets is in berkeley
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Spice Hut
594 E El Camino Real, Sunnyvale, CA 94087
India Chaat & Sweets Indian
824 University Ave, Berkeley, CA 94710
Alton almost as silly as Paula
here it is
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJTNdIQqmTQ
Alton almost as silly as Paula
There is this new commercial for BBQ bacon sirlion burger by Jack in the Box, in which Jack argues with the "producer" /director about cliche and stereotypes. The accents of all the speaking faces and a10 gallon hat are the highlights of the piece. I think it explains the thought process of Paula Deen's producers too, very subtly but truthfully.
Re : I respect Paula's success story, I just would like to know what her producer is thinking.
Sodium Levels in Indian Food
Exactly my point. We don't use sugar in "curries" at home, but restaurants do.
Food for 36-hour train trip
Does she like ice-tea? Freeze some citrus and ginger flavored tea with honey in sports- top bottles. Here are some more things you can pack as per her tastes:
A few cans of tomato juice, salt-free/ low salt popcorn popped at home (in olive oil) in a ziploc bag, pringles , salted roasted nuts (almonds, cashews, peanuts, macademianuts even peas, edemame). her favorite goldfish crackers, pretzels, and lots of water. She shouldn't feel dehydrated or have a dry mouth, it is a very scary feeling if one is far away from home and family.
Sodium Levels in Indian Food
Do you have any restrictions for sugar intake?
Indian restaurant food ( of all ethnicities) is always "balanced" with sugar. Some resto owners admit it , some deny it but almost everyone does it to their curries ( tomato , coconut cream or onion based), sambhar, all gujarati dishes, chaat, snacks, and even naans .Even the curry sauces sold in bottles and pouches have sugar .
Chiles' Negative Effects on Memory?
I agree maria , news stories do oversimplify statistical analysis of scientific data with their own spin. Remember a few weeks ago everybody in the media and even CH was going gaga over a report that watermelon rind had viagra-like properties? That story didn't stand up either, once it was examined based on its own data!
Chiles' Negative Effects on Memory?
I love chillies, peppers, and and and...what were you sayin?
Oh Nooooo Not Julia
Does this make any sense
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080813/ap_on_go_ot/spies_revealed
San Jose Flea Market
I have had modelo and some other mexican beers at the stands, but sometimes they run out on weekends. The carts buzzing around with miller are always reliable , and will not mind giving you one serving of beer in 2 glasses, so it is easy to tail with juices.
Frutas y Verduras @ SJFM's Produce Row
I find Eduardo's round vanilla flavored breads ($ 1 each) very efficient soakers of Bailey's irish cream, which is how I evaluate breads for chowing with black coffee!
As for cherries and grapes , they went down to 99 cents a pound this sunday evening. Same quality though
I saw the lovely pics of eggplants @ Rolands produce. They also carry little tomatoes, which are very very tart, with a thin skin and more juice than pulp. These tomatoes pair very well with various salts ( grey, pink, black, etc) for a simple bomb salad.
Since both beer and juices are available , I have tried various combos, a new one everytime i go there , like beer with hibiscus, beer with coconut juice, beer with orange and limon juice with sliced jalapeno ( they will do that if you provide the peppers) , beer with pineapple juice and chunks of pineapple, beer with strawberry juice ...you get the idea
It is fun out there
ideas for 'doctoring' peanut-butter
Here is how I make my own PB
1/2 cup roasted peanuts
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon cilantro
1 big or 2 medium clove(s) of garlic
1 seeded Thai chilli
sea salt and cracked black pepper to taste
In the magic bullet for creamy results
Frutas y Verduras @ SJFM's Produce Row
Did you checkout the breads ? There are a couple of vendors on weekends
And how cheap are the fruits..specially after 3 PM on Sunday
