Indian Food Platter from No Reservations?

ANTVGM64

So this is sort of a stretch but I'm having Indian food for the first time tonight, and I'm trying to order a specific dish I saw on an episode of Anthony Bourdain. It was like a big ole platter of I think vegtables with a variety of delightful what appeared to be dipping sauces.

I so want that. is this something that's common in Indian Food?

Druhim

You're being incredibly vague. Were the veggies raw? Pureed? Steamed? Fried?

Lacking any context beyond, "it was indian food and it was I think veggies and dipping sauces", I'd recommend you google "no reservations india" and try to get more details about what they ate on that episode. There's also the very likely possibility that you won't be able to order what they were eating since Indian restaurants in the west are tailored to western tastes and also tend to focus on a few specific dishes from a specific region. India's a big country, and most Indian style restaurants in the west (the states or the UK where I presume you live) focus on a very limited representation of the cuisine of just a few regions.

Fallingman

Yeah, that could be all sorts of things unfortunately. It also depends on what kind of indian food you're going to.
I'm not trying to be obtuse, it's just that "Indian" covers a really huge and diverse range of cultures/diets. It's a little like saying "white".

Having said that, check the entrees, they usually have some king of finger foods that come with various dipping sauces - and then you may want to check the back of the menu, as often you can find sauces as "extras", such as "raita" etc.

CrossBuster

Yeah, India covers a very large area, and has over a billion people. The food in India varies widely from region to region, just like in any other country that covers a large area.

Hell, Bourdain has made episodes of No Reservations about, like, 5 different regions in India. You're going to need to seriously narrow it down.

That said, I love most Indian food. If you're going to a decent Indian restaurant, just about anything you can order will be delicious, in my opinion.

bsjezz

was it a thali?

ANTVGM64

It is that!

Thanks!

Sheep

Chances are if they don't have that specifically, they'll have something very similar. Also, depending on whether or not the restaurant sticks to a specific style or not, you may be surprised at what you find on the menu compared to what you would assume.

The thali at my local place was basically two dishes I picked served with a chickpea and lentil salad, naan, and a dessert.

I usually picked the Lamb Saag/Kadai and the good old standby of butter chicken. Next time I go I'm probably gonna get their tandoori fish. Absolutely brilliant.

Usually if "tandoori" is in front of a dish then, in my experience, it tends to come without any curry. Usually they'll be called masala (mixture of spices), saag (heavy on spinach), kadai, etc.

But different places serve differently.

Hell, Bourdain has made episodes of No Reservations about, like, 5 different regions in India. You're going to need to seriously narrow it down.

Ever see the Sri Lankan episode? Man that place looks rough. Tons of heat and spicey food.

Reminds me of the American South!

Druhim

well, even tali is a very broad type of dish that can include a wide range of dishes depending on the region

it's like saying you saw someone eating tapas and you wanted to order what they had, but all you could remember is that they were having tapas

bsjezz

the difference being you can't actually order a 'tapas', wheras thali features on the menu of many many indian restaurants

edit: sure, it'll always be a bit different, depending on the region, etc, but as an introduction to indian food i can't see how it could possibly be a bad idea

Druhim

yeah, since he doesn't really have experience with indian food a tali is a good idea to expose himself to a range of flavors

Sheep

Druhim wrote: »

well, even tali is a very broad type of dish that can include a wide range of dishes depending on the region

it's like saying you saw someone eating tapas and you wanted to order what they had, but all you could remember is that they were having tapas

Basically what I'm saying is that at the restaurants I've been to, the thali is something you order and you choose what you want on the dish.

I guess what you guys have had is similar to a pu pu platter. Order one and get a bunch of good stuff.

Which is what I do at Arabic places. Screw the rice and salad. Send me the appetizer platter with the falafel, tabouleh, baba ganouj, hummus, and kibbeh please!




OP, if you get in a jam, just go to your server and tell him that you want an order of what they think is their best dish and you'll be treated right.

Sheep

Also, unless Op has something against lentils, I'd highly recommend a green lentil dal.

Mmmmmm.

ANTVGM64

It was so good. I don't know what half of it was, but it was so good.

InHuman

Best midnight snack?

Somosas covered in plain yogurt (homemade) and chutney.