Indian diversity, imagination

Eating was an experience which never disappointed and I was amazed at the variety of vegetables in the markets and on the tables.  Different shaped gourds abounded, from small round ones to elongated loofah shapes and long thin ones with rugged ridges looking completely poisonous but tasting delicious. Many different kinds of leaves too – from the gourd plants        themselves (many homes had a gourd plant rambling wildly over trellises) to different types of spinach and many wild leaves. Aubergines came in all sorts of sizes, shapes      and colours, from tiny green ones, through deadly looking orange to shiny purple ones both striped and plain!
A friend showed me how to cook small, stuffed aubergines and key to the rich flavour was using spices as a substantial ingredient rather than mere condiments. She made a garlic and ginger paste mixed with large quantities of turmeric, cumin, coriander and chillie powder – and used this to stuff the eggplants, and they were really stuffed, not just a sprinkling of spice. She then braised them till tender with tomatoes on a high heat in a pot with a tight fitting lid – and wow – it was a new taste for me and really delicious.
We also sampled a large variety of legumes and grains  – spicy and sweet for breakfast, puffed or fried as snacks – in tasty dhals and in different breads expecially rotis – the ubiquitous non-leavened flat breads which accompany almost every meal to wipe up the last lovely juices.
Local Indian restaurants don’t offer as much variety and imagination and tend to be more meat     dominated, but we found a taste of India at the Delhi Palace on Friday night. It was busy. Booking through Eatout (www.eatout.co.zw) is a really useful service and precludes having to hunt for out of date phone numbers in ancient phone books. So we could travel through the dark hills, and traverse the bumps and potholes of Rolf Valley with confidence.
Service was quick and efficient and the ambience warm with Indian music and friendly waiters in embroidered waistcoasts. We opted for beer rather than wine – though Graca was available for a reasonable US$10 – and more substantial reds for US$16 per bottle. Crispy poppadums arrived almost as we sat down served with a very interesting dip.  Made with crunchy peanut butter and pickling spices it packed quite a punch and went very well with cold beer.
Prices are hefty – mains on average well over US$20. The menu         is not huge featuring a few good dishes each of chicken, lamb, beef and fish and the tlali as vegetarian option. We both opted for chicken – myself the murghi karahi (US$23) and my husband the special of the night – buttered chicken curry.  (US$25)
Prices include rice and rotis and the dishes are served sizzling hot in mini woks or cast iron three legged pots. Portions are large and our two dishes could probably have served three. Dish of the day was nicely spiced tender chicken breasts while the chicken karahi was served on the bone in a masala sauce hot with chillies. Dhal and cucumber raita (both US$5) were optional accompaniments.
It was a delicious meal in a welcoming atmosphere but at US$66 for two (no dessert, no starters) will probably save it for a special outing.
– g.jeke@yahoo.com