India’s Gone Crackers
Hi guys 😀 How’s your morning going?? Mine is bueno.. it’s a dreary morning in Valdizzy so puppy walking going to wait until this afternoon.
Last night, the pilot and I went on a Wednesday night Indian Food date when we got off work.
He got the buffet and I thought I’d try something new, since I got beloved Baigan Bhartha last week. I ordered the Gobi Manchurian as an appetizer for us and the Dal Makni as my meal.
Since the restaurant has new owners, the menu is pretty much the same but the food is very different. Before ordering, I asked the server if the Gobi was baked or fried and she told me it was baked with no sauce, just like plain veggies. It sounded lovely.
Under the old ownership, the Gobi Manchurian was a crunchy cauliflower in a spicy sauce.
Under the new ownership, it was a dish full of brown deep-fried, heavily breaded spheres, covered in gravy. I wish I would have taken a pic for you guys. She looked at me and said, “Oh. This is different than I thought it was. Do you still want it??” and I said no thanks and just waited for my meal. They still charged us for it.
While I was waiting, the pilot made me a little plate from the buffet with the veg dishes, channa masala and a GLORIOUS carrot concoction.
The channa was ok, but I need to find out what that carrot dish is. Anyone??
I had to take a pic of the pilot’s seond plate…
I was like, “Look, it’s India’s Gone Crackers”. He didn’t find it as amusing I did 🙂
My meal came, and it was spicy, but just ok.
I loved the little fresh salad they served it with:
Honestly, I don’t know when we’ll be going back. The food just isn’t nearly as good as it used to be, it’s much greasier, and the new owners don’t speak English hardly at all. This wouldn’t be a problem but when you have questions about the food or want to talk to them, they don’t understand. The old owner was so friendly and always wanted to make us something we would love. For example, some nights the pilot would just say, “Hey Sam, would you please do some kind of salmon?” and he would make something incredible. The new guys wouldn’t understand us if we asked for something fun or different…and they also don’t seem to care, which is also a bummer.
Maybe next week I’ll cook Indian food instead???
We shall see 🙂
This morning, all I wanted was Kristen’s Chocolate Cherry Bomb shake.
This is the shake dreams are made of.
Today’s mix:
-1/2 frozen banana
-2 C fresh almond milk
-1 scoop vanilla Sun Warrior
-2 T raw cacao powder
-1 C organic frozen cherries
-vanilla
-1 T hempseeds
-1 T goji berries (for an energy boost)
-1/2 T maca
Ahhhhhmazing.
Well I’m off to train a client and then do some pilates and ab work. Even though I’m banned from cardio, I’ve still managed to get in some awesome workouts this week.
Have a wonderful day!
Gina
Something to talk about: What was your last epic fail of a restaurant experience like?? I’ll never forget the blackened hairy shrimp *shudders*
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I love Indian food. We had it twice last week. Mm…we may need to have it again.
Disspointing about the fried bits and gravy, but you don’t know until you try I guess.
What a bummer about your Indian food place! It never fails whenever we go out to eat and I decided to branch out from my usual, the meal is never good! My hubby on the other hand always picks out something amazing. I think I should just let him order for me from now on 😉 haha
That’s disappointing! And it’s not really that cool, considering how much you loved it before. Maybe it is the right time to start trying out some Indian… 🙂
what a bummer about your Indian restaurant! I think you will whip up an amazing Indian meal on your own though. Cant wait to read about it. Worst restaurant experience was at a Thai place with my guy, and despite being one of only a few tables in the entire restaurant, the service was terrible. they were so slow about refilling our water glasses which really was annoying since we were eating spicy food!
I am going to my first ever Zumba class with a co-worker tonight and am so excited!
I think you need to start cooking the Indian food yourself – yes!! I have never eaten it. I did go to a Mexican restaurant that I loved and there was a huge black hair in my enchilada. Barf!
India’s gone crackers..bahaha love that:)
So sorry the ownership changed and thusly the food changed 🙁 So sad!
I’m sorry it didn’t work out, especially when you really look forward to it! Making your own would be fun to read about!
That’s too bad about the meal!
Time for a restaurant change?
Baigan bhartha is actually really easy to make at home!
Awww total bummer that the new owners aren’t as good as the old! It stinks when you get comfortable with restaurant owners and they know what you like, and then poof they’re gone. I hate when that happens!
Such a bummer when a restaurant changes hands and isn’t as good! Epic Fail: This past weekend the sweetie and I were in Atlanta so I could run the ING half marathon. The night before the race we went to Legal Seafood, which was right in our hotel. I don’t eat meat or seafood, but he loves it and I knew I’d find something vegetarian, which I did. I ordered a Greek Salad with a side of mashed potatoes (mmmmm….carbs) and the salad was a HUGE mistake. It was almost 9 bucks and just looked…small and old. And it was super light on the toppings. The lettuce looked like the edges were browning…yuck. And the mashed potatoes were good, but 4 bucks! The boy loved his meal, thank goodness. I’m sure Legal Seafood is normally really good, especially for seafood lovers 🙂
Sorry it didn’t work out. Is there any other Indian restaurant you can try? Was the carrot dish sweet or salty? If its sweet its probably “gajar ka halwa” which is basically a carrot (gajar) pudding (halwa).
Was the carrot dish sweet? Then it is a simple (halwa) to make!
Boo to the Indian restaurant! TBH, it’s hard to go for Indian here [in the UK] and stay healthy because the food is ALL meat [unless you get chickpeas, which I do] and very, very greasy and drenched in butter. The sauces are all so heavy and the poppadoms always shine with oil. I just always know it will be one of those meals that makes me gain 1-2 pounds of bloat. It’s DELICIOUS, don’t get me wrong, but it’s just… very, very caloric, and they don’t do wholewheat options.
I found a hair in a cookie once – BAKED INTO THE COOKIE. Had to put that into capitals because omg, the HORROR. I always threw up, have to say.
PS: Have you ever tried Patak’s Indian pastes? They are just a mixture of spices and vegetable oil and they are really divine. They sell them here and Canada, so I can’t imagine the US wouldn’t have them. They really capture the wonderful spice of Indian food – plus, look up some of Jamie Oliver’s Indian food recipes. They are easily customisable to make them healthier and they’re really super delish!
Bummer!! Is that the only Indian restaurant in Valdizzy?? I hope you didn’t still pay for the Gobi even though they charged you–absurd!!
yes we still had to pay! i tried to tell them that it was wrong and we didn’t eat it.. and they didn’t understand me
no way!…i would not go back there again!…that’s so wrong!
Boo that’s disappointing. I hate when places change ownership and everything goes downhill.
Hard to guess from the picture, but if your carrot dish was sweet, a little creamy, and had raisins or nuts, it’s actually a dessert: Carrot Halwa (http://www.iloveindia.com/nutrition/recipes/desserts/carrot-halwa.html). If not…I’ll try again – I’m good at this game 🙂
my favorite salad at my favorite peruvian place with a GIANT HAIR IN IT. After finding out my boyfriend’s passport was expired and he would be joining my family on vacation 3 days late. So much for making it up to me!!!
S
I’m sorry your Indian food experience wasn’t up to par! It’s SO hard to find good Indian food! My husband and I always have to try a lot of restaurants before we find one we are happy with (and we’re lucky because LA has a lot more options!)
Cooking it yourself sounds like an awesome challenge! I’m overwhelmed by all the spices I don’t recognize!! Good luck! 😀
I have SO many IHOP meal failures, it’s not even funny, I’ve been to IHOPs ALL over the country (my family loves it), and NOT even kidding, of the 10 times I’ve been there, 8 of them I had hair in my food. Doesn’t sound possible, but I swear! So I have changed IHOP from “International House of Pancakes” to “Icky Hair On Plate”!
Yuck on the new Indian place; disappointing. When we were in NewYork last month my sister had a beautful neon beatle bug crawling in her spinach salad @ Aspen Social Club. It was fresh right?
oh, what a bummer! i know how much you loved it there…but out of adversity comes great homemade Indian food (that’s how the saying goes, right? :)) can’t wait to read your post after 4… 😉
How disappointing! It’s so sad when a once beloved restaurant changes for the bad. Maybe this will give you the opportunity to really improve your Indian cooking skills and try out some new things!
It’s a dessert called Gajar ka halwa! I am not a fan of Indian desserts, but the rice pudding they put out in most restaurants is the best thing!!
You should try making recipes from showmethecurry.com. They have awesome recipes, and they make/post youtube videos for each recipe. They tend to be pretty healthy as well. Enjoy!
awesome, thanks!
I’ve only been to an Indian restaurant once, and it was the worst! It made me never want to go back, but then you talk so highly about it. Maybe I’ll have to find a good Indian restaurant around me. I made a chocolate cherry bomb yesterday, and it was out of this world! I love this smoothie!
That is such a bummer about the Indian food! We spent a lot of time finding a good Indian place (harder than it seems) and now we are VERY loyal haha
I dread it when restaurants change hands. It’s rarely a good thing. The past two places I’ve lived, our favorite restaurant shut down. They didn’t reopen, so no epic fails there, but I’m starting to wonder if we’re cursed. Just for that, we’re not making any restaurant around here “our place.”
boo on the sub-par Indian experience.
Speaking of which, I am going back soon and need another sista-inspired meal. Had the Bartha and big pink puffy heart’ed it. What should I try next?!
either do the channa masala (chickpeas) or the dal mahkni (lentils)
You should totally start making raw Indian food!!
You may like a few recipes from here – http://roshis.com/
Also, the carrot dish is real simple to make. Simmer grated carrots with milk, sugar and crushed cardamom seeds untill it reaches a pudding consistency. You can then add various toppings if you like.
Awww that stinks about the Indian food let down. My worst restaurant experience was a steak that I kept having to send back… I think almost 3 times. By the last time they brought it out I just have up and ate it.
Definitely try cooking your own! That sounds like a not-so-good Indian restaurant, which is too bad because you were so excited about it re-opening! Whenever restaurants change ownership, it’s never as good as it used to be. I love channa masala also!
I once ordered a piece of cheesecake (oh, another life) and it had a hair on it. A long one. They apologized and said they’d take it off my bill, but did I want another piece? I hesitantly said ‘yes’ – because what’s the chances that this piece would have it too. Well, you guessed it… Ew.
that happened to me with omelets once! the first one had a hair…and so did the second one. let’s just say i wasn’t hungry anymore after that
haha I thought the “Indias Gone Crackers” was funny 🙂
I would love to get some ideas for home cooked Indian food. Maybe even some raw recipes??
Urgh I have a whole list of restaurant experiences that were sub-par to say the least! The worst, I think, is when someone isn’t willing to make any substitutions or let me order something that isn’t on the menu. I am pretty easy to accommodate but I can tell you it’s happened more than once that I’ve walked into a place, asked if there are any vegan options and just been told, “NO!”
that’s awful about your beloved restaurant! i’m sorry. 🙁
most recent restaurant fail: i ordered a beet, arugula, goat cheese, and candied walnut salad. they brought it out and they were out of beets, goat cheese and walnuts. so they substituted carrots, cheddar and pine nuts. Um, not even the same salad folks! I wouldn’t have ordered that salad!
hahah what?!? that’s hilarious
Boo for a disappointing dinner. It’s such a bummer when you find something you love and then it changes.
It’s such a bummer when you favorite restaurant goes under new ownership and then sucks. It always breaks my heart!
Thats such a bummer! I am so surprised they still made you pay for that dish?! It wasnt how it was described & you didnt eat it!
I think the carrot dish you what was gajar halwa…I agree it’s delicious 🙂
And you should definitely try making your own Indian food- you just need quite the spice cabinet ;). Have you ever tried South Indian food? It’s mostly vegetarian- different tastes than North Indian food- but DELICIOUS- lots more coconut milk/mustard seeds- I recommend Dosas (sort of like pancakes) with coconut chutney/other chutneys and Sambar (a South Indian vegetable lentil soup).
That’s too bad!!!! I hate it when things like that happen. My last epic fail was a salad that I got from a local restaurant that is usually good. It was supposed to be field greens, tomatoes, artichoke hearts, green onions, all topped with a salmon fillet. Reality – wilted brown lettuce with a few bites of tomatoes and canned, oily artichoke hearts. The salmon part was ok though.
Sorry to hear about the Indian fail 🙁 I know you have a copy of Eat, Drink and Be Vegan…there’s an awesome recipe for Eggplant Chana Masala in there! I’ve been hooked on Baigan Bhartha since reading your blog too, and I have to say the ED&BV version is a surprisingly tasty alternative!!
whoa, how did i miss that recipe?!?
I hope you either made a stink about them charging your for that plate or never go back to that restaurant. Charging a customer for the restaurant’s mistake is absurd and wrong. I would never waste my time there again.
i tried to make a stink but they didn’t understand me!!!! gah
I’m so sorry you had such a crummy time! It’s hard to go to the same place under new ownership– you feel like you’re in a bad dream. The scenery is the same, the plates look the same, the sign is the same…where is the SAME food?!
I don’t really have an epic fail restaurant experience to share, just a funny one: we went to a chain restaurant and I made some “improvements” to my meal (I cut out the lemon butter sauce and ordered double veggies instead of mashed potatoes). I was pleasantly surprised when it came out right, but the server said, “wow, look at that. I wish I could eat that healthy all the time.”
Um, dude, you CAN. There’s no VIP pass for broccoli.
Made me chuckle.
Years ago when I was not too smart I went to Sizzlers. The waiter was bringing me RED shrimp cocktail sauce. As he was reaching over everything to put it in front of me it slide off the plate and landed all over the front of me. He immediately took his towel to wipe me off. Once he realized he almost touched me in that area, he panicked and ran and got the manager. The look on that kids face is forever in my brain. Afterwords it was kind of funny.
hahaha now it’s funny! but i’m sure it was NOT funny at the time
I hate it when Indian food goes bad! It’s such a shame! I remember I had such a craving for my favourite ALL VEGGIE Indian restaurant and my boyfriend and I went down to it and it had CLOSED!!! I almost cried. Haven’t been able to find one like it since. 🙁
Epic Fail: Two years ago I went on a date with a guy (obviously pre-awesome current boyfriend) who thought it would be “cool” and “memorable” to take me to a fish and chip place for our first date (knowing I was a vegetarian). He took me to this total hole-in-the-wall where I wouldn’t take my worse enemy and there were only two things I could eat on the menu: salad and fries and I was told they were OUT of salad!!!!! How can you be out of salad when there’s a grocery store across the street?!?! Anyway, I ended up eating half a plate of the world’s worst fries. The date ended after I found out that he lied about where he lived and worked and he didn’t understand why I was upset. So epic fail of a restaurant and epic fail of a date!
wow! what a disaster
I’m so bummed for you! But I also have no doubt that you could make some mighty fine Indian food at home. And I’ll be right here to copy you 🙂
Gaah, that is so sad when you have a GREAT restaurant (especially if you know the owners or a waitstaff really well), and it changes… we had a favorite restaurant here in Portland, OR, and we went almost every weekend for breakfast or lunch… a great place that supports sustainable & local farms / produce, super yummy menus that were always changing. we went in for breakfast one Saturday, and self-served our coffee. waited & waited. another table of 4 was seated 5 or so minutes after us, and our order was taken. another couple was then seated near us. waiting, waiting… the 4 top was served their food. we were still waiting… I said “if the couple gets their food next, lets go!!”… they did, and we did. 🙁 I am *mostly* vegan, and had ordered something animal, so I kept telling myself the universe really wanted me to be vegan that day! 🙂
If you go for the cook it yourself option, the BEST Indian cookbook in the world is Yamuna Devi’s Art of Vegetarian Indian Cooking. Not a single bad recipe in there!
Oh no!!! I hate it when a restaurant that you loved goes downhill…sounds like homemade Indian food is definitely in order 🙂
So sad the Indian restaurant was not good! The carrot dish is a dessert called gajar ka halwa. It is made with carrot, milk and sugar. It is great when had with a dollop of icecream along with it.
that sounds evil and delicious