Saturday 23 November 2013

Kebabs and Kurries...best lamb biryani in Mumbai

I am Bohri Muslim, that should say it all about how i cherish and understand what is a good Lamb Biryani. Having grown up in the queen of suburbs Bandra of Mumbai and attended several functions where biryani was served. I am aware of the details that make for a good biryani. Why did i include Bandra is because it represents the famous 'Hotel Lucky Biryani', then there are small places like Jeff etc which churn out decent briyani's.
All said and done i have been brought up on eating biryani's be it with plain rice or the colored one. Over the years Mumbaikars have started appreciating chicken biryani for various reasons--cost effective, easy to cook, ease of availability.
My quest for good lamb biryani took me to the most talked about place, Kebab's & Kurries---in short KK. This is a restaurant housed inside the ITC Central-Parel a five star, in Central Mumbai. Online they boast of cooking in Brass handi's and on charcoal fire etc. The description made me curious to visit the place. So me and my partner headed to KK on November 17, it was my birthday. I had one thing in mind either i will spoil the evening or make it.

As soon as we entered we made it clear to the attendant Mr Gupta that we are here to have the lamb biryani. He was very pleased about it and said that is one of our specialities, though everything on a limited menus is good this is one of our signature dishes. So we said bring it on.
To start the rendezvous we ordered Chicken Angara, large chunk of chicken pieces marinated and cooked in a tan door and dipped in Pure Ghee and Butter. The plate has six large pieces and we could eat only four. Pheww it was heavy. I HAD SKIPPED LUNCH THAT AFTERNOON.
Then came the Lamb Dum Biryani, in a ceramic bowl with dough all around the rim to ensure the freshness does not fizzle out. For the detailing part---It is basmati rice with very few masalas added, good quantity of lamb, no dry fruits or spices likes elaichi, clove added separately. But the taste of all the flavours is evident in the food. The lamb has bone marrow pieces...Big thumbs up. No potato pieces as is put in Bohri, Bengali and Lucknow style of biryani making. But the richness of the biryani is clearly seen when you realise that your fingers are laced with Pure Ghee. The quantity is sufficient for two persons. It is served with raita which i don't think you should take.
Since it was my birthday we had a complimentary cake as dessert but if it is not yours then go for the Shahi Tukda or the Firni. If your eating like a Nawab then dessert cannot be a sizzling hot brownie.
Well coming to Indian standards the price is on the upper side but if your a food connoisseur then you wont mind. Or else its like the Maruti add..Kitna Deti hai..
As for the ambiance well all star hotels have some what similar ambiance and decors. As for me at some places the food makes the ambiance irrelevant. Service at KK should match up to Taj standards they are a bit weak on personalization with the guest.

PS: Chicken Biryani is rice with a leg piece and cannot be called Biryani.

2 comments:

ppp said...

slurrrp. dil maange more. :P

Mustafa said...

we shall go again soon