This House Serves Authentic, Affordable Asian fare

 

 

Never judge a book by its cover. This saying couldn’t hold more true when it comes to Hotel  Mirador. A Four star Hotel in Chakala, Andheri East, yet it offers some of the best food in the city.  Tangerine the previous restaurant has now given way to a Pan-Asian speciality restaurant, ‘House of Asia’.

 

The bright and vibrant ambience gives a good-feel immediately as you enter this cosy eatery.  The spread is an exercise in choices. Delicacies from all parts of South East Asia and more are on offer.

 

The chicken and fish tepanyaki made on the “teppan” or iron plate, we tried were delightful. Each flavour was distinct and wowed our taste buds. I have never enjoyed vegetarian dim sums more. The filling was delectable as was the translucent covering with potato starch.

 

The Thai red curry that I sampled here with streamed rice is easily one of the best and most authentic. The freshly ground paste replete with galangal, basil, kaffir leaves and other spices was a treat for the taste buds. Equally unique was the terriyaki fried rice with veggies. Authentic flavours, aromas and textures make a meal at this restaurant memorable.

 

Other signature dishes like the Tom Yum Goong ,  Thai Crispy Chicken with Basil, Steamed Chicken Rice in Lotus Leaf are again a must-try.

 

House of Asia takes you on a gastronomic tour of the East with recipes spanning across various countries  (China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Mongolia, Singapore, Vietnam and India). The warm and affable Executive Chef Ajay Dewali, patiently explains each dish and makes recommendations which make your meal even more enjoyable. The F&B Manager Krishna Rao, well versed with food,  is a storehouse of knowledge.

 

Chef Dewali and Chef Vilas Shetkar, Sous Chef, who have trained exclusively in Chiang Mai, Thailand under Master-Chef Sompon in ChiangMaiThaiCookerySchool, one of the best culinary schools of Thailand have together created culinary magic.

 

It is a treat to watch the chefs at the live stations dishing out exotic fare in minutes.  The focus is on quality and wholesome ingredients and that is evident in the taste of the dishes.

 

An absolute value for money meal of the highest quality, with myriad flavours and textures,  is what you can safely look forward to at ‘House of Asia.’ If only it was next to my house, I’d go there everyday. If you enjoy Oriental food, do not miss this place.

 

 

Fun-filled Pan Asian culinary journey

Pan Asian cuisine is one of my favourites and when you add fun to it,  that makes the experience even more memorable. Mamagoto the Delhi chain which has recently opened an outlet on Hill Road Bandra, is therefore the first-choice of many when it comes to Pan Asian food.

The funky, young décor lends a vibrant air to the place and makes it more cool and easy to be in. Quick service is indeed the buzzword at this restaurant. The wasabi mary and kiwi + mint Collins proved to be the perfect start. The wasabi mary ignited my taste buds and I was ready for the meal. The Beijing sea food soup was a treat with generous helpings of fresh sea food in it. The Honey chicken which we ordered from the small bites section was the perfect match. The sauce was interesting and tingled our palates sufficiently.

Jayanti Duggal – the lady behind the signature Asian flavours, who is Director if Kitchens, is obviously a culinary wizard. Her menu is delightful and Chef Ganesh and the team does justice to it. Of Indonesian origin, Jayanti is armed with extensive experience. The chefs at Mamagoto have been trained at Roka, Hong Kong giving them a hands-on feel of the natural energy of the Japanese Robata Grill and blend of contemporary Asian flavors.

If Mamagoto means  “Play with food”, then the owners, Rahul Khanna and Kabir Suri have got it right. For the chefs really play with the food – the textures, flavours and presentation, retaining the authenticity and yet giving it a creative twist.

The Coal Fired Robata Grill greets you with the delights of Eggplant with Mirin Marinade and Sanasho Pepper or Pork Spare Ribs or a beautiful Grilled Fish with South East Asian dressing.

The Chicken Teriyaki meal for main course, was a perfect suggestion and the sticky rice complimented the chicken perfectly. The Mamagoto Street Vendor’s Panang Curry Bowl too sounded exciting, but I have saved it for my next visit. The flavours of each dish are distinct, yet different.

Rounding off that delicious meal with Caramel Sponge Cake with Toffee Sauce seemed apt.

Mamagoto brings to you a new concept, one of authentic, affordable Asian food while retaining a global flavor and cosmopolitan appeal. The staff and service is impeccable too, but perhaps they need to develop a greater eye for detail.

A culinary experience I truly relished. Mumbai could do with more Mamagato outlets.