Tigers Experience of Punjab Grill - Select City , Saket

A Lite Bites Venture

Punjab Grill - Select city Mall - Saket 

Was invited to taste the Punjab Grill Winter Menu by Sonali & Rohit and was pleasantly surprised at the whole experience . 

The True Punjabi Meal Below ... Keep drooling 

If I May Call it an afternoon with "Punjabi Classics "

Mutton Ka Achaar

Mutton Achhar - very fond memories of a small village on the Kalka Simla Highway called 'Dhali ' only known for meat pickles of all kinds - i remember we used to drive up from Chandigarh to drink up and eat mutton achhar with bread  - Punjab grill has made a better version of the same , amazing flavors , masalas and the mutton is beautifully cured .The mutton gets a bit hard so don't fret , thats the way its supposed to be .

Gobhi Gajjer Shalgam ka Achaar

Gobhi Shalgam ka Achhar is a family thing for us - every winter religiously it was put before my mother passed away . It was a ceremony - One day to buy the veggies , next day boil and kept out in the sun , third day the masala was cooked - kitchen locked ,not even a shadow was allowed to reach the pickle, all women with periods to stay very far , helpers todl to bathe and enter kitchen - mother would sit in the centre of the kitchen on a mooda with all the ingredients for the famous achaar... she would mix each lot with so much love ... in Punjabi we call the earthern containers 'Peepa's"  all would be filled and taken straight tot he sun to cook and mature . The whole family used to wait for the bottle opening ceremony and jump to eat . Relatives would send their containers ,fights used to happen for sharing etc etc ... After ketchup it is the closest to my heart . Gurpreet has managed to reach the flavors definitely ,was abit sweet but the basic flavors of the Gobhi Shalgam achar was spot on .

They are retailing both these pickles at there outlets .

Kaali Gajjar Kaanji with Aloo Bonda

Kaanji

Kaanji : Yet another Winter special with Kaali Gajjar - We used to only have it in the winters but one of my friends mentioned that they had it during Holi - could be . have also heard of Kanji Vadas == vada soaked in Kaanji... like the gobhi shalgam achar this too was made wiht a lot of love - stored in earthen containers and made to rest in the sun for a couple of days and then attacked . Lovely sour mustardy flavor - this is a perfect digestive . The Punjab Grill Kaanji was perfectly cured , made to perfection by Gurpreet .Served with a aloo bonda  resting on beet root sticks from the kaanji . The art of kaanji is to get the perfect kaali gajjar not easily available . I was a bit scared to try it ,have heard crazy side affects of it like loose tumy etc but was brave enuf to plunge into it . Well worth it .

Shakarkandi Kamrakh Ki Chaat

Shakarkandi Kee Chat :Reminded of School Days when the bhaiya used to come with his thela and sell this - how we used to die for it .... smoked shakarkandi woth imli water ... yum and spicy . Infact told gurpreet to make it a bit more spicy . The presentation was like foreign type hahahahaha.... covering dish , being lift and smoke flowing out wah wah what style aur nikla Shakarkhandi hahahahahaha .  Oh yes the start fruit - nice and khata and merging well with the sweet fruit which is apparently smoked in apple wood . What a lovely presentation . Topped with curleys sprinkled with red chilly powder

Kharode Ka Shorba

Kharode Ka Shorba: Anything to do with bone injuries we were told to have Kharode Ka Soup - also known as paaya  - mutton leg or hoofs pure Medicinal soup.  Loved it - sticky, thick you can actually see the nutritious value in it - Punjab Grill serves it with Burnt onions and two  miniature Cheese naans to break the healthy part of the soup Lol ... Definitely not a soup to be made in a hurry - the bones have to extract their juices , their strength if i may say for us to enjoy - probably cooked on slow fire for a bit . 

Tabak Maaz with Mooli Akrot Ka Raita or chutney 

Tabak Maaz: A part of a typical Kashmiri Wazwan - Tabak Maaz - is twice-cooked lamb ribs, initially braised with ground spices and milk, then browned in butter - the ribs of the Goat served with amazing mooli and Walnut chutney . The mutton is cooked with the fat to make it juicy .. the one at Punjab grill was sticky and it just fell apart .. some of the smaller bones are chewable ... yum dish for hard core meat lovers and yes its a very winter dish to be had garam garam .

Methi Chicken Tikka

Methi Chicken Tikka : hmmmmmm huge pieces of chicken , difficult to cook for sure marinated in FRESH Fenugreek / Methi thats what made the difference .. though after eating the mutton this tasted quite bland ....  loved the taste of fresh methi and a well cooked chicken . Tikka toh nahi tha looked more like a ful chicken hahahahaha requested Gurpreet to reduce the size for two reasons easy to eat and also it will absorb more flavors .. this was more on the lines of banno kebab.

Chukandar Ke Kebab

Beetroot ke kebab - when my mom gave us this we used to run away from it .. today my dear friend ms beetroot is a celebrity ... beautifully crusted with crumbs , shredded beetroot filled with yogurt added to the tinge of the veggy kebab. must have for the veggies ... or convert into no neg to enjoy the Meats like i did .. by the way i met a guy who says he is Professionally Non Veg and Veg at home .. i was like whats this now ???/

Bheja Masala

Bheja Masala : Or you can call it the non veg versio of a paneer kee bhurjee .... looks and taste the same hahahaha Gurpret dont kil me for this . Superbly done brain served with Kulcha layered with fresh malai .. trust me it made a difference . otherwise me and malai dont get along , very bravely i broke bread and ate the brain masala , man both ,melted . What i like in the brain masala was that it was not over dozed with tomatoes like every where else - the tawa guys  fill it up and make a mes of the main meat . Hardcore Punjabi's are mad about brain .... and now i know why .

Sarso Da Saag

Check out the hand pounder , very convinced that they actually make an effort to remain traditional. In punjabi we say ' Hath Na Kutaya hua"

Sarso Ka Saag - Oye Bale Bale - jo kuch bhee boloonga sach boolnga aur sach siway kuch nahi booolnga - basically saying i will speak the truth and nothing else LOL .... The most amazing Dish and the most authentic Sarso Ka Saag I have ever has in my life so far ... did not need anything to go with it - could have eaten two bowls of the same .. trust me my old inlaws inspite of having eaten a ful lunch atthe mall - ate two makki ki rotis and sarso ka saag because it was just delicious .. kudos Gurpreet - you have magic in your hands . And the killer point in this was that it was hand grounded and not pushed in a mixer ... slowly pounded to perfect ion with desi ghee . Punjab grill serves it with awesome white butter and masala gurh . The Masala gurh is heat in a small bite , one bite and u r warm as ever .
Makki ki roti is not the conventional phulka , has to be bound together with a lot of effort - the makki ka atta has to be almost sweet and nothing like fresh Makki ka atta from the hills , freshly grounded.

Punjab Grill  Deg 'Hot Pot'

Hot Pot - This is supposed to be the signature dish at Punjab Grill - Mutton Koftas and Nalli with Mutton Jus and winter veggies - the baby carrots so cute and sweet was a delight to bite into , the mutton being cooked in its own Jus was full of flavors , soft, succulent and super textures. They had shalagm and onions also in it - it was like the juice from a freshly made momo ... delicious . You know what i mean

Bahurangi Biryani

Bahurangi Biryani - meaning Colorful briyani. Something unusual for sure .. a Punjab Grill creation -  A vegetarian Biryani filled with almost all winter veggies .. very healthy option after eating like pig on all the non veg food  -Carrots, Shalgam (turnip)onions , beetroot etc - Dum Biryani - was happy to eat it , believe its one of largest selling dishes.

Winter Bread Basket

Winter Bread wow- Makki Di Roti, Bajre Ki Roti , Sheermal, Naans, Pasta roti (did i hear it wrong) lol im sure i did ....

Bajre Ke Choori

Bajre Kee Choori: As they say Grandma Style Pearl Millet roti & Jaggery crumble ,Lotus seeds and Chiroli Nuts ... so healthy wow . Im trying to figure out how to describe the taste ... hmmmmm  like panjeeri , warm crunchy in short totally Punjabi flavor ... grand mothers used to stock this for the winters .

Gurh Wale Chawal

Gurh Wale Chawal - Dil Se ...... totally Dil Se - this is Gurpreets favorite tooooo and Mine also . Had so many extra helpings of this one ... was just yum . Jaggery Sweetened Basmati rice Cooked with Black Cardamom and Fennel topped with roasted coconut chips . The family relished it and said was just like home . A very winter occasion based dish severed in several Punjabi celebrations but to get get it right is an art ... Punjab Grill You were spot on .recommend some grated gajjar to add to the colors and flavors . 

Gurpreet - Proudly serving his curated dishes himself 'Pyar Se'

Once Gurpreet saw my elderly In Laws he made a fab gesture of serving them himself - so humble of him . They loved him . And even while i was trying ot all the fab dishes he sat and discussed with me each dish its origin and ways to better the same . I think he enjoyed this nmore than i did  LOL.

Gurpreet the Chef behind the research and the creations 

Gurpreet - The Wizard .... from IHM Bhopal trained at Old World - been with Punjab Grill now for 3 years - he is the man behind all Research , Experimenting , finding traditional recipes , and curating art on plate . He is a friend of Manish Mehrotra and has worked with him also in Indian Accent . I called manish to congratulate him about Gurpreet , he turned around and told me that he himself has learnt a lot of stuff from Gurpreet , which speaks very high of Gurpreet for sure . He is backed by a sweet lil chef Satinder who is lovin working with gurpreet .

Deepak and Gurpreet the men behind the Scene

Deepak Manages the Operations for all Punjab Grills - he too is a chef who diversified lol , big foodie like me . And yes Sonali who's pic is not here , she is the one who called me over for the Winter menu - thank you sonali  one of the best meals i have had and so appropriate to winters . Where is sonali for the pic hmmmmmmm  picture shy i guess.

Family - The Curious Foodies

And that is my family a bunch of hard core foodies - who's passion is to analyse the different cuts of meat for each dish - trust me this is the truth - pop inlaw can spend a day at a butchery and he is so fussy about who cuts the meat and how .... he is a passionate peshawari . Mom In law is the most amazing cook - whatever she touches is delicious ... wife has inherited values - hence my choice lol , sister in law is just a foodie . They were actually shopping at the mall and i was getting late so with due permission  from the host i called them to the restaurant to try a few sweet dishes and weren't they happy ......  They blessed each one of the team members for the awesome food and treatment . Pop in law fell in love with Gurpreets cooking and would n stop talking about it . 

Over all : I'm glad i went - and catered to the Punjabi Me . 

Ambiance - Wonderful - Open Kitchen , terrace seating , music and good aromas, I feel a bit of renovation or sprucing up needs to be done on the furniture .

Food : Do i need to say more hahahaha- Fresh Vegetables, Freshly Ground Masalas, Perfectly marinated and cured Meats . Well Researched, tried , tasted and served.

Service : Par Excellence , Attentive staff - they need a bit more education on the food

Aroma- could n really get any because its partially open , Actually was missing the actual aromas from the home kitchens .. no no thank god it wasn't reeking of masalas

Back Again - Yes yes for sure and with some Pure Punjabi's 

Recommend : RUN FOR THE WINTER MENU NOW !! Ask for Gurpreet, Satinder or Deepak to look after you , extra .

An honest confession I have been a little vary of certain veggies and meats etc for a while ,like Beetroot,Kharode,Shakarkandi etc etc never ate them at home when made and under mom blackmail but thanks to my food experiences I have removed those mental blocks and eat everything now .

With the 85th Blog , Tiger Wishes all its Foodie Friends a Very Happy New Year ... Live to Eat .