One of the fun things about Samaroh is that the seven-course meal begins on a sweet note with zafrani moti which is a moti choor laddoo with dry fruits — how cool is that? Sugar always makes me happy and then there is the bronze tableware, which is all healthy and natural. After the sweet starter, it is time for kesari shorba — a thin carrot and pumpkin soup, spiced with saffron. There is also the namkeen khaja, which is a savoury version of the sweet from Orissa. One can never go wrong with lime and mint and the neembu pudina thanda hits the right notes with a dash of honey.
The Mughal emperor Babur wept remembering the pomegranate trees of his native land. He would have rejoiced in the sookhe anardane ka paneer tikka — cottage cheese marinated with pomegranate paste. The mawa makai galauti was an elegant minced corn pan-fried kebab. And who said spinach is only for Popeye? The palak bharwan roll rocked.
For chaat with a twist how about tender coconut water and jelly in your pani puri? Remember coconut got a lot of iron and as Harry Belafonte sang, it makes you strong like a lion! And there is masala chaas to wash it all down.
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Just when you thought you are pleasantly full with space for dessert, the smiling wait staff tells you to be ready for the main course. There is yellow dal with garlic and green onions, standard issue matar paneer, the Samaroh kofta (pomegranate makes its appearance again, this time as gravy with nutty koftas) while makhanewali sabzi brings lotus seeds to the table as a gravy for the fresh vegetables. I am all set to listen to siren’s song. Aloo palak, stuffed urad dal vadas, and baby tomato and sev raitha sing of heavenly textures and flavours.
They are worthy accompaniments to the staples — the pulav, the rotis, the phulka and the multigrain roti made of wheat, chana, bajra, jowar and makka.
For dessert while there is a combination of two traditional Hyderabadi desserts—the kubani ka meetha and double ka meetha in khubani aur band dahi ka meetha, my vote goes to the sondesh soufflé. And then there is maghai paan to finally round off your meal.
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Food for thought
For an elaborate meal celebrating Indian culinary traditions, visit Samaroh from 12 noon to 3.30 pm or 7 pm to 10.30 pm.
Location: Samaroh, No.7, Vittal Mallya Road, Above Icici Bank, Opp. Mantri House
Wallet factor: Rs. 1,100 for a meal for two
Call: 41203600 / 700 / 800