Shahjahanabad is the actual name of Old Delhi area when it was under the Mughal reigns, this place has its own peculiar taste with a strange love-hate relationship with most of the Delhi mob. Most of us are in absolute love with the taste and live skewers available in abundance here while some just hate the overcrowded dingy by lanes but everything said and done most of us do hold a relationship with this place.
Mr. Osama Jalali who is a well-known food writer in Delhi circuit and his mother Mrs. Nazish jalali who is a well-known consulting chef across the city for any 5 star who hail from the same land have come up with the fantastic idea of serving everyone a piece of history by plating the great dishes that originated in this very area. The event had a fantastic run in Ssence, The Surya New Delhi from 12th to 21st December 2014 limited only to the dinner as most of the dishes being stirred needed hours of constant slow simmering and get ready by late evening.
The platter started with Kathal ke shami and Beans ke shami in vegetarian section where both the starters were extremely hard to deliver as jackfruit is something that mostly goes with papaya and people do a galawti of it but the sheer act of keeping it away from papaya and delivering the non-overpowered taste of kathal in a simple form of kawab was a masterstroke.
From the Non vegetarian section it was the kacche mutton ke shami kawab and chicken seekh kawab that got my eye with its balanced yet subtle taste, I simply could not resist myself and had to ask for more.
From the main course selection I loved the Hari mirch ka keema which is slightly different from the usual keema as the addition of green chillies gives it an additional hot tinge which is savored by many.The other unforgettable dish was the Nihari which had great mix of Awadhi taste and hints of Rampur as the mother from the duo hails from here.
In the sweet section it was the Zarda that got me stuck to it, all my childhood ive had this thing to consume biryani and zarda together and hence here I was doing the same winding back my clock to a complete decade back and I can’t remember not enjoying that sweet and spicy taste even once.This festival was a sheer delight in every sense if you did not have this you really have missed an essential part of the classic food scene stirred by the masters.
How is it possible to relish the dishes prepared by Mr.Osama Jalali & begum Nazish Jalali. I am coming to Delhi and would love to try one of the described dishes.
They don’t cook on a general basis, would have to be a special request.