Lunch at Taj Mahal

@Canellita (12029)
United States
June 29, 2009 8:42am CST
Yesterday I had the opportunity to have lunch at one of my favorite places. At lunch there is a buffet with a variety of dishes and the selection on yesterday was perfect. Everything was delicious and even though I don't remember all of the names and could not hope to pronounce most the selection held many of my favorite things. There was basmati, some type of potato fritter, spinach, chickpeas, a dish made with potatoes and eggplant -- two things it would never have occurred to me to use in the same dish, okra (I didn't have that), a chicken dish that I love because of the sauce (the name begins with an M but it is not Masala) and there was something else chicken that I didn't have. I love the variety of vegetable dishes in Indian food, though sometimes it is a bit spicey for me. It is so nice to go to a place you enjoy and have the food to be exactly what you expect and not be disappointed.
3 people like this
11 responses
@SomeCowgirl (32189)
• United States
29 Jun 09
I am so glad you enjoyed your meal at lunch yesterday. I know it's great to go to a favorite restaurant and always get just what you like, and the way you like it. Have a wonderful day.
2 people like this
@SomeCowgirl (32189)
• United States
1 Jul 09
Oh well that's great, it's always nice to have a completely perfect day. Okra isn't my favorite either, I remember when I found out not too long ago that there were seeds in them, I was like EWW and didn't eat anymore. Well I ate one more, but that's only because I didn't want to be embarrassed about asking and then not eating any, lol.
2 people like this
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
3 Jul 09
You are so funny! My new suggesetion as that when you sign up at helium you try writing reflections.
2 people like this
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
30 Jun 09
It was one of those days where everything is good and you feel good too! Wish there had been something else in place of the okra and the other chicken and it would have been perfect! We used to go there many years ago before the storm (Katrina) and they would have a masala type dish with fish. They don't seem to do that anymore :-(
2 people like this
@krajibg (11922)
• Guwahati, India
30 Jun 09
Hi Canellita, was it the real Taj mahal or the name of a hotel?
2 people like this
@krajibg (11922)
• Guwahati, India
30 Jun 09
Hey, why do not youi come down to the original Taj?
2 people like this
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
3 Jul 09
I would love to! I have long wanted to visit India.
1 person likes this
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
30 Jun 09
Greetings Rajib! It is a restaurant here in the states. If you scroll up the page I have added a picture.
2 people like this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
29 Jun 09
yes I love it, and I love indian food so does my partner, it is great that we have the same tastes.
2 people like this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
30 Jun 09
I never really got into tufu but I want to start though
2 people like this
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
30 Jun 09
My partner and I were just discussing how the first time I tried Indian food it was because I was with him and he liked it. Same thing for sushi. Neither of us eat meat and he is also the one who taught me to cook tofu so it works out great for us.
2 people like this
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
30 Jun 09
I actually have a helium article that tells what to do to prepare tofu for frying and suggests some ways of serving it but I am thinking it may be best to cut back. I have recently learned that there is some sort of estragen issue with processed tofu and am planning to start using edamame more instead.
1 person likes this
@dpk262006 (58679)
• Delhi, India
3 Jul 09
Hi Cane! I understand that Taj Mahal is world famous monument here in India and you said you had your lunch in Taj Mahal, did you go into a hotel named Taj Mahal at your place? Indian dishes and superb and people all over the world love these dishes. There is no match of basmati boiled rice, spinach and chickpeas. Potatoes are everyone's favorite here. Keep enjoying Indian dishes, I am from India and it looks nice to read that people like you appreciate our dishes.
1 person likes this
@dpk262006 (58679)
• Delhi, India
3 Jul 09
Pl. read - "Indian dishes are ........."
1 person likes this
@dpk262006 (58679)
• Delhi, India
4 Jul 09
So our Taj Mahal has reached in your city too!!! Pl. come over to India to see the real Taj.
1 person likes this
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
3 Jul 09
It is the name of a restaurant here in the states. I added a picture above.
@ElicBxn (64169)
• United States
29 Jun 09
that's very true I used to like to go to the buffet at the middle eastern place because they have wonderful food. No more buffets for me, I'm on a diet!
1 person likes this
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
29 Jun 09
The buffet at the middle eastern place should be fine for your diet as long as you stay away from the meat dishes. Vegetables do not make you fat.
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (64169)
• United States
29 Jun 09
actually, even the veggie dishes are pretty oily, so we'll just take a pass on the buffets
1 person likes this
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
30 Jun 09
Well, if it is olive oil it is good but other stuff not so much.
1 person likes this
• Netherlands
29 Jun 09
Hi again Canellita! Oh it does sound so good and sounds like you had a great time too! I also enjoy Indian food...especially the spicy Indian food!! I agree with you it is always nice to go to a place that you not only enjoy but know that the food is going to be good also. I too have a favorite place since I have moved to Holland and when I lived in Los Angeles I use to love to go to The Boathouse, a restaurant that not only was right on the beach but had excellent food also. I always had such a good time there as I do now days with the restaurant I've found around here!
• Netherlands
30 Jun 09
I moved to Holland in 1994 and I love it. In general the people are great, the country is beautiful and much more laid back than what I was born and raised in! In fact the entire country of Holland is smaller than Los Angeles County!!
1 person likes this
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
3 Jul 09
Los Angeles isn't exactly warm and fuzzy. I lived there briefly and when I got off the plane with all my stuff something told me to turn around and go right back where I came from.
1 person likes this
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
30 Jun 09
Hello to you too! How long have you lived in Holland?
1 person likes this
@yugasini (12892)
• Secunderabad, India
29 Jun 09
hi canellita, you are lucky, where are you took lunch tell me the city name,Indian non veg items will be some spicy,basmati is type of rice, it is from Kashmir, i do not eat neither chiken nor meat so do not know the non veg items, there are 3 or 4 Tajmahal hotels in Hyderabad,most Indian cities have hotels in the name of Tajmahal and it is also a chain hotels group in India and in foreign countries
@yugasini (12892)
• Secunderabad, India
30 Jun 09
hi canellita, thanks for the photo and response,good day
1 person likes this
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
30 Jun 09
Taj Mahal - Taj Mahal restaurant in Old Metairie near New Orleans.
The place where I went is in the United States. It is a nice little restaurant in Old Metairie. Here is a picture.
@Niah1976 (739)
• Paranaque, Philippines
4 Jul 09
How I wish I could also travel to different places. But so sad I can't. I just stay here in our place. Maybe it is so wonderful to experience to go to the places you want.
1 person likes this
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
4 Jul 09
Yes it is wonderful. I will be happy when I have the opportunity to do so again.
@PeacefulWmn9 (10420)
• United States
29 Jun 09
I am glad your lunch out was a good experience. I always enjoy buffets, since there are bound to be something yummy among all those selections. And it is nice when you get what you pay for, so to speak. The foods you listed do sound yummy! Karen
1 person likes this
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
30 Jun 09
My favorite used to be a Japanese place that had different kinds of sushi on one side and salad, fruit and cooked stuff on the other. It was a casualty of hurricane Katrina unfortunately :-(
@John4Christ (1597)
• India
4 Jul 09
Oh.....going by your title i thought you came down to India and visited the Taj Mahal.......but nevertheless Indian food had anywhere tastes good......I have just completed my hotel management and i have been to most of the top notch hotels as part of my training........and Taj Mahal Hotel is one of them......i have observed that people from the west really admire Indian food, you cans say because of the spice.......and the aroma which follows it...... Yes you are right, you will find a lots of variety down here in India because of the religious values many people dont eat Non-Veg food.......I suggest you have some Indian sweets......you will not find such kind of sweet dishes in any cuisine, some are just finger licking good, I suggest next tie you visit that place, go for a Biryani, chicken Tikka, some kebabs and in sweets check if they serve Gulab Jamun(its like sweet meat) it is very popular here.......people have started having Gulab Jamun with vanilla ice cream......trust me it goes well...... Try all this out and let us know your experience.......
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
4 Jul 09
I always say I am going to have to start writing down the names of the things I have tried. I do not eat meat, other than the occasional piece of chicken and even rarer slice of turkey, which is why I like to go there so much. My partner loves the kheer and he is always disappointed when they don't have it, lol. I am not very big on sweets and I don't usually take them right after the meal because sugar and rich desserts can disrupt the digestive process. If I take anything I usually prefer some fruit or sorbet after I eat. I went to the car to get the restaurant's take out menu to see if I could figure out which foods I had. I think the chicken dish I like so much is Makhanwala. I really love the sauce. I also love the Korma sauce! I have had that one only once. They usually put out samosas or pakoras and I have had aloo gobi many times, but a few weeks ago they started putting out some things I had never seen before and I tried iddly for the first time. I also tried a dosai though I am not sure which one. I think it was filled with potatoes and onions. I recently bought two cookbooks, "660 Curries" and "American Masala." I am looking forward to experimenting with both one day when my kitchen is completed.
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
23 Jul 09
I think some things are available but the Indian restaurants probably have stuff shipped in. There are certain foods and spices that cross cultures like ginger and eggplants and you can get cloves everywhere. Now that you mention it I vaguely recall seeing the words "tomato butter" in the description for that dish with the sauce I like once. I am due for a visit, hopefully this weekend!
• India
4 Jul 09
Right, it is also called as chicken makhani(butter chicken)........there are many types of kheer which are there..........but then i guess it is unavailable because the raw material might not be available with them......I am not too sure......are Indian spices available there ????
1 person likes this
@nehaagra (848)
• Singapore
24 Jul 09
Woow, i'm feeling so nice to read here, that so many of you like the indian food. I believe all like the curries, but the spiceness in the curries is a bit more for the western taste buds.. I do have a vegetarian cooking blog of indian recipes, if anyone intrested can check it out.., it has all from samosas to mutter paneer.... And as far as i know , if you check out the indian stores, all the spices are available there.
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
24 Jul 09
Oooh! Do PM me and send me the link! I will definitely visit. I have seen some spices at World Market and Whole Foods and many supermarkets now have international sections with ingredients popular in different cultures.