BlatherMangia

India Bistro

By Stephanie

Since last August and our visit to Vij's in Vancouver, we can't seem to eat Indian food often enough. Patiently, Michael has been working through the recipes in the Vij's cookbook and exhausting the spices filling the cupboard. 

In search of new flavors, we have returned to the eastside's Spice Route on many occasions, always ordering some of the southern foods (including the vadas.) In the past, our go-to place has been India Bistro, either in Ballard or on 65th, off Roosevelt. Same owner, the Roosevelt location is newer, with a modern ambiance and a bar. Seating has always been easier, parking too. Here the food is from the North, more typical of Seattle's Moghul population. Last week, it was time for a fix. Besides not wanting to cross Lake Washington, we thought it would be interesting to revisit India Bistro with our new found appreciation of the intricacies of flavor development. And we agreed to order dishes we weren't as familiar with, staying away from vindaloo, tikka masala, and saag options.

India Bistro has beautiful silver dishes for presentation of the entrees. I did not take a picture. Actually, we did not take any photos in the restaurant. The plate here is from the second dinner of leftovers! At the top is chicken jalfrezi. This appears to be an anglo-indian dish, but we loved the tender red chicken and the sweet tomato rich sauce studded with cooked vegetables. At right, some yogurt from the fridge. Despite wimping out with 2 and 3 rated heat (out of 5 possible) the heat could use a little toning down for me. At the bottom, lamb menthi (fenugreek leaves,) a spicy and rich curry. And finally, a Goa vegetable curry, flavored with coconut. In the middle, a nice pile of basmati  rice spiced with whole cumin seed, fenugreek, and clove. The original dinner also included a buttery garlic basil naan (flatbread from the tandoor - clay oven) and the complementary pappadums (lentil wafers) with two chutneys - the green one (coriander, I think) with a bit of heat, and the tamarind one sweet and tasty, studded with golden raisins. We ordered enough for 4 (at least 3) and the total tab was only $34 with tax. Great value, great flavors!

Poppy: it's about fabulousness, jerry

Poppy
622 Broadway Ave. E., Seattle

It was the most hyped new restaurant since The French Laundromat. (Charlie Trotter's ill-fated fast food joint).

Nationally worshipped Jerry Traunfeld, the gardening, food elf who shook the saute pans for 17 years at the sacred site in Woodinville, The Herbfarm finally got his own place; foodies were wet with anticipation.

In September, Traunfeld opened the 110-seat Poppy on Capitol Hill, named after his mom.

At Poppy, Traunfeld offers each diner a tray-like platter from India called a thali (pronounced tally) serving a single diner a variety of small dishes --at Poppy you get 10 or 11. They're like "small plates," or tapas -- so hot these days -- except everybody gets their own.

Poppy
622 Broadway Ave. E., Seattle

It was the most hyped new restaurant since The French Laundromat. (Charlie Trotter's ill-fated fast food joint).

Nationally worshipped Jerry Traunfeld, the gardening, food elf who shook the saute pans for 17 years at the sacred site in Woodinville, The Herbfarm finally got his own place; foodies were wet with anticipation.

In September, Traunfeld opened the 110-seat Poppy on Capitol Hill, named after his mom.

At Poppy, Traunfeld offers each diner a tray-like platter from India called a thali (pronounced tally) serving a single diner a variety of small dishes --at Poppy you get 10 or 11. They're like "small plates," or tapas -- so hot these days -- except everybody gets their own.