Binoy Nazareth Traverses Through the Cuisines, Culture and Curries of India Unique. Unusual. Unforgettable. Satisfying my wanderlust and the innate intrepid nature of an adventurer, I gave in to my passion of exploration and the excitement of sampling new and delectable cuisines. Traveling around to capture the essence of life and lifestyles, I took off on a tour that was an unusual but perfectly chosen whim that was just up my alley. Knowing my adventurous nature, it was just like me to choose a journey that combined cuisines, cultures and curries! With my wanderlust for the unique and the unforgettable, my trip blended the quintessence of travel and though a long one, it was filled to the brim with lasting experiences for the explorer. With adventure flowing in my veins and anticipating the thrill of discovering exotic cuisines and the perfect holiday destinations, I decided on a trip to India. I was thrilled to travel through the vast and diverse terrain of an exotic South Asian country which evolved over 5 millennia from the famous Himalayan Mountains to the Indian Ocean coastline. Surrounded by an exciting and exotic history, India is the second-most populous and the seventhlargest country with over 1.2 billion people. And then…it was nostalgia time with a great trip to the Taj Mahal, Agra which is about 3.5 hours from Delhi. Inspiring me with its love story, the Taj Mahal or the Crown of the Palace spoke volumes with its passion. I was over-awed by the Mughal architecture and its spectacular features which was illuminated with the fact that this gesture of love was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. My journey through time began as I traversed the charisma and culture with historic sites which ranged over the Red Fort, the Qutb Minar, Jama Masjid, Humayun’s tomb and other wondrous sights of the city. Delhi took me on a voyage of culinary discoveries where I went on a long yet delightful culinary journey with the popular street food, Mughlai and Frontier cuisines. Experiencing the Aromas of India I looked forward to visiting Mumbai where I grew up playing gully cricket, eating world famous street food, indulging in Golgappes, Misal Pav, Dahi Misal and Pav Bhaji. I went through a much-needed culinary travel, tasting the delectable side of life with traditional Shahi Mughal dishes, Biryani, and Butter Chicken and innumerable fabulous, spicy dishes in Mumbai. Bringing back memories of adolescent days, I escaped in to the landscape of ‘Mumbaiah’ cuisine and re-experienced delicious culinary delights. Taste bud tickling spicy Chaat snacks such as Vada Pav, Bhelpuri, Dahipuri, Panipuri, Sevpuri, Ragda Pattis, Kebabs, popular Mumbai Sandwiches including other local favorites were a source of authentic gastronomic pleasures which recalled memorable times. The Mumbai culinary scenario has constantly filled my soul with scrumptious and robust fare as I took off on a repertoire of Konkani coastal meals, South Indian meals and snacks, seafood, Bori Mohalla cuisine, Mangalore meals, North Indian dishes, Parsi food trails and other regional bests. My all-time favorite desserts were Kulfi, ice golas and incredible mouth-watering sweet concoctions.
After buying a few mementos for my friends back in the USA at the Bombay Bazaar, I strolled down the Mumbai Marine Drive and watched the sunset throwing a beautiful aura of light on the great architecture of the Taj Palace. My enchanting and tasteful Mumbai diaries tripped on a delicious vegetarian sojourn at the famous Ram Naik Sadya House in Matunga which served South Indian Sadya or meals, flavored with coconut and authentic South Indian masalas, this great must-taste meal took my palate on a diverse travel. With ‘Khau’ meaning good dish and ‘Galli’ or small lane, the Mumbai street food goes on a delectable journey with any number of food stalls displaying visual treats with multiple vegetarian and non-vegetarian choices. The Khau Galli near Churchgate served up the sweet life with sandwiches, Pav Bhaji, strawberry juice, sugar cane juice, milkshakes and other great options for the sugar addicts. And what can I say about the humble yet rich in flavors Bade Miya behind the Taj Hotel which cooked up a storm with kebab and curry dishes which was a treat for the weary adventurer? This was total bliss which added a replete sense of fulfillment. Relaxed and rejuvenated with a laid-back mode, I touched down in Goa as she beckoned with her lovely beaches, Goan concerts, incredible cuisine, sun, sea and sand. Combined with a bohemian lifestyle and a carefree frame of mind, I set off to enjoy the culture, the curries and the cuisines of Goa. Indulging in fish curry and rice along with other local seafood fare, I ventured into Portuguese flavors which involved Pork Vindaloo, Sorpotel, Calfreal and Beef Xacuti that took the palate to a pinnacle of delicious heights. Robust and satisfying, Britos in Calangute on the beach presented a charming environment with great seafood. While the Ritz punctuated my culinary voyage with prawns in Goan masala, crab cakes, pork vindaloo, chili pork and other supreme dishes, my flavorful journey was quenched with the local brews comprising of cashew and coconut feni. Peppers, Margoa sprinkled my encounters of the tasteful kind with traditional Goan seafood classics and a few global dishes while I let my taste buds go on a sweet journey with Bebinca and other local treats. My diary of travel notes was burgeoning by the time I reached home which created a bubble of expectation and delight as I planned yet another exploration into the myriad colored world of travel. Enchant the Taste Buds on an Exotic Travel of the Senses with Binoy Nazareth