The Parsi Food Festival at Taj Krishna, Hyderabad

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What better way to celebrate the onset of monsoons than devouring on some good Parsi food? Only once before did I taste this cuisine even though I read and heard a lot about it through various blogs, magazines and from close friends. Most of the Parsi dishes are known for their unique balance of sweetness and acidity. It is this sensuous play of flavor elements that makes this cuisine truly irresistible. So, when I got an invite to be a part of a Parsi Food Festival currently happening at Firdaus (Taj Krishna), I jumped on the opportunity like a hungry cat. :-) Was the experience worth it? Read on to know more...

Situated in the heart of Hyderabad, Firdaus is a specialty Indian fine dining restaurant at iconic Taj Krishna, Hyderabad. And that's where all the Parsi action is currently happening, only until July 20th. So, if you like what you see and read below, you better hurry. There are only a few days left before the kitchen closes for all you food lovers.

The menu had most of the Parsi delights covered and was quite extensive in its offering. Bring on the popular Papeta par edu, Parsi style Potatoes with Eggs which was creamy and well balanced. Considering my unabashed love for eggs, I would have polished off the whole serving in just one go!.

Papeta par edu [Parsi style Potatoes with Eggs]

In the appetizer section, the Khatta Meetha Paneer Kebabs stood out for their crispy outside and soft paneer inside but the Vegetable Cutlet can be given a miss, unless you don't care whether it has a Parsi touch or not. 

[Left] Khatta meetha paneer kebab                                                                

I got a true glimpse of Parsis and their love for food while reading Rohinton Mistry's 'A Fine Balance'. In one of the pages, he says - "Someone chuckled loudly that where Parsis were concerned, food was number one, conversation came second.”. Such is the passion with which Parsi food is made, usually slowly for hours in a heavy bottomed pan!. Oh Yes, even my Parsi (ex-) roommate swears by this must-have utensil in a typical Parsi kitchen. 

Sending the Chef pic on the left below to Black and White Wednesdays, this week hosted by Susan of The Well Seasoned Cook. 

                                                                        [Right] Ravaiya (Chutney stuffed Brinjal/Eggplant)

Well, after appetizers it was time for some curries - Lagan nu Stew, Dhansak Dal, Khara Papeta and Ravaiya served with Rotla and Brown Rice. 

Veg curries - [L-R] Lagan nu stew, Dhansak Dal and Khara papeta

I read somewhere that a typical Parsi always pines for dishes that look like they are just out of a wedding menu. Most of the veg curries served at Firdaus did taste good, except for Ravaiya. The eggplant portion served to me was under cooked, filled with seeds and almost unpalatable. Looks can be sometimes deceptive, I thought. Then I moved on to ever popular Dhansak Dal and it didn't disappoint me at all. I went for another serving, spooning every piece of my Rotla with it. Lagan Nu Stew is like a sweet and sour mish-mash of veggies and Khara Papeta is a simple home-styled potato dish. There is no argument that Dhansak caught my attention the most and I simply enjoyed every bit of it. 

...Brown Rice (Rice cooked with Caramelized Onions)

For all rice-lovers, don't miss out on the Brown Rice. The caramelized onions did give a wonderful color and taste to otherwise insipid rice. It turned out to be quite delicious and a perfect accompaniment to Dhansak Dal. 

Parsi Style pickles

Some nice wine would make anything taste better. Isn't it?

We finished the meal with classic Parsi desserts such as Parsi Sev, Lagan nu Custard and Parsi kulfi. The dessert platter is definitely the highlight of the evening especially the kulfi. The taste still lingers in my mouth as I type this. I plunged my spoon into its cold, creamy layers and gorged couple of servings before I could really stop myself. 

Dessert platter - Parsi sev, Lagan nu custard, Parsi kulfi 

As many of you know, I am a vegetarian who eats eggs. So, this review covered only half of the menu. Readers who are looking for non-veg options, I suggest you head over to Arundati's blog (review will be up soon). 

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If you are in the city, do drop by for the Parsi Food Festival Firdaus, Taj Krishna from 12.30 pm to 3:00 pm & 7:30 pm to 11:00 pm from July 10th to July 20th, 2014.

Address:

Location: Firdaus, Taj Krishna, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad

Credit Card Accepted: Yes
Vallet Parking: Available

For more information or reservations, contact: 040 6629 3306

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Disclaimer: This is NOT a paid post. This event review post has been written based on my expereince during the bloggers/media tasting event organised at Firdaus. All views and opinions expressed here are my own and do not represent any other person or organisation.

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