Go Raibh Maith Agat!

That’s right, I speak Gaelic now. Well, not really, but I did go to Ireland with my family and couldn’t stop thanking Ireland for the wonderful food I tried there.

That food in Ireland is not that great is a myth. Neither is it true that the cuisine is meat-intensive. In fact, oysters can successfully be included as traditional Irish food.

And if you’re vegetarian, Boxty (potato pancake) is all you need. Seriously!

A full Irish breakfast can ensure you’re full for the whole day, if you really indulge. Our hotel stay at the Maldron Pearse Street included a fantastic breakfast with a different ‘fry up’ everyday along with some delicious Soda Bread (brown bread) and Irish butter. The greatest food the country has to offer, IMO. 

The bread is dense and is delicious with your eggs, cup of soup or even smoked salmon.

We couldn’t get enough of it and I missed it terribly upon my return to the States. Similarly the butter is truly delightful and made using the milk of Irish grass-fed cows, so you can only imagine. I can, after being ambushed on the streets several times by Irish cows. The highlight of the countryside!

The Irish know their potatoes and they don’t mess around. Boxty is a pancake eaten with butter (lots of it), but we took it a step further and had boxty fries at the Boxty House in Dublin, which were insane.

I also had the best Salmon Benedict of my life, and incredible Nutella Pancakes.

That same day, I drank the creamiest hot chocolate at the Hazel Mountain Chocolate Factory. And another cup of delicious hot cocoa in Galway at Revive Café.

Did I mention the mind blowing order of Fish n Chips I had at after a solid hike on the Cliffs of Moher? I bet you haven’t had anything this crispy and perfectly salty. And I’m salivating just thinking about it with a drizzle of malt vinegar. 

The night before our departure, we had another memorable meal, complete with a crispy, grilled salmon and sizzling prawns at Winter’s Restaurant in Lusk. What a way to mark the end of a lovely vacation.

All this, as I got slowly converted to a beer-drinker. It’s what happens when you spend a day at the Guinness Factory and get your face printed on a pint of beer. We formed a connection; beer and I.

Ireland, you make me want to visit again soon!

Seeking Irie and Seafood!

Mon, my foodie adventure could not have ended 2018 on a better note. After all, it involved the Caribbean island of Jamaica with my best friends and delicious seafood.

While I knew that my tastebuds were in for a treat, I didn’t realize how unique the experience would be. While we dined mostly at the resort, there was no dearth of authentic restaurants and dishes that gave us a well rounded flavor of Jamaican cuisine. Of course, I was limited with my pescetarian diet, so Jamaicans, it’s time to add Jerk Shrimp to your cuisine! Pretty please.

My two favorite things I ate were the Rasta Pasta and the Seafood Trio. The color on the pasta would’ve been enough to get me to devour it but the Ackee sauce with strong hints of garlic was pure vegetarian delight.

The Seafood Trio came with grilled salmon, coconut shrimp and scallops. The crispy fried shrimp was delicious. I’m not sure what kind of coating it had, but it was thicker and less saltier than what were used to here. The scallops came ‘escovitched,’ lightly fried and then cooked in a tart and sweet sauce. The green chard it was served on was amazing also. And the salmon was fresh and juicy.

I also did not realize how integral pumpkin was to Jamaican cuisine. If you visit, you cannot leave without trying their pumpkin rice and pumpkin mash. Its got crack!

I will definitely be seeking Jamaican delicacies in Chicago! What a treat!

Crabtastic!

We all use food for different expressions in our lives. For me, food is often comfort and sometimes a reminder of my heritage. Which is why a visit to my hometown, Mumbai, usually means a visit to some of my favorite restaurants growing up & a trip down memory lane. But there is one on that list, that is non-negotiable and if I might dare declare it my favorite seafood restaurant in Mumbai, that restaurant is Gajalee.

Located in the Vile Parle area of Bombay, Gajalee has now expanded to several other locations domestically and international. A seafood-dedicated restaurant specializing in a specific Maharashtrian cuisine, the restaurant strives to give you an experience along with the food. Having grown up in a Maharashtrian household, this solidifies that bond for me even more.

So as usual, I paid Gajalee a visit on my last vacation there. I walked in to a newly renovated space, and excitedly sat down ready to indulge in my favorite dish at the restaurant, the Tandoori Crabs. What is that you might ask- well allow me to explain the following: It is succulent, mouth-watering pieces of crab marinated in a spicy chili sauce. Tandoor is defined as a clay over used for specific types of grilling or baking. In addition to the crabs, my other staples at the restaurant are the fried basa and the kokum kadi. The former is a and the latter a A fare that will have your nose running, your tears flowing but will keep you going. The Tandoor Crabs are usually accompanied with the Neer Dosa, a paper thin light rice crepe that can be eaten as a side bread or with their famous coconut fish curry.

Not only did it take me back to my days in Mumbai but also left me with a full stomach and a very happy heart. A meal at Gajalee, never fails to lift my spirits so I am ready to take on the rest of my day.