Binoy Nazareth Traverses Through the Cuisines, Culture and Curries of India

1. Binoy Nazareth
Traverses Through the
Cuisines, Culture and
Curries of India

2. 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.

3. 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 seventh-largest 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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