Photos courtesy of www.doug-peterson.com
A Pondy Dinner at Pondicheri
Gastronauts!
WTF? Oysters and Himalayan oysters?! Who does that? And may we have some more, please?
It’s been a long, long time since we’ve ventured to the Indian subcontinent, but we were waiting for something special. (We were really spoiled the last time we went…) And now we’ve found something special: A lovely place called Pondicheri. This former French colony on the east coast of India has managed to fuse multiple regional influences: Tamil, French, Portuguese, Dutch, and more. The curries are creamier and more like sauces, a bouillabaisse is made with coconut curry, there’s lots of use of fish.
Mrs. Jaisinghani, the chef and owner of Pondicheri in NYC and in Houston, among many other restaurants, will help guide us through the deep end of Pondicherry cuisine. A microbiologist and a superstar baker (just wait), she and her daughter dreamed up this phenomenal menu, replete with all manner of delicious offal, especially prepared for us. This ain’t no Curry Hill dinner.
All of this is set in Manhattan, in NoMad. (No long and packed Indian style train ride this time.) So, put on your best summer outfit, grab a date you want to impress and RSVP fast, fast, fast: This will be a really, really fun one.
‘Live’ Octopus at
Sik Gaek
Paneer Samosa
Paneer mixed with cashews and herbs | peach chutney
Oyster Pani Poori
Cumin tamarind mango broth with raw oysters, corn and cucumber in a squid ink semolina puff
Chaat Salad
Lentil dumplings, mango, greens, peanuts | cilantro, tamarind and yogurt sauces
Katakat on Toast
Toasted brioche with lamb brains, testicles, kidney and potatoes in kalonji masala
Chicken and Egg 25
Chicken cooked with 25 herbs and spices | poached eggs and cilantro chutney
Paya Pilaf
Basmati pilaf with the essence of goat feet and Himalayan Oysters
Pondicheri
15 West 27th Street,
NoMad