By Arundhati Gupta | @notintownlive | 11 Feb 2019, 07:39 am
Delightfully colourful interiors greeted me. I was at Friends of Pho. Spaciously spread out across 3500 square feet area, this new address in town offers a delectable variety of Asian cuisine. The ninety-seven seater restaurant is located at Chinar Park, near City Centre II off Rajarhat Road.
The aroma from its open kitchen hits your nostrils as you enter its vibrantly colourful confines. The décor has used elements of Oriental design aesthetics combining them with practicality. The seating arrangement…laid out in a semi-circular fashion…allows the customer a view of the activities inside.
The two most interesting features are the rotating (inspired by the Tibetan prayer wheels) Japanese Kokeshi-like dolls lining a section of the wall space and the mini tempo stationed to the right of the entrance. The mini tempo is actually the drinks counter and has been inspired by the small vans used by the vendors selling pho (pronounced as ‘fuh’) and other food items in Vietnam.
Though Pho is a popular street food of Vietnam it has travelled to many other countries to be listed on menu cards of speciality restaurants. Pho was originally sold at dawn and dusk by roaming street vendors, who shouldered mobile kitchens on carrying poles.
A brainchild of Geetika Sinha, Friends of Pho has been inspired by her travels through Southeast Asian countries. Geetika is of the opinion that the concept of authenticity is slightly misplaced when it comes to food or art.
“Take for instance food cooked at home”, explains Geetika,”every family kitchen offers a slightly different recipe for the same dish and yet all are equally delectable.” Hence, Friends of Pho may not adhere to specific Asian culinary sensibilities but instead offers a rich array of representative dishes from countries like Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, China, Cambodia, Burma, Indonesia, Vietnam and Singapore.
One could say it is a very personal culinary journey that Geetika has undertaken. She has also curated the menu on offer. After sampling over 250 dishes prepared at the restaurant’s kitchen and under the able supervision of Chef Sujan Shresth, she shortlisted 130 items all of which are printed on the tastefully designed menu cards.
A variety of soups are on offer alongside appetisers. Try the creamy Thai coconut soup Tom Kha settling to relish it with Crispy Water Chestnuts and Bamboo Shoots, Friends of Pho Special Crystal Veg, Shanghai Chicken Dumplings, Friends of Pho Special Chilli Chicken and the Indonesian Banana Leaf Wrapped Fish with Balinese Spices.
You are spoilt for choice! The main course is equally interesting and explores a mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian options, try out their Mutton Cooked in Laotian Bong Sauce…it leaves you craving for more. In fact, each of the dishes on offer, are a gourmand’s delight. Team your main course with rice or noodles of your choice! Finish your meal with a dessert—would highly recommend Lemon Grass Crème Brulee.
Walk in and enjoy your meal! Here are a few recipes to try out at home…
BANANA LEAF WRAPPED FISH
INGREDIENTS
Garlic chop -- 1 tbsp
Chilly --2 pc
Onion -- 2 pc
Tomato --1 pc
Basil -- 4 leaf
Banana leaf -- 4 pc
Lemon leaf -- 3 leaf
METHOD: First we have to marinate the fish with all this ingredient and wrapped with banana leaf and then Grill for 25 minutes.
TOM KHA SOUP
INGREDIENTS
Garlic chops -- 1 tbsp
Chili -- 2 pc
Mushroom -- 5 pc
Lemon grass -- 2 stick
Galangal -- 1 pc
Lemon leaf --2 pc
METHOD: Take water in wok and add coconut milk than add all these ingredients and Thai paste and cook nicely for 10mintes.
LEMON GRASS CRÈME BRULEE
INGREDIENTS
Lemon grass stick -- 2 pc
Cream- 5 spoon
Sugar- 2 spoon
Milk- 1/4th Cup
Egg- 2 whole
METHOD: - Cream, sugar, milk, egg and lemon grass mix and cook for 10 minutes. Stain all ingredients. Then bake for 60minutes.
(The reviewer is a Kolkata-based public relations professional)
- Hotel Washington: Heritage and luxury in the beating heart of DC
- The Peninsula Chicago: Jewel in the windy city's Magnificent Mile crown
- Hotel Richer de Belleval: Where luxury meets bistronomy in southern France city Montpellier
- The Frankfurt Marriott: Germany's tallest hotel is a smart pick for leisure and work visits
- Cambria Hotel in Chicago Loop: Where location meets affordable comfort
- The Berlin hotel you must stay during the Christmas - NH Collection Berlin Mitte am Checkpoint
- New hotel to boost tourism in Uzbekistan's museum-city Bukhara from next year
- Pendry Chicago: My magnificent stay in the city's Magnificent Mile
- Tomorrowland to open magical desert destination Terra Solis Dubai
- Sri Lanka: Four hotels and an Indian fanboy of the island nation
Jazeera Airways, Kuwait’s leading low-cost carrier, is offering 50% off on fares to all destinations across its network from July 28 to 31.
New Delhi : Air India Express, a subsidiary of Air India and a part of the Tata group, has launched its "Time to Travel" sale on the airline’s website, airindiaexpress.com, the Air India Express mobile app and other major booking channels.
Tokyo: Airlines were forced to cancel over 300 flights following the collision between a Japan Coast Guard aircraft and a Japan Airlines passenger plane at Tokyo's Haneda Airport on Tuesday evening even as reports said the plane was cleared to land ahead of the tragedy.