Give us some more dum, please

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BangaloreMirror

| FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2011

23

Manu Prasad bmfeedback@indiatimes.com

FAHEEM HUSSAIN

echnology, music and food, its difficult to find common ground among these domains. But exist it does, in the form of Vijay Fernando. Following a stint in the US with Yahoo, Vijay returned to India when Yahoo set up shop here. Five years later, his two passions fought for his attention. Food for the soul won, and that resulted in Hummaa.com, a music site, which boasts of an exhaustive repository of Indian music content and a thriving community. But the affection for food made another bid for prominence, and this time, was successful in getting its way. Thus was born Biryani Pundits, in Koramangala, just over a month ago.

No: 1018, 1st Main 80 Feet Road, Koramangala Bangalore 560034 Ph: 8880050001

Biryani Pundits,

Food Owner(s) Chef Alcohol Price range Parking Wheelchair access Service

Biryani, what else! But you can also find Chettinad, Tandoori, North Indian fare. Vijay Fernando, techie turned restaurateur Lawrence No. `300-400 for two. Credit Card not accepted for now. Street Parking. No

Starters:

The menu doesnt have a starter section, but there are more than enough items in the Fry Tandoori, and Daily Specials section that can serve the purpose quite well. In fact, with Quail 65, Prawn Sukka, Crab Soup, Fish Cutlets etc listed among the days specials, there was much lip smacking. Unfortunately, none of the items in that section were available, and that left about a dozen Fry and a few Tandoori options. The Chicken 65 was the pick of the starters, boneless, succulent and quite spicy thanks to the chilli paste. The Lamb Liver Fry was just a shade below, and though the masala couldnt be termed spicy, it had a flavourful zing to it, helped by the green chillies. The Pundits Special Chicken just about passed muster with a masala that seemed to be a ghee roast wannabe, but without the ghee or the texture. The Paneer Chilly turned out to be a disappointment and the least spicy, with the paneer in a guest appearance and corn flour and capsicums hogging the limelight. Though the chicken was tender, the Chicken Tikka Boneless was quite bland, despite peppery attempts.

Main Course:
From top: Anarkali Chicken; Pundit Special Chicken Biriyani; Lamb Liver Fry; Chicken 65

The Chicken Wheat Parotta Koththu is quite famous as a street food and Biryani Pundits does a good job with it, not being stingy with the chicken, and with a slightly spicy

and consistent masala featuring ginger garlic, chilli and turmeric flavours. The lamb version was not so fortunate with the masala, as some portions were too salty. But here too, it needs to be mentioned that there was an ample proportion of meat. One of the drawbacks of an enthusiastic service was that they brought the entire set of dishes at the same time, despite the order having things like appams , wheat parottas and biriyani, which really need to be served hot. I expected the egg appam to have an unbroken yolk, but that was not to be. However, it did a good job otherwise, making a good combination with the Lamb Curry , which was the only item that redeemed the main course. The meat was tender and juicy and the gravy, while not overly spicy, had a piquancy about it that made it a favourite. The Chicken Pepper Masala was also quite a dud, with no sign of the pepper. The Wheat Kerala Parotta obviously lacks the fluffiness of its maida counterpart, but is still a safe bet. The same

cant be said of the Veg Lababdar, which somehow tasted all wrong. An extremely dominant tangy flavour made the dish quite unpalatable. Much was expected from the Special dosa, priced higher than the egg appam, but it was just a roast dosa, which could barely hold on to its crispiness. But the biggest disappointment was the Pundits Special Chicken Biriyani, special because it used kababs, but the masala made only a fleeting appearance. Also mildly irritating was having to ask for the raita and the brinjal chutney that were supposed to be given along with the dish. And when they did appear, it didnt make much of a difference either. The other disappointing aspect was the non-availability of dishes. To feature items like Lamb Head Masala and Quail Biriyani on the menu and not have it is gross injustice, and enough to convert carnivores into cannibals. Desserts: The menu does not have a dedicated section, and our only hope

Friendly and enthusiastic, but need constant reminders. Sound level Only ambient street noise Ambience Comfortable seating, but youd do well to focus on the food. Hours Daily 12 noon 11 pm Home delivery Yes, in Koramangala Reservations Walk in, and hope to get a seat

BM VERDICT

10

was the traditional sweet promised with the biriyani. That turned out to be another item we had to ask for, and when it did arrive, the jamun was a tad too sweet and syrupy.

In a nutshell: For a restaurant that has

Biriyani in its name, Biryani Pundits have quite a way to go before their offering delivers some dum. Some of their dishes are quite good, but the unavailability of items doesnt really help their cause.

Bangalore Mirror reviews anonymously and pays for meals

THE2-MINUTEREAD

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IT IS no secret that the advent of wireless technology, combined with increasingly hectic work, school and extracurricular schedules, is leading to less quality time between parents and children. So, no matter how much time you devote to improving your family relationships and health, you are not going to succeed unless you power down the digital devices, say human development specialists at the University of Missouri. Kelly Warzinik, extension associate in the College of Human Environmental Sciences, said that instead of watching TV or talking on a cellphone, parents could take advantage of daily opportunities to interact with their children at meal times or in the car. Additionally, she also noted that parents should not overschedule themselves or their children to ensure that everyone has time to connect. Husbands and wives who are working and raising kids may need to be even more intentional about nurturing their relationship as a couple, Warzinik said. Touch base throughout the day by calling, emailing or texting, and after children are asleep, put down the iPhone, turn off the TV and focus on each other, she added. In addition to strengthening family connections, turning off time-consuming devices leads to better health, according to Saralee Jamieson, human development specialist and Extension program director in St Clair County. She says people who devote more time to digital technology are less likely to make healthy food choices.

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FOODS THAT are rich in protein eggs, meat and fish for example are more filling and hence curb overeating, Australian researchers say. Researchers from the University of Sydney, Australia, tested three diets on 22 male and female participants. All three diets were modified to contain 10, 15 or 25 per cent protein. Each subject spent four days on each one. Researchers found that participants felt hungrier after the 10 per cent protein diet in the two hours following breakfast than they were on both higher-protein diets. Volunteers also gave in to the urge to snack more after indulging in the diet with the least protein. From the first day to the last, participants ate a 12 per cent greater volume of food

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