We are back in India! My blogging hiatus is over as I returned to Mumbai from the UK last week and Phil arrived home at the weekend. After a period of almost six weeks apart in different countries, it's excellent to be back at home and together again.
It's all change here though as Phil is no longer working in India and is currently adapting to his (very early) retirement. Further, the monsoon is now in full flow which is atmospheric but extremely wet. In only 24 hours this week, we had rainfall equal to 50% of the total rainfall in the UK last winter (a supposedly wet one). This makes it a little harder to get around, but the drop in temperature to a bearable level relative to May more than makes up for it.
Last night, we had a mini culinary adventure at the Good Luck restaurant, a small Irani cafe featured in my treasured Savour Mumbai cookbook. We are currently in Ramadan (a period in which Muslims fast during daylight) and wanted to find and try a dish called haleem; a thick, meaty stew made in this period. Hyderabadi haleem is famous but we narrowly missed trying it last year by visiting Hyderabad shortly after Ramadan (called Ramzan here). We were determined not to miss it again, so arrived at Good Luck at sunset to claim our table and place our order.
We supplemented the haleem with kheema beef (lightly spiced mince, meat source unknown though probably goat) and mopped it all up with sweet maska buns (soft white bread baked with mixed fruit peel).
We usually eat vegetarian food in India but this meaty foray was a welcome and worthwhile exception. Both the haleem and kheema was warming, yummy and perfect for a wet evening.
Now that we are back and settled in India for the foreseeable, further trips and holidays are firmly back on the agenda.
It's all change here though as Phil is no longer working in India and is currently adapting to his (very early) retirement. Further, the monsoon is now in full flow which is atmospheric but extremely wet. In only 24 hours this week, we had rainfall equal to 50% of the total rainfall in the UK last winter (a supposedly wet one). This makes it a little harder to get around, but the drop in temperature to a bearable level relative to May more than makes up for it.
Last night, we had a mini culinary adventure at the Good Luck restaurant, a small Irani cafe featured in my treasured Savour Mumbai cookbook. We are currently in Ramadan (a period in which Muslims fast during daylight) and wanted to find and try a dish called haleem; a thick, meaty stew made in this period. Hyderabadi haleem is famous but we narrowly missed trying it last year by visiting Hyderabad shortly after Ramadan (called Ramzan here). We were determined not to miss it again, so arrived at Good Luck at sunset to claim our table and place our order.
We supplemented the haleem with kheema beef (lightly spiced mince, meat source unknown though probably goat) and mopped it all up with sweet maska buns (soft white bread baked with mixed fruit peel).
Left to right; Haleem, maska buns and kheema
Haleem. I'm not sure what the crunchy bits on top were but they tasted good and I'm not sick....yet
The meat was washed down with hot, sweet tea served in a good luck cup
Enjoying my tea (despite the facial expression)
We usually eat vegetarian food in India but this meaty foray was a welcome and worthwhile exception. Both the haleem and kheema was warming, yummy and perfect for a wet evening.
Now that we are back and settled in India for the foreseeable, further trips and holidays are firmly back on the agenda.
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