HYDERABAD: India’s youngest state Telangana celebrated its third foundation day. And the celebration was not just on the streets, but on platters of luxury hotels as well. Several of them came up with food festivals celebrating the spicy mouth-watering cuisine of the state that’s still on.
The Westin Hyderabad Mindspace, too, celebrated the spirit by organizing Telangana Food Festival at its plus restaurant Seasonal Tastes both for lunch and dinner. They have named it Telangana Food week which is on till June 12.
The specially crafted cuisine is offered as a thhali consisting of several variants in sections of coolers, starters, main course and, of course, desserts. To start the Telanagana Bhojnam we were served a cool drink, Salla charu, prepared with sour curd, fresh mint leaves and condiments.
Not only was it soothing, it’s taste was perfect for a hot summer afternoon I.e,. the spices added the flaavour and didn’t burnt the stomach or the tongue.
For the starters we had Gudaalu, Sakinalu, Karam Billalu, Chanaga Pappu Garelu, Sarva Pindi, Kodi Fry, Chepa Fry, Mirchi Bhajji, and Kodi Koora with puris. The mirchi bhajji was quite a hit even with expats as we saw them savouring a mouthful from their plates. Kodi Koora was nice cooked as the chicken pieces seemed to have taken nicely to the hot spices and tasted perfect with the soft freshly-fried fluffy puris.
The real spicy food items were served for the main course. Chef Srikanth and Yadiah had curated the menu. They shared, “The state food uses a lot of locally grown vegetables and curd to minimise the effect of spices.” The famous chilis of the state put our tongues on fire as we tasted Oori Koodi Koora, spicy country chicken cooked the way it is prepared in rural pockets of Telangana. The heat was balanced when we tried it with steamed rice.
Adding Mamidikaya Pappu, lentil soup prepared with raw mangoes gave a feel as we were dining at somebody’s home. In the vegetarian section one can try Vankaya Tamata, brinjal and tomato curry and Chikkudukaya Koora, broadbeans curry.
After a heated delicious food trail we tried the dessert platter comprising Bakshalu, jaggery filled stuffed flat bread, Parvannam and Rava laddu. Bakshalu was so delectable that we had more of it. Charges: Rs 1,486 for lunch.